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The Great Saguaro Caper
It is hard to imagine the American Southwest without the iconic images of the great saguaro cactus towering 20 feet into the hot, relentless desert sky. For one park ranger at the Saguaro National Park in Arizona, that is exactly the horror she found one morning as she arrived at her post. It was a hot July morning. The temperatures were already approaching 100 degrees at 8:00am. Ranger Jane drove into the park prepared for the day ahead of her. She was leading a hike at 9:00am at the Cactus Bloom trail and three more following that one as she did each day.
The Cactus Bloom Trail is a short, mild hike on flat terrain. Its appeal is the magnificent saguaros along the trail at all stages of growth. In mid-summer the cacti are at full bloom with ripening fruit being feasted on by neighboring birds, mammals, reptiles, and even insects. It is a wondrous thing to witness; such life thriving in the desert. Young cacti find shelter under the lush mesquite and Palo Verde trees, fleshy with new growth. Older saguaros rising four feet above the desert floor are just beginning to show the first blooms in a long process of nearly 30 years. And the real desert champions, the adult saguaros, towering 20 feet into the sky with arms outstretched. Imagine what they have seen in the 75, and even 100 years that they have stood in that same spot watching over the desert.
Ranger Jane’s last hike yesterday had ended just as the park was closing for the day. That final hike had exhausted her. Twelve boy scouts, two scout leaders, a doctor and his brother, in town from Cleveland, and three tourists from Peru. The scouts were high energy and it was hot. Ranger Jane had to say her closing remarks as she was locking the park gate and pushing the hikers toward the parking lot. The only one that remained in the park was George, a 30 year veteran maintenance worker at the Park. A fifth generation Tohono O’odham Indian, George was deeply connected to this place. Few were the days that Ranger Jane was not impressed with George’s stamina, attention to detail, and love for this land. Ranger Jane waved good bye to George and wearily walked to her jeep. She was never so happy to be at the end of a long work day. On her long drive to the park entrance gate she barely noticed the two trucks whizzing by her. It occurred to her that maintenance must have a project they were working on that evening at the trail’s restroom, which had been closed for weeks due to clogged pipes. Jane smiled in anticipation of the next day. She knew hikers would be pleased to have bathrooms close by.
Today was a new day. As Ranger Jane approached the trailhead she was surprised to see the “Out of Order” sign still attached to the restroom’s door. She continued on picking up garbage that had blown in from the parking lot. Suddenly Jane looked up and gasped at what lie in front of her; or what did not lie in front of her?
At the trailhead, where yesterday there was a landscape rich with young cacti, just beginning to bloom, now a barren, desolate desert floor pocked with careless holes where saguaros had been ripped from their home lay out before her. Ranger Jane was frozen in disbelief. Who would do this? What reason was there to destroy such a beautiful place? Ranger Jane radioed headquarters, hands shaky with sadness and anger.
Park rangers and law enforcement arrived in minutes and began surveying the impossible acts that had occurred here. A law enforcement agent began questioning Ranger Jane.
“What time did you leave the park?”
“Did you lock the gate?”
“Was anyone still in the park?”
“Tell me about your hikers? Did anyone of them appear suspicious? Did you see them all leave?”
“Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?”
In all, 14 saguaro cacti were taken. An additional 31 saguaro saplings were removed carelessly and without consideration. The area was left empty. Rangers discovered one left hand glove, a wooden shovel handle splintered by a break, a heavy cardboard roll three feet long with the initials R.M., and foot prints in all directions. Tire treads were also found near the scene.
Park rangers were furious and ready to find the criminals who had stolen these treasured plants and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the Arizona law which protects the saguaro cactus from being removed from any public land without permit. The investigation began with haste. Using information provided primarily by Ranger Jane, law enforcement began tracking down and interrogating potential witnesses. Initial evidence collection was done on the scene.