Survival
The Sonora Desert is located in Arizona. It's hot and dry as you would expect. Your top priorities will be shelter and water. Shelter because it gets very cold at night, possibly below freezing. And water because the dryness will cause your body to dehydrate very quickly. The usual survival time without water is reduced significantly in this desert environment.
Emergency Shelter
First on the list of priorities is to find some way to stay warm at night. During the winter months, temperatures below freezing are not uncommon.
Water and Food
A good sign of water is a change in plant life from dry, well-spaced shrubs, to tightly packed and green growth. Low lying areas also improve the chances of finding water. Some cacti, like the barrel cactus, are said to be good sources of water, but should be avoided because of a side-effect where your core body temperature drops
Surprisingly, there were quite a few food options. Something you wouldn't expect in a desert. Scorpions can be eaten raw once the stinger has been removed. Watch out for the claws as they can still pinch. They can be found under rocks during the day or hunting for food during the evening. The fruit from barrel cactus (short, round, and has red thorns) contains seeds that can be eaten.
In addition, prickly pear cactus is edible — slice open one of the “leaves” and eat the green flesh in between the white veins.
Grasshoppers are edible, but they must be cooked first as they can carry parasites like tapeworms. Pull off the heads which will also bring out the stomach with it. The rest can be eaten.
Beans from the mesquite tree can be eaten raw or pounded into flour. Chew, but don't swallow, on grasses to extract the chlorophyll.
Dangers in the Sonora Desert
To complicate survival, there are dangers in the desert that you need to watch out for. There are the usual suspects such as snakes and scorpions. Add to that list Africanized bees (a.k.a. killer bees) and wild boars (travel in packs and will attack as a group). All are avoided by keeping a careful watch on where you are going.
Climate
Arizona is famous for its warm, sunny weather. Temperatures vary depending on elevation. Winter temperatures of 60°F (16°C) are common in Arizona. In the desert, summer temperatures often exceed 100°F (38°C). Arizona also has a dry climate, but the amount of precipitation varies depending on where you are. The deserts only receive about 3 inches (8 centimeters) a year, while the mountains get closer to 40 inches (102 centimeters). Because of the dry climate, wildfires are common in the summer. These fires are difficult to control and often burn for days.
Average Seasonal High and Low Temperatures
Spring: 85/56°F
Summer: 104/78°F
Fall: 87/61°F
Winter: 68/43°F

Items