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Desert Bighorn Sheep On Pusch Ridge, Oro Valley, AZ

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;
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Photos copyright Mike in Tucson

Posted by Mike Jones on 07/04/2009 04:21 AM

Comments (34)

Bighorn Sheep in Oro Valley, AZ in the Regional (Localism) Channel

pusch ridge, desert bighorn sheep, tucson, tucson mortgage, catalina state park, mike in tucson

Originally posted at: Tucson By Choice!: Desert Bighorn Sheep On Pusch Ridge, Oro Valley, AZ

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34 Comments on Desert Bighorn Sheep On Pusch Ridge, Oro Valley, AZ

JUL

Mike - I've asked before and I'll ask again .... When are you publishing your coffee table book?

Your photographs are terriffic!

Stewart,

Funny thing; I had a meeting with two people today about a business venture, and the thing that ignited it was my photography. Thanks for your encouragement; it's much appreciated.

Mike in Tucson

JUL

Hi Mike!
These are beautiful photos...were you really that close to the sheep? Cool!

Beautiful photos, Mike. And just so you know ... I now have a "Arizona Vacation Fund" envelope in my dresser drawer. LOL

Mike, great photos! Again, I love photos of desert bighorns, I have seen a few of them in the wild, they are a magnificent animal!

"A Moment In Time"

This scene may never again exist. We are treated to a brief moment in time.

Wow! Neat shot Mike. One of the few times that I have seen a photo featured. Congrats...

Your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN

Beautiful!

Cheryl,

Thanks for stopping by!

Michael,

Hey, thanks, my friend!

Lenn,

I appreciate your comment.

Tony & Darcy,

I've seen Mountain Goats in the wild in Alaska, but never a Bighorn, let alone a Desert Bighorn. What a privelege you had.

Carol,

Now you've got a plan, and not just a goal! I'm looking forward to your visit. Bring a camera.

Paula,

I really was. Come on down and visit the Desert Museum.

Mike in Tucson

Two very nice photos sir and a nice introduction to the area the Bighorns live.

This was lovely to wake up to on the 4th of July. Gorgeous shot - you are an amazing photograher.

I love the picture Mike. It gave me much needed peace this morning. Thank you.

Now that is one cool picture!! Happy 4th of July Mike! Keep the pics coming.

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

Mike-- you've always got the BEST photos! Thanks for posting this today. Happy 4th!

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.

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.