The Sonoran Desert Museum is a botanical garden, zoo and natural history museum all in one. Their goal is to inspire people to live in harmony with the life of the Sonoran Desert. The museum is on the other side of the Saguaro National Park from our Arizona B&B. It is an easy and enjoyable drive across the park, about 15 miles, and the museum is not to miss.

The animals there are in distinctly realistic housing, and that is all part of their goal, to re-create real environments for study. So the visitor finds themselves in close contact with mountain lions, huge gila monster lizards and more. There are over 300 species of animal and 1200 plants. There are 2 miles of paths through 21 acres of desert landscape.

Events happening at the Sonoran Desert museum include “Running Wild” and “Live and on the Loose”. “Running Wild” is an “innovative live-animal demonstration that combines natural behaviors of small desert mammals, birds and reptiles with projected images, music and narration. In its inaugural year, the program will focus on fur, feathers and scales.” The presentation is daily except Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Warden Oasis Theater at 11 a.m.

“Live and on the Loose” is a live animal presentation that changes regularly. It is also at the Warden Oasis Theater at 12:15 pm and lasts for an hour. These could be great activities for after breakfast at our Arizona Bed and Breakfast.

If Geology is your thing, the museum has an extensive Sonoran Desert region gem, mineral, and fossil collection totaling 14,095 cataloged specimens, some of which are on display at the Earth Sciences Center. They also have a new vertebrate paleontology collection contains the first and only significant dinosaur skeleton from Southern Arizona.

Another example of a great way to explore the desert around our Arizona Bed & Breakfast.

The Tucson Audubon Society is having a wonderful lecture series right now called Living With Nature. The lectures are held at DuVal auditorium at the University Medical Center, 13 miles from our Arizona B&B.

Tucson Turkey Vulture

This Monday , Oct. 12, look forward to a presentation on Urban Raptors and Urban Myths surrounding these birds. As more and more habitat is taken away from wildlife and used by humans, animals have begun to adapt to these changes. Birds of prey, which are some of my favorite, have their own unique methods for cohabitation.

On Saturday October 17 there will be a useful lecture on Ethnobotany. The conversation will introduce a wide variety of local and native plants and their various uses for humans and birds alike. Speaker Vincent Pinto will share his knowledge about various plant species that can be used for food, medicine, shelter, tools, rope, dye, fishing tackle, and even bird calls! The presentation will also cover how the same plants serve as vital resources for a diversity of bird species. The lecture is held at Green Valley Public Library, about 14 miles from our Arizona Bed and Breakfast.

Upcoming next month on Nov. 9th, Prof. Michael Rosenzweig will be speaking on reconciling the needs of people and wildlife.

We are glad that there is a great organization like the Audubon Society here in Tucson amongst our natural bounty. We are glad when our guests want to visit the Saguaro National Park East, and take in the beauty the the Tucson desert provides to both humans and wildlife.