2020 still looms large, and though we are looking forward to what 2021 will bring, we must acknowledge that the pandemic continues, too many individuals and families are still struggling to meet their basic needs, and businesses and organizations the world over have suffered severe and unprecedented financial loss. Thanks to the generous support of…
Tag: Conservation
Junior Docents become Earth Camp Conservation Stewards
By Catherine Bartlett and Amy Orchard New challenges brought new opportunities for a cohort of teen volunteers at the Desert Museum. Due to COVID-19, in the spring of 2020 the Museum made the safe decision to pause all volunteer work which included having Junior Docents on grounds. The decision felt heartbreaking until the Education Team…
New Challenges and New Hope for the Sonoyta Mud Turtle
After being granted critical habitat protection earlier in 2020, the Sonoyta mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale) faces a new threat: critically low water flow at the Quitobaquito Spring’s source and continuing drought and regional groundwater pumping. In the midst of growing geopolitical and ecological challenges in the borderlands, ten healthy Sonoyta mud turtles hatched at…
We’re Batty for Bats!
Na na na na na na na na na na … bats! A full moon rises over the saguaro cacti and rocky desert mountains on another day in the Sonoran Desert. But this day is special, because it is also October 31st, and the last day of International Bat Week! Celebrate with us by learning…
Buffelgrass: Why You Should Care
Buffelgrass. It’s a dry topic, literally. Buffelgrass is typically bone-dry nine months of the year, greening up only during the monsoon season. And when this drought-hardy bunchgrass is dry, it poses a serious fire risk. That’s why Pima County was awarded a $3.4 million dollar matching grant from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) to…
Desert Diaries 