Are Soaring Temps, Climate Change Killing Arizona’s Saguaro Cactus?

Imagine the desert southwest. Now imagine it WITHOUT the iconic saguaro cactus, the Sentinel of the Desert.

The idea is depressing, but if the extreme heat and extensive drought continue, this could be a real possibility.

Arizona's Saguaro Cactus: Fighting Heat and Drought

There's nothing more symbolic of the American Southwest than the saguaro cactus. This succulent is known for tenacity and resilience, adapted to the harsh, arid conditions of the Arizona-Sonoran desert. The giant of the desert is a master of water storage, which helps it survive prolonged periods of drought.

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The saguaro's root systems cover an extensive area, spreading out wide and shallow, allowing it to absorb precious moisture from rare desert showers quickly. And those savage spines protect it from hungry herbivores while reducing water loss by slowing airflow around the plant's surface.

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Arizona's Saguaro Cactus: Fighting for Life

This monumental cactus is a survivor, but everything has its limits. The iconic survivor is currently under tremendous stress, and it's facing a dire situation in Arizona right now.

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Extreme heat and prolonged drought conditions are exacting a toll on these majestic plants. In recent years, record-breaking temperatures have stressed the saguaros beyond their capacity to adapt.

The intense heat has started to cause the cacti to lose their internal water reserves. Many of the plants have begun to experience structural collapse and death.

Scientists at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix first identified the problem.

According to reports, almost 20% of the Garden's saguaro population has died since 2020.

They've displayed unusual symptoms, snapping rather than collapsing, indicating the saguaro are suffering from severe internal damage.

Saving Arizona's Saguaro Cactus 

Scientists and conservationists are working to mitigate the effects of climate change to help the saguaro recover.

The National Park Service and conservation organizations across the state are removing buffelgrass to prevent it from fueling more frequent and intense fires that could endanger and wipe out whole colonies of saguaro.

We can't imagine Arizona without the resilient, iconic Sentinel of the desert. And let's hope we never have to.

Sources: FOX 10 Phoenix | USA TODAY | U.S. Department of the Interior |  National Park Service | National Forest Foundation | Wikipedia | Desert Botanical Garden