A wild cat, by size the third largest feline in the world and the largest in Western Hemisphere, theoretically could range across 20 million acres in Arizona and New Mexico, according to a new study spurred by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2019 study of critical habitat for jaguars.
One of the changes President Trump made possible before he left office was the renaming of New River Gorge National River in West Virginia to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and the expansion of Saguaro National Park in Arizona by about 1,200 acres. Both those changes were called for in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal 2021 that Congress passed in late December and which was signed into law by Trump.
Saguaro National Park in Arizona would be expanded and New River Gorge National River in West Virginia would be renamed under the omnibus bill Congress was trying to vote on Monday.
For those allergic to snow, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures, there is an escape to national parks in the lower half of the United States, parks that offer sweeping panoramas, interesting wildlife, warm and even hot temperatures, and lots to do.
Saguaro National Park in Arizona could grow by more than 1,200 acres if the U.S. Senate agrees with the House of Representatives on legislation that would add that much acreage to the park.
Saguaro National Park covers little more than 90,000 acres, which is small compared to Yellowstone or Death Valley national parks, and less than a quarter the size of nearby Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. But that doesn't mean you should take a windshield tour of Saguaro and be gone in 24 hours.
Nearly five years ago someone took a saw or machete to nine saguaros in Saguaro National Park. It happened again, with eight saguaros in the park's west district having been slashed or cut down.
Rocky Mountain, Sequoia, Saguaro, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks all were dealing with wildfires Monday, as was Point Reyes National Seashore, though a potent cold front sweeping down from Canada could bring some relief for firefighters in Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone.