Man Versus Saguaro Cactus

Nature often wins, especially when that nature is a two-ton cactus

Here you’ll find stories of humans like you and I, losing battles against the deadlier side of flowering plants. Saguaros aren’t like the cute cacti succulents you might find in your local Walgreens or CVS. Saguaros are the kings of the cactus world and are not to be trifled with.

Before we learn about cactus crime, let’s learn about the saguaro cactus itself.

Saguaros are Heavy

The saguaro cactus owes its automobile-like weight to its unique water retention capabilities. Saguaros absorb and store huge amounts of water during monsoon rains. Their spongy skin expands to accommodate the added moisture, and the tissue layer inside holds the water for dryer times. A fully hydrated saguaro can weigh up to 4,800 pounds.

Saguaros are Tall

Saguaros achieve their impressive height through time and patience. It can take 10 years to reach just one inch in height. However, they can live for over 150 years, giving them plenty of time to reach their maximum height. A saguaro’s woody, rib-like internal structure provides support, enabling it to grow upwards and outwards, reaching heights, on average, of around 40 feet.

Saguaros are Important

To the Tohono O’odham people, the saguaro cactus holds profound cultural, spiritual, and practical significance. Saguaros are considered sacred and are deeply intertwined with the tribe’s heritage and way of life. According to Tohono O’odham tradition, saguaros are believed to be the transformed ancestors of their people, embodying their spirits and watching over the desert. Each year, the Tohono O’odham people celebrate the annual saguaro fruit harvest. The harvest is not only a vital source of nutrition, providing fruit that is used to make syrup, jam, and ceremonial wine, but also a time for gathering together. The saguaro symbolizes endurance, resilience, and the deep connection between the Tohono O’odham people and their desert homeland.

The Saguaro is Protected

In Arizona, damaging or destroying a saguaro cactus is considered a serious offense and can result in significant penalties. Saguaros are protected under the Arizona Native Plant Law, which makes it illegal to harm these iconic cacti. Penalties for violating this law can include substantial fines, with amounts varying depending on the severity of the damage and the cactus’s size and age. In some cases, fines can reach up to $5,000 per incident. Additionally, violators may face criminal charges, leading to possible jail time. The state takes these protections seriously to preserve its unique desert ecosystem and the cultural heritage associated with the saguaro cactus.

What is a saguaro made of?

Carnegiea gigantea is composed of several key parts, each contributing to its survival and iconic appearance. The saguaro has a ribbed exterior with accordion-like pleats. The outer skin of the saguaro is covered in a tough, waxy coating that helps minimize water loss through evaporation. Sharp spines protect the cactus from herbivores and provide some shade, reducing water loss. Beneath the skin, the saguaro’s flesh is spongy and capable of holding significant amounts of water.

The inside is supported by a woody, cylindrical framework made of tough fibers. This skeleton provides structural support, allowing the cactus to grow tall and withstand strong desert winds. Saguaros have two different types of roots. The network of fine roots near the surface spread out horizontally to absorb water. Deeper and thicker taproots anchor the plant and access groundwater.

In Bloom

During the blooming season, usually in late spring, saguaros produce large, white flowers at the tips of their arms and main stem. These flowers are pollinated by bats, birds, and insects. After pollination, the cactus produces edible fruit, which ripens in early summer and is a vital food source for many desert animals and the Tohono O’odham people.

When a saguaro has had enough…

Of the two very serious instances involving man versus saguaro only one man lived to tell the tale.

Meet William Mason

On June 19th, 2012 William Mason was called to an emergency water leak in his hometown of Yuma, Arizona. While he was hard at work, he heard the shouts of his co-workers but it was too late.

Before he could react a 16-foot saguaro came crashing down on to him. The initial blow struck him on the back of his head, compressing a vertebra in his back. As he rolled, his left leg was broken and the nearly 2,500 pound cactus settled on his chest.

Thanks to some quick thinking crew members, William Mason lived. A month later he was up and walking with a walker and attending rehab three times a week. He had new metal parts inside holding him together but he was alive. The worst part of the whole ordeal? Mason got stuck with 146 cactus spines all over his body. Some were still inside of him 30 days later.

As far as I can tell, William Mason is still alive and well. He and his wife, who is a major player in healthcare are back in their home state of Arkansas.

The Tale of David Grundman…

Although many people think it’s one of those tall-tales from the Old West, Arizona is the only state where a man has been killed by a saguaro cactus. On Thursday, February 4th, 1982, A 27-year-old Phoenix man loaded up his truck with beer and a shotgun and headed out into the desert.

Along with his roommate and good friend, Joseph Suchochi, the pair had already managed to gun down one giant cactus. Grundman threw back another beer and approached a taller, meaner looking saguaro. Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies reported that Grundman got off two rounds from his shotgun, damaging a large arm on the 27-foot cactus. The shots loosened the five foot arm which came crashing down on top of Grundman.

Suchochi fled to get help but by the time EMS made it to the location, David Grundman was dead.

The tale of David Grundman became so infamous that even Snopes.com had to run a fact-check on it. You can read that here.

The Austin Lounge Lizards added to the mystery and lore surrounding the karma cactus when they released the single ‘Saguaro’ from their 1984 album “Creatures from the Black Saloon.”

You can listen to the song here. The lyrics are below.

The daylight was a’slippin’
Through the mountains to the east
He grabbed his guns and he mounted up
He was off to say the least
He drove along in silence
A chill was in the air
The monsters had to be cut down
Or they’d soon be everywhere

Saguaro
A menace to the west

His name was David Grundman
A noxious little twerp
Saw the giant plants as the Clanton gang
And himself as Wyatt Earp
So he drove out to the desert
They wouldn’t come to town
And Maricopa County
He vowed to shoot them down

Saguaro
A menace to the west

Well he strode up to the first one
Not the largest of the lot
With a lightning move with sidestep
And killed him with one shot
And when the smoke had cleared, the cactus
Had lost that final round
Two hundred years of nature’s work
Lay splattered on the ground

[Interlude]
Hey-ho

He crossed a small arroyo
Oh the sun was in his eyes
He was looking for the leader
He’d know him by his size
When all at once upon a ridge
The squinting gunman saw
27 feet of succulent
Challenging his draw

Saguaro
A menace to the west

He was slightly disadvantaged
By the angle of the sun
But afterall the cactus
Wasn’t packing any gun
His finger twitched, he made his move
He drew, his guns did bark
And echoed with the laughter
As the bullets hit their mark

Well the giant cactus trembled
Then came that warning sound
The mighty arm of justice
Came hurling toward the ground
And the gunman staggered backwards
He whimpered and he cried
The Saguaro
Crushed him like a bug
And David Grundman died

Saguaro, Saguaro, Saguaro, Saguaro

David Grundman
A menace to the west

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