Teddy Bear Cholla is one of the most formidable cacti in North America, its golden-white spine clusters so dense they give the plant a fluffy, teddy-bear appearance from a distance. Despite the inviting look, the spines have microscopic backward-pointing barbs that cause the segments to attach explosively to passing animals. Dense groves of Teddy Bear Cholla in the Sonoran Desert are among the most striking — and treacherous — landscapes in North America. The cholla forests of the Sonoran Desert provide critical nesting habitat for cactus wrens, curve-billed thrashers, and roadrunners.
Best time to see a Teddy Bear Cholla
The best time to see a Teddy Bear Cholla is January–May, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 14,551 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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