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Desert Bighorn Sheep On Pusch Ridge, Oro Valley, AZ

By Mike Jones

Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

July 03, 2009 09:21 PM

Rainbow on Pusch Ridge, Oro Valley, AZ

Desert Bighorn Sheep at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum The granite promontory (above) is the identifying feature of Pusch Ridge, an upthrust of rock that runs north from Tucson to Catalina, AZ, and overlooks Arizona's Catalina State Park. This photo was taken from the community of Honeybee Ridge in Oro Valley, AZ.

Pusch Ridge is home to the last surviving herd of wild Desert Bighorn Sheep in the greater Tucson area, and perhaps in all of southern Arizona.

The ram on the right lives at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum (one of the ten best zoos in the world.)

If you're thinking of making Tucson or one of the surrounding towns your retirement home, subscribe to my blog and give me a call.

7/4/09 EDIT: I received an email from John Peters, Jr. with the following info about Desert Bighorns on Pusch Ridge:

"...there have not been any bighorn sheep on Pusch Ridge for years. Despite numerous flyover and foot searches, no sheep have been spotted. Speculation is that the mountain lions took them out."

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson

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Robert Vegas Bob Swetz

Las Vegas, NV

Mike - A couple of great photographs and congrats on the feature!

Jul 04, 2009 03:28 AM

Jamie Dumaine-Russell

RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Mike - I don't know what to say other than that I'm speechless at the magnificence of this photo! Have a Happy 4th of July.

Jul 04, 2009 03:55 AM

Bill Gillhespy

16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL

Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Mike, Wow, great composition for this pic. Mind sharing some of the technical info ? Well done.

Jul 04, 2009 04:06 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mike, I just love that rainbow you captured among the cacti.

Jul 04, 2009 04:08 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Wow, mountains, ram, cactus, and a rainbow!!! It doesn't get better than this! Beautiful photography! I love the comments aligned to the right too...keep it interesting!

Jul 04, 2009 04:51 AM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Oh my goodness. . .What a spectacular rainbow, perfectly framed by the arms of a cactus!

Jul 04, 2009 05:12 AM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

WOW! What absolutely magical images. Did you feel a shift of the soul??? My God, I would!! thanks for sharing these amazing photos!

Jul 04, 2009 05:28 AM

Teresa Boardman

Boardman Realty - Saint Paul, MN

I love that top photo. Very nice. I like the cactuses. I want to go there one day so that I can see them.

Jul 04, 2009 06:34 AM

William J. Archambault, Jr.

The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Mike,

You've out done yourself! a red white and blue rainbow in a cacti, for the Fourth, how appropriate!

Bill

PS: The sheep should prosper, they poor eating!

Jul 04, 2009 07:18 AM

Terry & Bonnie Westbrook

Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

Thanks for the view from your eyes. I just bought a new camera so we can carry it with us to have an opportunity to try and capture shots like that.

Jul 04, 2009 09:27 AM

Dale Baker

Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH

New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy there Mike

You sure do always post really fine photos, of your area for folks to look at.

Is Arizina working on a way to keep the Desert Bighorn Sheep around?

Have a fun and safe 4 of July!

God Bless America

Jul 04, 2009 10:19 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Dale,

Wikipedia has a tremendously useful article on the Desert Bighorns. Here's an excerpt:

"Desert Bighorn Sheep populations have trended upward since the 1960s when their population was estimated at 6,700-8,100. The upward trend was caused by conservation measures, including habitat preservation. In 1980 Desert Bighorn Sheep populations were estimated at 8,415-9,040. A state-by-state survey was conducted a few years later and estimated the overall U.S. Desert Bighorn Sheep population at 15,980. The 1993 estimate of the population is 18,965-19,040."

Terry,

Stopping for the photo made me a few minutes late for an appointment, but them's the dirties!

Bill,

It's the rams' racks that did them in at the beginning of the century, but with conservation measures funded in large part by the hunting community, they have rebounded!

Teresa,

We have a lot of snowbirds from your neck of the woods. Come on down! :)

Mara,

You're so welcome! Thanks for the encouragement.

Myrl,

The monsoons bring rainbows with them, and we just love it! Thanks for commenting.

Sharon,

Thanks for commenting; see you on your blog!

Gary,

Thanks for saying so! I'm a subscriber to your blog, and I appreciate you.

Bill,

The camera is a relative cheapie: Panasonic Lumix. It has a 10X optical zoom, and the glass is Leica. Auto focus, auto exposure. You can get a newer model than mine at Costco for $220. or so. I love this camera.

Donna,

Happy Fourth of July to you, too. (It's our anniversary.)

Erica,

It's good to see you; you're welcome!

Vegas Bob,

That's high praise, coming from you. Thanks!!

Tony,

We'll do it! Hope all is well with you and yours.

BB,

What a wonderful comment! Thanks for stopping by.

Anna,

It's the amazing subject matter! We love living in Tucson, AZ.

Don,

Thanks, my friend!

Mike in Tucson

Jul 04, 2009 10:59 AM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Mike,
This country of ours is sooo beautiful, thank you for capturing your area and sharing with us!

Jul 04, 2009 12:29 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Cynthia,

I hope your Fourth was fantastic. It's past 10 where you live, so I expect the fireworks are over. Thanks for coming by to comment.

Mike in Tucson

Jul 04, 2009 02:04 PM

Anonymous

I recently shot a tour down there in Oro Valley..along Pusch Ridge. First time I'd been down there. Beautiful area! Nice Shots!

Desert360

Jul 04, 2009 05:28 PM

#29

Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty

Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ

Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

Mike, you take some awesome pictures of the hardly seen Arizona wildlife. Congratulations on being featured.

Jul 05, 2009 05:26 AM

Maria Morton

Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Spectacular scenery captured so eloquently by you on "film." Thanks.

Jul 05, 2009 05:51 AM

Jamie Dumaine-Russell

RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Mike - Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful day to celebrate it!! :)

Jul 05, 2009 01:36 PM

Anonymous

John Morgan

You're making me want to plan a trip back to Tucson again... we had a great hike in that area together a couple of years ago. Thanks for the great shots.

Jul 05, 2009 02:44 PM

#33

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

JD,

We certainly did! I'm looking forward to your next visit. Just hiked Madera Canyon this afternoon and evening; you'd like it.

Donna,

Thanks!!

Maria,

Isn't digital photography fantastic? No film, take as many pictures as you like, and no money wasted on the bad ones.

Leolinda,