wood rats.
The Cactoblastas catterpillar is an animial. and has all but erradicated PRICKLY PEAR from Australia where the catterpillar was introduced to control the cactus. The PRICKLY PEAR was Australia's most invasive weed. spreading throughout the arid areas at a phenominal pace.
A number of animals feed on prickly pear cacti - javelinas, rabbits, deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, some rodents, tortoises are a few examples.
If you stuck your finger into a prickly pear cactus, you could get stuck with one of the spines. You could also possibly be bitten by a spider who likes to make their webs in the prickly pear.
Plains Prickly Pear cactus needles can vary in length, but they typically range from 1 to 3 inches long.
Yes, pack rats do eat the flesh of prickly pear cacti. They are able to navigate around the spines with their dexterous paws and consume the juicy interior of the cactus. Additionally, they may use the prickly pear pads as nesting material.
According to the sources linked below, rabbits have been known to eat prickly pears in the wild, and they are not known to be toxic. However, domestic animals have lost many of their wild instincts, and pet rabbits may not know how to eat prickly pear without hurting themselves on the spines. Prickly pear is not on any recommended list of plants safe for rabbits to eat: most people would say it's better to be safe than sorry, and to avoid the prickly pear. If your rabbit likes prickly pear, and you know it doesn't make your rabbit sick, then it's probably okay to give some to your rabbit as a treat. Treats should be strictly limited in a rabbit's diet because too much can lead to a variety of illnesses. A bite or two of fresh treat food daily is more than enough for a normal, healthy 6 pound rabbit. See the related question below for details about a healthy rabbit diet, and helpful links.
your nan
No, a cactus is a plant, not an animal.
Javelina, antelope, desert bighorn sheep. tortoises and some rodents will feed on the prickly pear especially in times of drought when few other plants are available.
The Prickly Pear Cactus
A "prickly pear" is not actually a pear.
on a pear
A prickly pear is a cactus. There is no commensalism or mutualism.
The prickly pear provides food and home for the wood rat. In turn, the wood rat acts a pollinator for the prickly pear.
There is no such place as the Saguaro Desert. There is the Sonoran Desert where the saguaro cactus grows. Some small animals such as rodents and rabbits feed on the prickly pear as well as javelina, deer, pronghorns, bighorn sheep and tortoises.
No. the prickly pear is not native to Australia. It is an introduced species, and a noxious pest.
No large animals that I am aware of eat the saguaro. The prickly pear cactus is usually the choice for many animals.
Prickly pear cacti typically live for about 20 to 30 years.