What can I say about the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum...not enough. It has an amazing zoo that houses over 300 animals. It has a colorful aquarium (inside and cool); a garden, museum and gallery. A few years ago Dan and I were traveling through the Tucson area and we happened upon the desert zoo. It was incredible then but even now, it is prettier (and additions are still coming). The desert is in bloom and alive with activity. I arrived at the museum around 5:30pm and did a casual walk along the paths and looked at the animals, plants, and aquarium. This place takes great pride with their collections of species and diversity of the Sonoran Desert region. Recently, the zoo acquired a mountainlion cub; it was still becoming oriented with it's new home but offered a brief show as did the young ocelot. They boast that it is "the lushest desert on earth" and I can not deny that claim and I have been to several deserts in my life. The ASDM has over 20 acres with more than 2 miles of easy walking paths and houses one of the most complete mineral collections in the world. For anyone who loves natural history, this is a must see venue - $12 for adult-summer rate. As with anywhere in the desert, you should be constantly aware of your surroundings and always be on alert for wildlife...particularly rattlesnakes, scorpions, and other venomous critters. Keeping hydrated, wearing proper footwear, a hat and sunscreen is standard practice in climates and terrain such as the desert. Today's temperature in the desert: at 3pm it was a dry, 109 degrees; at 10pm it was much cooler at 88 degrees.

What made this trip to the A-S Desert Museum so special was on this Saturday, they offered a special night tour of the desert at twilight - when it comes alive. I got so excited just thinking about all the creatures I could possibly see, hear and smell. The night tour started about 8pm and ended around 10pm. Due to us being in a less controlled environment, there was a short briefing regarding the "do's and don't's" and sadly, no electronic devices were allowed. There was a brief warning about scorpions and information that later became very important to me. We were armed with a small blacklight flashlight, a bottle of water and an escort who was filled with knowledge and skill for being in desert. Many of the trails we took were inside the zoo but when we left the security of the cages and fences, we were then part of the wild - but this was their home - this was the real desert.

Within a few feet outside of the zoo, we were directed to turn on our blacklights and hold them down to where we would step next...1st lesson: Never put your hand or foot anywhere that you can't see; lesson # 2: scorpions glow under blacklights and boy what a show...those things were everywhere. The guide suggested everyone who lives where scorpions do, buy a blacklight flashlight and check your living spaces regularly. That is the next purchase I'm getting from walmart. Joining us across a small valley and on a ridge was a coyote; he was just beginning his nightly hunt and his step was brisk and without distraction. Also, along a dry bed was a porcupine rooting around some stones. There was the ocassional rat (not mouse) that scurried across our path and several types of lizards...and you can't ever forget about the scorpions. Throughout the hike there was only one sight of a rattlesnake but our guide made effort to find it; but, you can bet your sweet batooty that they were many more along the way.

I guess the biggest fallacy was thinking that the desert becomes quiet after dark; the silence from human noise allowed us to hear several animals in the far and close distance as they welcomed the cool and darkened hours. The guide identified a Javelina in a nearby area - he said it had been trying to get in to the zoo to join the herd that is housed there. Screeching birds in the distance seemed to echo across the canyons for the longest time; with eyes closed, their call could be heard coming from different directions in the desert below. A dozen or so bats joined our tour and entertained us as they fed on bugs; and, we saw a few prairie dogs just as they reached the safety of their den.

I imagined that being out on the desert floor, on a darkened night, armed with only a flashlight and a bottle of water **(not)**, would be a close second to being on an African safari. This had thrills, chills, excitement and beauty.

The story and adventure didn't end when the tour was over; I saw several furry and slithery things alongside the road on my drive back to camp. There were skunks and deer, lizards and snakes and lots of glowing eyes. Needless to say, even though the speed limit was 40mph, I found myself creeping along - as others did, hoping to catch another sight of creatures that call the desert their home.