Cylindropuntia bigelovii has a soft appearance due to its solid mass of very formidable spines that completely cover the stems, leading to its sardonic nickname of "teddy bear".

The silvery-white spines, which are actually a form of leaf, almost completely obscure the stem with a fuzzy-looking but impenetrable defense.

These fruits contain few if any viable seeds as the plant usually reproduces through a dispersal strategy of dropped or carried stems.

[4] When a piece of this cholla sticks to an animal or person, a good method to remove the cactus is with a hair comb.

[2] In the Lower Colorado River Valley, the most dense Cylindropuntia bigelovii stands are at higher elevations, in the rockiest sites.