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Fire Restrictions in effect for Saguaro National Park
Due to increased fire danger in southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park will implement fire restrictions in both the Rincon and Tucson Mountain Districts, beginning Wednesday, May 22, 2013. More »
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Bottled water no longer for sale in Saguaro National Park
Water bottle filling stations have been installed at both visitor centers and the Rincon Mountain District bike ramada for visitors to refill their reusable water bottles. A variety of BPA-free waterbottles are available inside the visitor centers. More »
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Tucson Mountain District (west) road re-opened
The Golden Gate Road has been re-opened north of Sendero-Esperanza and is is now rated for high clearance vehicles due to the rough nature of the terrain. More »
Bobcats and Mountain Lions
NPS Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Bobcats, also known as wildcats, are much smaller than mountain lions and have shorter tails. These cats do well around park borders of urban Tucson where food like rabbits and quail are abundant. Despite their relatively small size, reports have cited bobcats preying on animals as large as adult deer! Their usual diet consists of small mammals, birds, and carrion. They are about 2 -4 feet long and weigh from 15 to 29 pounds.
NPS/ Saguaro National Park Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) The elusive mountain lion is the most powerful predator at Saguaro National Park. It is found in both districts. They have the ability to kill prey larger than themselves and can leap 20 feet (6.1 m) or more! Their jaws are so strong that they can bite through the shells of adult desert tortoises, something no other predator in the Sonoran Desert can do. |
Did You Know?
The saguaro cactus only grows naturally in the Sonoran Desert. There are approximately 1.6 million individual saguaro plants growing within Saguaro National Park.