Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum: Save Our Saguaros
You can help us save saguaros and the animals that call them home. From what? Buffelgrass and fountaingrass!
These invasive grasses smother young saguaros and fuel fires that can kill both young and old saguaros alike. Most of our native plants are not adapted to fire. In contrast, buffelgrass thrives on fire. This is one of the major dangers of buffelgrass. If a fire occurs in an uninvaded desert setting, it burns out quickly, but if fire starts in a buffelgrass-invaded desert, it will spread rapidly as far as this fire-loving grass will carry it.
Time: 8 am – 12 pmOrganization: Catalina State Park Buffel Slayers
Description: Come out to beautiful Catalina State Park and Save Our Saguaros! We have some sunny slopes with huge saguaros, stunning views of Pusch Ridge, and menacing patches of buffelgrass threatening the Sonoran Desert. This is your chance to get into the Park for free and work with an enthusiastic group of Buffel Slayers! Be prepared to hike 30 minutes and work off trail on rocky slopes.
Meeting Location: Park at the Main Trailhead at the end of the road. Meet at the Picnic Area.
Event location: 11570 N. Oracle Rd., Oro Valley, AZ, 85737
Volunteers: 13 registered out of a total capacity of 40
Tools Provided: Pick-mattocks, hand picks, digging bars, work gloves, kneeling matts
Bring: 2 liters of water, snacks, sunscreen, sun hat, your own work gloves, if preferred
Wear: Long pants, long-sleeved sun shirt, sturdy hiking boots or shoes, hat, light jacket
Additional Information: We will raffle a baby saguaro donated by Pima Native Plants Nursery. We have plenty of stickers for your water bottles. Anyone who has joined us for 5 total digs is eligible for a colorful Buffel Slayer T-shirt.
Leader Name: Patty Estes
Email: estes@arizona.edu
Phone: 520-665-8464
(Okay to text this number)
- Audience: Adult, Teens (14 - 18 years)
- Genre: Conservation and Sustainability
- Type: Field Trip/Outdoor Activity, Volunteer Opportunity
