Editing Oracle, Arizona (section)

== Ecology ==
Flora includes [[Quercus emoryi|emory oak]], [[Arctostaphylos pungens|point-leaf manzanita]], [[Rhamnus crocea subsp. ilicifolia|holly-leaf buckthorn]], [[Juniperus deppeana|alligator juniper]], [[Prosopis velutina|velvet mesquite]], [[Celtis reticulata|netleaf hackberry]], [[Rhus trilobata|lemonade berry]],  [[Aloysia wrightii|oreganillo]], [[Anisacanthus|Thurber’s desert honeysuckle]], [[Fouquieria splendens|ocotillo]], [[Ericameria laricifolia|turpentine bush]], [[Tecoma stans|yellow bells]], [[Agave chrysantha|golden-flowered agave]], [[Agave parryi|mescal agave]], [[Dasylirion wheeleri|sotol]], [[Yucca elata|soaptree yucca]], [[Nolina microcarpa|beargrass]], [[Opuntia engelmannii|Engelman’s prickly pear]], [[Ferocactus wislizeni|fishhook barrel cactus]], [[Cylindropuntia spinosior|cane cholla]], [[Penstemon eatonii|firecracker penstemon]], [[Mirabilis multiflora|showy four o’clock]], [[Datura wrightii|sacred datura]], [[Glandularia gooddingii|Goodding verbena]], [[Calliandra eriophylla|fairy duster]], [[Oenothera caespitosa|tufted evening primrose]], [[Calochortus ambiguus|Arizona mariposa lily]],  [[Muhlenbergia rigens|deer grass]], and [[Bouteloua parryi|Parry’s grama]].

Fauna includes [[greater roadrunner]], [[common raven]], [[acorn woodpecker]], [[great horned owl]], [[zone-tailed hawk]], [[Cooper’s hawk]], [[Meleagris gallopavo|wild turkey]], [[Callipepla gambelii|Gambel’s quail]], [[cactus wren]], [[curve-billed thrasher]], [[hooded oriole]], [[northern cardinal]], [[Leiothlypis luciae|Lucy’s warbler]], [[vermilion flycatcher]], [[broad-billed hummingbird]], [[Gila monster]], [[Sceloporus clarkii|Clark’s spiny lizard]], [[Madrean alligator lizard]], [[Masticophis flagellum|coachwhip]], [[Pituophis catenifer|gopher snake]], [[red-spotted toad]], [[canyon tree frog]], [[Papilio polyxenes|black swalllowtail]], [[Hyles lineata|white-lined sphinx]], [[Adelpha eulalia|Arizona sister]], [[Bombus sonorus|Sonoran bumblebee]], [[Pepsis thisbe|tarantula hawk]], [[Parabacillus hesperus|western short-horn walkingstick]], [[Xyloryctes thestalus|western rhinoceros beetle]], [[Eleodes|darkling beetles]], [[Dactylotum bicolor|rainbow grasshopper]], [[flame skimmer]], [[Stagmomantis limbata|Arizona mantis]], [[Peucetia viridans|green lynx spider]], [[Aphonopelma chalcodes|desert blonde tarantula]], [[Arizona bark scorpion]], [[mule deer]], [[Puma concolor|cougar]], [[bobcat]], [[gray fox]], [[coyote]], [[striped skunk]], [[collared peccary|javelina]], [[white-nosed coati]], [[rock squirrel]], [[desert cottontail]], and [[big brown bat]].

The Oracle region once sustained more extensive and biodiverse grassland ecosystems, but widespread and poorly regulated cattle ranching has largely depleted them. An ongoing transition to a mesquite/opuntia/invasive grass-dominated landscape is occurring.