The Desert Museum - Which Is No Museum At All

We heard from a friend, when we were here a few weeks ago to visit "Old Tucson," (see earlier post, http://www.thetravelerstwo.net/2015/02/old-tucson.html ) that there was a must-see place called the Desert Museum. 

"Yeah, right," I'm thinkin'.  "What might one possibly put in a museum of the desert." 

But, trusting our old friend, we are headed there this morning.  It's still Spring-ish here in Arizona.  The air temperature is fine; the sunshine, however, quickly stings the skin as though it was mid-summer in Texas.  We are on the doorstep when this place opens for business.  (I'm still wondering what on earth is worth Paul's endorsement, though.)

It's a beautiful location.  Those waters you see are essentially holding ponds that will slowly filter through the sands to refill the aquifers and keep this valley more natural and hospitable for desert plants.  The tips of most saguaros are preparing to burst open with blossoms.

The fare is pretty steep:  $20 per person.  If this doesn't live up to a certain-someone's expectations, Paul may owe us a very big steak!  Then I discover that 85% of this place is outdoors.  What? there are old covered wagons? Indian teepees? broken pottery?  Why outdoors?  There are signs pointing the way to different areas indicating desert animals.  Are these crazy people leaving their stuffed coyotes outside?  And, as if on cue, we hear the yip-yip-yipping of coyotes.

In for a penny, in for a pound, and we start following signs. 


Well, this guy certainly isn't stuffed!  But, what's a parrot doing representing itself as a native Arizonian?  Truth be told, there are two species of parrots that are historically found in North America.  Apparently they like to hang out in the conifer (pine) forests as opposed to deserts, but it looks like this guy has a right to be here - if he's a thick-billed parrot.



Ditto this squirrely lookin' fella:

And definitely this baby blue lizard:

My question is whether these guys are part of the Museum or just visiting like us.

This looks more like a museum, but, what's this?  The real deal!!

And we begin to see why 85% of this "museum" is out of doors.  In Texas we call these places "zoos."  They have drawn together most of the animals that are now or used to be found throughout Arizona - from snakes and lizards all the way up to big horn sheep and black bear!  Anyone for a picnic?

 And right next door is a full-grown mountain lion!

We discovered here that the museum keepers don't just feed these animals.  They feed them in a way that mimics reality.  They hide the bears food under logs and behind bushes and in the hidey-holes of rocks.  For the mountain lion they smeared cream cheese in a dozen different places.  (Remind me not to take cream cheese camping with me the next time!)  This fella is licking the cream cheese off of this spot and will go looking for another asap.

This is an American Kestrel.  I thought Granpa got a great shot of him with wings and tail spread wide.

The intricacy and perfection of this alone should be enough to convince anyone that creatures of the earth - including humans - didn't "evolve" from some slimy ooze.

When you get tired of looking at the animals, just look up.  It's beautiful country out here!



Now, isn't this the cutest little guy you ever saw?  This is almost a baby Javelina hog.  You can find out more about him by going to a post of one we saw in the wild.   (http://www.thetravelerstwo.net/2015/02/cochises-stronghold.html)  Was that really three months ago?!?

By temperament the hogs are about as prickly as this porcupine.

And this one doesn't look any less prickly.  Again, I don't know if he's a resident or a visitor.

Well, we spent over four hours walking around this place and still did not see it all.  I don't know if I'll post more pictures of everything from a newborn big horn sheep to a hummingbird sitting on it's nest feeding baby hummingbirds... maybe I'll let you decided, or Granpa.  If you want more pictures, click on "comments" and let me know that.  Otherwise, you'll just have to book a trip to Tucson and see things for yourself.  (hehehe!)