An Unusual Springtime
The Whetstone Mountains are once again full of life - the mesquite trees have leaves, the ocotillos are blooming, and new flowers seem to pop up daily. However, human activity in the area has significantly dropped off. The coronavirus pandemic has changed many things about the world as we know it over the past couple of months. Since March 17, cave tours at Kartchner Caverns have been closed, and visitor services at the park are severely reduced. We hope that you are as well as can be during these unsure times.
Getting outside to enjoy the summertime changes can be difficult right now. Some parks are experiencing overuse as visitors try to enjoy the outdoors. We urge you to use caution when making the choice to use these spaces - stay away from overcrowding and try to distance yourself from others, even in the fresh air while hiking on trails. Of course, summertime in the desert brings its own cautions too: it’s hot, very sunny, and snakes are active!
If you are able to responsibly enjoy nature right now, we’d love to see what you’re seeing. Our project just passed 1,000 observations - a huge milestone - and there’s been exciting life observed here lately: lizards, warblers, bobcats, and too many flowers to count. Stay safe and take care, community scientists.
