Rancho El Aribabi, Sonora

Rancho El Aribabi is half an hour East of Imuris and stretches (the long dimension - 10,000 acres total area) from the Rio Cocospera up into the Sierra Azul. The owner is attempting to diversify from destructive cattle ranching by using the ranch for research, hunting, birdwatching, camping, and group retreats. Owner Carlos Robles has taken cows off much of the ranch, which is recovering nicely. A green ribbon or riparian vegetation grow along the Rio Cocospera, which flows strongly through the ranch. The bird life here is impressive, including this northernmost recorded breeding Sinaloan Wren.

The mountainous upper ranch is encinal (oak forest) and oak savannah. Grasslands between trees is gorgeous and has recovered amazingly well from cattle. In the 45 minute drive to our mammal tracking site we saw nearly 20 deer and as soon as we stepped out of the truck mountain lion tracks greeted us. Jaguars and Ocelots frequent the ranch.

Carlos is interested in groups using the ranch for a reasonable fee. He has a website at www.elaribabi.org with a contact email.