Visiting ASDM

When I talk with people in Tucson, I'm always amazed by the number of them that haven't visited the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, as we visit probably once per month.

On our most recent trip out, the animals were probably the most active that we've seen them. For example, both bobcats were out looking around, as you can see by the photo at left. Normally, they are sleeping on a ledge near the top of their enclosure, so that you pretty much see a lump of fur.

While standing there, we always overhear comments along the line of: "These are much smaller than the one I saw in the wild. That one was...." Finishing up with some improbable size. I know these people believe what they are saying, and I'm sure they remember it that way, too. But really now, why would the animals be smaller here than in the wild? Their not. Instead, they are in an enclosure so that people feel safe when they see them allowing people to get a true feel for their size. Out in the wild, you might just have a fleeting glimpse, and the adrenaline might be going, you're natural instincts kick in and you are focusing intently on the animal. With all that happening, the animal looms large in your mind. It looks bigger. It's a curious effect.

Anyway, the day we were out, the mountain lions were also out and about, drawing large crowds, and the raptor free flight was great as always. And the coati treehouse was finally open, showing once again that everytime we go out, it's a new visit.

So make the drive over Gates pass, and visit. Spend the day enjoying the animals. Or wander the trails looking at the diverse plant life that occurs here in the Sonoran desert. It is truly amazing.