Saguaro Wilderness: A Day in the Desert

On the surface it might not look like much is going on in the desert, but even on the hottest, driest days, if you look behind the scenes, the Sonoran Desert is vibrant. Join us for a day to explore the rhythmic cycles of the wildlife that have adapted to call this wild place home.
This designated wilderness area protects the towering saguaro cacti, which have evolved to thrive in the Sonoran Desert's unique five seasons. The saguaro can hold over 200 gallons of water and provides nourishment and refuge for desert wildlife. White-winged doves and gila woodpeckers feed on the saguaro's white flowers, which bloom at night. The flowers give way to a moist fleshy red fruit, which is enjoyed by birds like the tiny yellow verdin, and ground animals like the large, pig-looking javelina.
The gila woodpecker also uses the saguaro as a home, drilling holes in the soft flesh of the cactus, which heals itself, creating a nest. The temperature inside the cactus is 20º F cooler, making it an ideal place to hide out during the heat of the day. Cactus wrens and Harris's hawks also nest in the arms of the saguaro, which provide shade and prickly protection.
As the morning sun crosses the landscape, other wildlife look for shade or retreat to their dens or underground burrows to avoid the sun. While the air temperature may hover over 100° F, the ground surface temperature can be closer to 150° F. As the sun disappears and temperatures cool, the desert comes to life. Rattlesnakes, tarantulas, coyotes, bobcats, skunks, and javelina all begin to forage and look for prey.
To thrive despite the lack of water, some animals have developed additional adaption strategies to get through the dry seasons; the gila monster stores fat in its plump tail and the desert tortoise stores water in its bladder.
The 'night shift' includes footage that was captured by Saguaro's remote camera traps as part of a scientific study to monitor the diversity of species and their distribution throughout the park. These cameras are motion triggered and provide glimpses of wildlife such as badgers, gray foxes, and ringtails as they go about their regular business without any human presence.
Produced by Sarah Gulick
For audio description: • Video

[@khandeexiong7769]

Nature is so beautiful! Showing the temperature was definitely a plus!

[@tuckerlundquist8311]

deserts are the most beautiful places I have been to. the constant thought of death yet so much life makes you realize how lucky we are to be alive

[@AnonymousFohYOU]

I always think a saguaro cactus is like an apartment building for animals: Affordable living Tall, sturdy foundation Rooftop garden Plenty of water storage

[@morrisparkintheozarks6831]

I used to live in Tucson when I was a kid, about 42 years ago, I love cacti & reptiles both, and have many fond memories of saguaro national park, used to go there with my uncle hiking, LOVED IT !!!!!!! Everyone should see this place at least once, it's AWESOME!!!!!

[@run4cmt]

I just got back from there. I was stunned by the beauty and diversity of this desert landscape.

[@hannaharocha7811]

I live right in the middle of this beautiful desert :) I hear lots of birds, including doves, woodpeckers, finch, owls...its awesome

[@lapa9357]

Do you live in Tucson?

[@pokersnob730]

I do too, hidden valley. Stepped on a baby rattle snake the other night...in flip flops...lmao.

[@jamarionross9130]

Liar

[@RVBadlands2015]

I want to move to Tucson.

[@mhkuntug]

@@pokersnob730 hi, do you know what is Toltec?

[@kimberlycassel1422]

I LIVE IN THIS WONDERFUL STATE

[@patellairenjam4445]

The sound is so soothing... ❤

[@juliedeguerto46]

I wish someday I can go to a place like that specially i'm a kind of girl who's obsess with cactus or even succulents. Maybe it would be great to have a fun trip there at least 1 week, I guess.

[@adayinthedesert4354]

I love the outdoors especially the Desert

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

A Day in the Desert🌵. Excellent production. A visual poem.

[@AJTheFrogHere]

It's so calming

[@wienerguy7822]

Hey I used to live about 5 minutes from there. There's a road that winds through the desert that I used to take to work every day. It's an incredibly gorgeous place.

[@j.spottedhorse8939]

I am a complete mountain person but this is so beautiful.

[@waywardmuse]

Fantastic overview of wildlife in the Sonoran Desert!

[@jin0717kim]

Sarah Gulick and all the other people, 🤩 Wow woW!!! You guys did very great job editing and capturing the beauty of the nature!!! Recently I was so into saguaro, and this video is so artistic and I am very glad that I was able to find this video! So much inspiration 👍👍👍👍👍🥰🥰🥰

[@TomRedondoLBC]

Enjoyed your Beautiful video ,well made.

[@pokersnob730]

It’s nice and peaceful out here, seen quite a few animals roaming!

[@yelloworange2008]

Writing a play about the Great Saguaro Cactus, like the Great Kapok Tree book, in 3rd grade for Earth Day celebration. This video is amazing!!! Students are writing dialogues through the eyes of these creatures in the Sonoran Desert. I will show them this video today. Thank you!

[@GenK1991]

I love Arizona and those yummy prickly pears.. I was addicted to them while I was pregnant, there was a prickly pear juice I would buy in Tucson I could never get tired of 😩😩😩

[@nickkenner769]

Thank you NPSWilderness, my kids LOVE this video and it has inspired them to learn more and care more about nature.

[@franceszma]

me eating cacti: Ouch ! birds eating cacti: Yummy

[@DH-ix3my]

The audio is just amazing! The pictures are incredible as well.

[@kashiBlogger]

Nice 😊😊

[@buttdreads]

Simply beautiful, incredible work.

[@davidschmidt270]

Look at all the life!!!

[@Daytripper001]

Wooooow,absolutely amazing video👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@francinewilson3798]

Even places like deserts have a beauty of nature about them!!!

[@jamarionross9130]

that is true

[@liltt_yt4171]

i agree

[@danthomas6587]

It sure is. I love living here. Best sunsets I've ever seen. The rainy season bring some incredible drama.

[@magnushedman1076]

wonderful video! longing back to the desert!! from the mountains in cold Sweden

[@1ENIGMA]

Magnificent sound

[@DesertMoon]

The sounds!!

[@edboutte5451]

Lovely work and editing Sarah and Erin!

[@erikvereb9995]

That is some beautiful scenery ! ! the wildlife is really neat to see ! !

[@MountainSnowFlyer]

Awesome video! It conveys that feeling I get in the desert, but I never have gotten to see what the critters are up to. What great insight!

[@javierandresmarinramirez]

Awesome natural concert !!!

[@danthomas6587]

I live in Picture Rocks so this was fun to watch. I love telling people I live in a National Park. And the photos. And the sunsets. Its heaven. Well, not in summertime it isn't but yeah. Subbed.

[@ingriddurden3929]

short and excellent. Memories of the year I lived close to the park years ago. Thanks for sharing !

[@DerBuckmiester]

very peaceful and beautiful

[@colleenposadas8415]

Beautiful.

[@kingking9011]

And gila monsters too 😍

[@gamingwithalice8603]

It live in a dessert and it looks like this was shot from My back yard! #beautiful

[@adayinthedesert4354]

This video is so beautiful!

[@culbinator]

Amazing video!

[@Alibaliskye]

Cute cat

[@emmanuelrobles96]

Beautiful

[@gb8894]

I love saguaro national park so much.

[@saralainemillet8123]

I love it. I live it.

[@xxcoolgreg445xx6]

This helped me for my science project thx for the help.

[@stevetaylor8446]

Hoping to see as much wildlife there in November....so much more diverse than England!

[@lauren42711]

This is Asmr to me its so beautiful

[@muhammadilyaskhan4900]

good guidelines

[@topspeedbrazil6853]

Hello my friend 🌵♥️🍃🎶🎵🦗😍😍

[@4GUESTS]

I live in the Mojave desert in Arizona. Nice desert.video

[@miguelitoinguanti6171]

I love the dove's

[@JAYDEV402]

Wow!

[@topspeedbrazil6853]

Hello my beautiful friend 🎶🎵🦗🍃♥️🌵💘😍😍

[@coasterworld9448]

1:43 it sounded like something was shushing the coyote😂

[@SocrataronakoMorrisopoulos]

fascinating

[@yshi1652]

Wow, wonderful video,i saved it

[@zacharylarrimore8797]

Home sweet home

[@islamahmadzai3432]

your home is Europe

[@miguelitoinguanti6171]

It reminds me of Los Angeles and South Tejas

[@vittorioavagliano8701]

protect wildlife

[@robertowagneramaralgomesgo9211]

Nice

[@kingking9011]

Rattlers are one of my fav animals in da desert

[@alexandriadaniela7185]

thanks

[@joshuamartinez5655]

Very nice thumbs up, but I wish they'd put more Sonoran animals

[@LandonDoesRailfanningTrains10]

Arizona

[@lauren42711]

yassss

[@cacatr4495]

It's too bad the video didn't include footage of Mule Deer and Mountain Lion. Pretty good video overall.

[@crescentwrench4995]

❤👍❤

[@Soapie232]

Those cactus are spikey to me 😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@miguelitoinguanti6171]

Even Oklahoma

[@joannvolland1856]

My favorite thing that lives in the desert is the lesser

[@mr.wizard2974]

there is a cactus you can get water from but I can't remember which one it is

[@JamesRios1977]

Home 🤗

[@refinedhayseedappalachian9777]

I was hoping to see the temp drop down into the 60's .....

[@14598175]

0:24 That is vandalism!! It's against the law to harm or move a Saguaro Cactus in Arizona. Who does he think he is? You can't just cut a hole into a giant cactus and start living there without permission? I hope he's an early bird because the fine is $10,000.

[@coasterworld9448]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@darkapothecary4116]

Birb goes yolo

[@garends7951]

@Mateo Miraglia r/woooosh

[@lxtus_xoxo]

How funny you said early bird because...HE'S A DAMN BIRD.

[@SignofJonahYunis.Jesus.Warrior]

@@lxtus_xoxo You know what an early bird is right?

[@christinamarie3308]

Anyone that can tell me which species of skunk please

[@Gabeisverythicc]

Yea it's beautiful here until it hits 115+ degrees

[@thedoctorpoo2454]

Is that a barf sound

[@demarcusbraxton4981]

mak more vids like that bro

[@kyotee]

What makes the noise whoo whooo whoo at 0:09? PLEASE REPLY

[@NPSWilderness]

+kyotee RED That is the sounds of the mourning dove: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/sounds

[@kyotee]

+NPSWilderness ok thanks!

[@mrcapebreton6816]

kyotee RED owls

[@14598175]

Yes, it's a Dove!! Every morning some chick comes and stands on a branch outside my window, which would be fine except that she flirts with the boys. I call her Miss Kitty, like the gal from Gunsmoke. Anyway, by sunrise, all of the boys are all rowdy and cooing trying to win her over, but she never gives in.

[@coasterworld9448]

We hear them mourning doves in the beginning of spring and all through the summer here in northern Utah, they’re beautiful

[@jamesamandagavin]

POV ur only hear cuz school

[@immanuelweaver4522]

hottest place on earth.

[@cacatr4495]

The hottest place on Earth would be Death Valley in California.

[@immanuelweaver4522]

still a desert though.

[@cacatr4495]

Immanuel Weaver Yes, it's a desert and is 108℉ right now here, at 5 :18 pm, June 10. But it is not " the hottest place on Earth.". That's what you said.

[@maryannwolf-redmond3237]

How can a turtle live in the desert? Doesn't it live in or near water

[@nachoandsancho5218]

Desert tortoise...tortoises live on land, turtles water

[@sawyerseth9832]

Are these the actual sounds from the animals? They don’t seem to match.

[@rottinhottie]

No, the sounds of the desert are hard to pin point because they are elusive. Hiding from the sun. When you spend time there the animal noises are easier to desipher.

[@mr.wizard2974]

you can get the critters to come right up to your camper by throwing out raw meat

[@stevechow6445]

Well my teacher say we have to do it

[@timzrocks4906]

desert

[@hkkhgffh3613]

How do you harvest Saguaros using a chainsaw?

[@jaykilborn2508]

The saguaro cactai are protected. Those who are caught stealing one can be fined.

[@laviv9008]

Hu

[@miamartinez4259]

I was forced to watch it

[@miamartinez4259]

My school

[@SamNguyenTX]

What is this video supposed to be?😐

[@cacatr4495]

Educational, about the Sonoran Desert.

[@baibazarina-zviedre9345]

R tas ka tā vieta kur Tu esi

[@vladbossul7296]

cacti taste like poop

[@calinmihaichiperi2739]

Bruh

[@klnmalcoman8720]

Bruh