“You’re not afraid of snakes, are you?” asked Mike, our guide with Desert Adventures Eco-Tours. “We just might see some today.” I shook my head no, but kept my eyes peeled on the scene ahead. We were in a red Jeep, bumping along a dusty dirt road on Metate Ranch, an 800-acre private preserve in the California Desert near Palm Springs, California. There was no one else in sight, and all I heard was the crunch of our tires. The earth was dry and the dirt and rock formations looked almost white, a stark contrast to the deep blue sky overhead. Life in the Desert The desert is home to its own unique wildlife, from snakes and tarantulas to coyotes, lizards, and birds. The region seems barren, though, and I wondered how these creatures survive. Then, in the distance, I saw a thick line of tall California fan palms. They …