Here's something you might not expect to find on the edge of the sprawling Tucson metropolitan area: wild horses. A small herd of perhaps 15 animals - technically known as feral horses - roams the rugged ridges and canyons of the Tortolita Mountains northwest of the city. The herd has survived in the wild since at least the 1920s or 1930s, by some ranchers' estimates. What's remarkable is that the horses still go about their corral-and-saddle-free ways - even as the Tortolitas have seen a development boom, including the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Resort, golf courses, homes and a popular park in recent years. "I have seen five of the horses in one group and a solo several times - always moving away quickly," said Mark Flint, a hiker and trail designer who treks the range frequently on trail projects. "One hiker I talked to said he saw a group of 13."
Flint said he has been unable to get photos of the swiftly retreating horses...more
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