Sentinels of the Desert

Assuming you are a desert dweller and were asked to depict the Sonoran Desert to someone from another country like England or France, what would you put in your picture/story?  Probably one of the first characters in the scene would be the stately and iconic saguaro cactus.  And, there is good reason for that.  The hero/heroine of our desert is this gentle giant, the keystone species that makes provisions for at least 100 other species.  Everything from a number of bird species, bats, deer, javelina, rabbits, rodents, desert iguanas, chuckwallas, tortoises and insects like ants.

Saguaros also conjure a migration milestone for me.  When I see the saguaro cactus bloom in late April to early May, I start looking for the return of the white winged dove who feeds on the fruit.  When nests sights are in demand during breeding season, the saguaro plays a significant role in home/nest availability and acquisition for red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, crested caracaras.  The cavity nesters like woodpeckers and flickers can dig into the outer layers of the rib area of the cactus, which then emits a chemical that seals off the cavity, making it the perfect spot to raise a family.  Elf and other small owls and assorted non-native species like starlings and English sparrows move in if the cavity is unprotected.  Prime real estate can be hard to find in the desert. But, thanks to our heroine, the stately saguaro, relief is in sight…mostly.

A few years ago during a nasty desert fire, fueled no doubt by intensive hot burning invasive grasses called buffle grass, hundreds of thousands of mature saguaros were decimated.  Invasive buffle grass, brought in to supply food for cattle took off on its own and found everything it needed in the Sonoran Desert, and now, because of its abundance, fires spread more easily, burn hotter and longer, and the only survivor is the buffle grass that emerges again later.  All of the benefits, not to mention the beauty of the saguaro are gone for many, many years.  It takes as much as 150 years to refill the desert with the full benefits of the saguaro.  From baby cactus to its grown up state the saguaro needs a long time to provide the benefits and fulfill its role as the great provider of the desert.  That is a long time to be without all of the benefits they provide to their fellow denizens of the desert.

You don’t have to look long or hard to find these stately characters suffering from a challenged environment.  Cascading climate events have resulted in drying and warming in the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro arms are lost, tops are blown off, bases are uprooted allowing the cactus to topple to the ground taking everything in its path in neighborhoods and the surrounding desert.  This isn’t something that you can expect to fix in a season or two.  Planting saguaros is tricky business….and nature does it best.  However, with at least two good monsoons, an intervening wet winter, and some healthy nurse plants to stand guard for a while, we might be able to see a greatly needed regeneration.

If you have a saguaro in your environment, be sure to follow the ‘best care’ provisions.  The watering should be sparce, placing a hose 3 to 4 feet from the base and only during the hot, dry season. Do not let the base sit in water.   Notice if sunburn becomes an issue with dark spots and decay allowing for infection to enter the wounds.  Roots can be fed, but only by foods specific to the needs of the species.  Consult experts like the folks at the Desert Botanical Garden.  Do whatever it takes to keep the Guardians of our desert galaxy safe and providing for the other 100 species that are depending on them.

Remember, for what it’s worth, we are all connected.