The rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) migrates as far as 3,900 miles (one way!) and requires nectar at every stop on its journey. While non-native thistles can be invasive, at least 13 species are native to Arizona and an important food source for pollinators. Photo Courtesy of Bruce Taubert.

Author: Alexandra (Lexi) Cegielski, ASU Undergraduate Student and Researcher

Lexi Cegielski is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University majoring in Sustainability and Urban Planning. She is passionate about creating sustainable cities and preserving wildlife. Growing up in Arizona, Lexi spends her free time enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. In her spare time, she loves baking vegan desserts, hiking, and practicing yoga. To learn more about Lexi’s work and passions, visit her LinkedIn. 

Did you know that residential yards cover roughly 30% of land in the United States? This is one reason why the Arizona Wildlife Federation seeks to expand gardening for wildlife in people’s yards and neighborhoods. This includes a certification program —led by the National Wildlife Federation — that promotes the provisioning of food, water, and shelter (i.e., wildlife habitat) in residential and other gardens. You may be wondering: can residents’ yards benefit wildlife and related conservation efforts? The short answer is yes — and scientific evidence has proven it. 

Researchers affiliated with Arizona State University and the U.S. Forest Service, among others, have evaluated vegetation and bird diversity in NWF-Certified Wildlife Habitat®. Focusing on residential yards, the research team compared biodiversity in certified habitats and different types of lawns and natural areas in six U.S. cities. Specifically, the team collected data on vegetation and bird species in metropolitan Phoenix, as well as Los Angeles, Miami, Baltimore, Boston, and Minneapolis–St. Paul.

Researchers collected data on vegetation and bird species in three types of residential yards and two types of natural areas, as shown in the graph to the right below. The yard types included NWF-certified habitat and two types of lawns (defined as yards covered by at least 75% turfgrass): those fertilized (called high-input lawns) and not fertilized (low-input lawns). For each yard type, several different residential properties were surveyed in each of the six metro regions.

The team also surveyed two types of parks as “reference sites.” The idea here was to compare vegetation and bird diversity in these relatively undeveloped areas that contain wildlife habitat. Interstitial parks were sites within the metropolitan region that are managed as parks compared to relatively unmanaged nature preserves (i.e., representing native ecosystems such as the Sonoran Desert in Phoenix). For each type of reference site, 4 or 5 parks were evaluated from each metro region for a total of more than 25 natural sites.

So, what did the biodiversity surveys entail? Imagine going into your own yard and counting all of the different types of plants and birds you see. How many different species would you see? This approach essentially mirrors the methodology the researchers used to assess the diversity of species across different landscape types. This method of field research is known as community ecology surveys, and the goal is to document every unique species of bird and vegetation. In inventorying vegetation, the researchers documented cultivated vegetation including purposely planted trees, shrubs, and herbaceous (non-woody) plants. The team also inventoried “weeds”, which they consider “spontaneous vegetation” (i.e., since they are not intentionally cultivated). The field surveys generated various measures of biodiversity, including species richness — which is the number of different species of vegetation or birds found at each site. The researchers then compared species richness across the different types of yards and reference sites.

Plant Diversity

Plant ecologist Dr. Josep Padullés Cubino, who formerly was affiliated with the University of Minnesota but now is a professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, led the assessment of vegetation diversity. Dr. Padullés Cubino discovered that NWF-certified gardens hosted the highest total number of vegetation at 1,408 species, followed by low-input lawns, then high-input lawns, and reference natural areas. While we might expect higher plant variety in natural areas versus yards, the opposite was found to be true. The higher species richness per unit area in residential yards compared to natural areas is due to the introduction and maintenance of non-native species found at nurseries.

A graphic related to vegetation diversity is known as a species accumulation curve (below right), which shows the differences in the number of species between each landscape type. From the figure, we clearly see that NWF-certified gardens host a larger number of species than other landscape types, including both types of lawns and the two reference sites. In fact, notice how the top line is still on an upward trend at 25 sampled plots. This indicates that even more species would have been found if the team continued to collect data from additional gardens.  

Certified wildlife yards also excelled compared to various-input lawns because of the higher variation inseed mass. Higher seed mass essentially means more food sources for birds and other wildlife available. Additionally, seed mass increases the ability of plants to reproduce. In all, plant diversity in a garden is crucial for wildlife to feast and live. 

Ensuring your wildlife garden contains various plants is an exceptional start to a successful wildlife garden. From the words of the expert himself, Josep Padullés Cubino reminds you that, “Wildlife gardening is a process that takes time. Be patient and take time to observe the changes in your garden and the wildlife it attracts.”

Bird Diversity

Wildlife ecologist Dr. Susannah Lerman, who is a Research Ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service, is passionate about native birds. In a publication she led with Dr. Desiree Narango, the team demonstrated that residential yards — regardless of the type — supported a greater number of bird species compared to the reference natural areas (i.e., parks). Unlike vegetation diversity, yards with NWF-certified habitats hosted similarly high species richness in the bird communities as the low- and high-input lawns. Yet community turnover — another measure of biodiversity — was uniquely highest in wildlife-certified yards compared to other yard types. Community turnover evaluates the magnitude of changes in the species present from one yard to another. What this essentially means is that in high-input lawns, we are likely to find the same common species — for example, rock pigeons, house sparrows, and great-tailed grackles — from one lawn to the next. But in NWF-certified yards, we see more changes in bird species from one NWF-certified yard to another. For instance, in one certified yard, you might see an Abert’s towhee, Anna’s hummingbird, and verdin, yet in the next, you might also see cactus wren, and in the next a curve-billed thrasher, and yet in another, a greater roadrunner. The image below, designed by Dr. Lerman, demonstrates the idea of community turnover with bird species common in the U.S. While lawn after lawn we see pigeons, sparrows, and grackles, the species in certified yards vary more greatly from habitat to habitat (i.e., a robin, cardinal, and woodpecker may be in one certified habitat yard, but in the next we see a robin along with wood thrush and chickadee, and in additional residential habitats we pick up additional species such as a grey catbird and yellow warbler. 

Dr. Lerman and colleagues’ research also found that neighborhoods withabundant tree canopy feature more diverse birds, and especially in warmer regions such as Arizona, trees can be a great way for species to stay cool and protected from threats. Meanwhile, impervious surfaces can exacerbate heat and lower biodiversity. Thus, in addition to managing yards as a wildlife habitat by following NWF’s certification guidelines, additional tips for attracting birds include increasing tree cover and reducing impervious surfaces such as patios. 

Lerman’s team also found that residential wildlife habitats tend to attract bird species with “high public interest,” or in other words, birds that people tend to appreciate and enjoy seeing. Example species include the Gilded Flicker and Costa’s Hummingbird. In contrast, the natural areas, or parks, tend to support “species of conservation concern,” which are birds that are imperiled due to declines in their populations. Example species of concern are the Cactus Wren and Gambel’s Quail. As a result, Dr. Lerman and colleagues advocate for both “land sparing” and “land sharing” approaches to conservation; while land sparing involves protecting natural areas in parks and preserves, land sharing entails residents creating wildlife habitat to share their yards with wildlife. Through both land sparing and sharing, human-dominated landscapes such as cities can protect wildlife and help preserve biodiversity.

Final Thoughts

In sum, scientific evidence from field research confirms that NWF-certified habitats in people’s yards enhance conservation by hosting diverse vegetation, which in turn supports varied bird species that people appreciate. Thus, residents can directly make a difference in their own yards by managing bird habitats. Not only does wildlife gardening provide shelter and resources for diverse wildlife, but people also reap related benefits. As Dr. Lerman notes, “There's also a lot of joy that comes from seeing different kinds of birds in your backyard.” 

Meet the ASU Team

To find out how to get certified or otherwise garden for wildlife, visit www.nwf.org/CERTIFY

Learn more about certified wildlife gardens in Arizona

Get tips on how to make your wildlife garden beautiful and low-maintenance

Be sure to sign up for Arizona Wildlife Federation’s E-News to receive regular updates on Gardening for Wildlife in Arizona!

Sources 

Lerman, S. B., Narango, D. L., Avolio, M. L., Bratt, A. R., Engebretson, J. M., Groffman, P. M., Hall, S. J., Heffernan, J. B., Hobbie, S. E., Larson, K. L., Locke, D. H., Neill, C., Nelson, K. C., Padullés Cubino, J., & Trammell, T. L. E. (2021). Residential yard management and landscape cover affect urban bird community diversity across the continental USA. Ecological Applications, 31(8), e02455. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2455

Lerman, S.B., K.L. Larson, D.L. Narango, M.A. Goddard, and P.P. Marra. 2023. Humanity for habitat: Residential yards as an opportunity for biodiversity conservation. Bioscience. 73: 671-689. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biad085

Padullés Cubino, J., Cavender-Bares, J., Groffman, P. M., Avolio, M. L., Bratt, A. R., Hall, S. J., Larson, K. L., Lerman, S. B., Narango, D. L., Neill, C., Trammell, T. L. E., Wheeler, M. M., & Hobbie, S. E. (2020). Taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional composition and homogenization of residential yard vegetation with contrasting management. Landscape and Urban Planning, 202, 103877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103877

Note: the species accumulation curve above was Figure 2 published by Elsevier in https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204620300323?via%3Dihub

Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus). Photo Courtesy of Bruce Taubert.

Author: Kelli Larson, Professor of Geography and Sustainability at ASU

Kelli Larson is a Professor at Arizona State University who moved to the Sonoran Desert in 2005 and regularly engages students in her research. Her work focuses on how people interact with nature and manage urban landscapes and the environment. When she is not working, Kelli practices yoga and loves to hike, paddle, and otherwise explore nature and different places throughout Arizona and elsewhere. She also enjoys spending time with her dogs, going to plays, and cooking. You can learn more about Kelli or contact her through ASU.

From forested mountains to desert landscapes, wildlife travel far and wide to seek the best habitat for their survival. As urban and residential areas expand, wildlife increasingly finds their way into our backyards and neighborhoods. Although urbanization and other human activities degrade wildlife habitat worldwide, people can positively impact wildlife where they live. In particular, gardening for wildlife in residential yards and neighborhoods can provide crucial habitat for birds, bees, and other animals, thereby helping to protect wildlife and conserve biodiversity. 

Based at Arizona State University in Tempe, my research team has been collaborating with other researchers and conservationists to answer a variety of questions related to the environmental impacts of residents’ yards, broadly defined as the outdoor areas of homes inclusive of lawns (i.e., turfgrass), other plant species, gravel or wood mulch, patio areas, pools, and other natural or built features. Yards are particularly prevalent in neighborhoods with “single-family” or detached homes, in contrast to “multi-family” homes such as apartments and condos. You might ask: just how widespread are yards, and do they really matter? The short answer is yes — and in the U.S., residential areas cover about 30% of land, and among the U.S. housing stock, about two-thirds constitute single-family housing with yards, which we also refer to as residential landscapes or gardens. Since the design and management of these residential landscapes can significantly impact the environment, my research broadly examines: how and why do residents design and manage their yards in various ways, and what are the environmental as well as societal implications? 

As a Professor of Geography and Sustainability at Arizona State University (ASU), I have been conducting social science research on residential landscapes for nearly twenty years, particularly within metropolitan Phoenix and other urban regions of the U.S. My early research on yards primarily focused on water conservation in our arid region, since lawns and other landscape features (e.g., pools) in residential areas consume a significant amount of water. In fact, did you know that, collectively, residents’ irrigation of lawns and other plants — coupled with other outdoor water uses (including evaporation from pools) — constitute up to two-thirds of all water consumed in municipal (urban areas) of Arizona? Did you know that in Arizona's urban areas, up to two-thirds of all municipal water is consumed through outdoor uses, including lawn irrigation, plant watering, and pool evaporation? However, since the 1980s, cities like Phoenix and others in the southwestern U.S. have been transitioning away from mesic (wet) lawns to what researchers call xeric (dry) yards.

Xeric yards — which contain gravel or rock groundcover (instead of turfgrass, or lawns) — are often planted with native vegetation or climate-adapted, low water-use plants. As these landscapes have grown and replaced lawns in recent decades, the region has substantially lowered per-capita water use. This shift in residential (and other) landscapes not only conserves our state’s water resources; they can also have a positive impact on wildlife. So, over the last decade, I have been collaborating with ecologists and other social scientists to investigate: who is gardening for wildlife, and why? In other words, what factors motivate people to design and manage their yards in ways that provide habitat for wildlife, and what barriers exist to the adoption and expansion of wildlife-friendly yards? Meanwhile, I collaborate with ecologists and other scientists to examine how different yard designs and management practices affect the environment, including wildlife. 

From left to right: Diadasia diminuta, Lucifer sheartail hummingbird (Calothorax lucifer), and lesser longnosed bat (Leptonycteris curasuae yerbabuenae). Photos Courtesy of Bruce Taubert.

In a series of blog posts, my team will be sharing research on residential yards with you. The research projects we feature involve partnerships between ASU, the Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF), and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), especially their programs focused on gardening for wildlife. If you are unfamiliar with these programs, they include certification programs that acknowledge residents' efforts to provide food, water, and shelter to wildlife, which you can read more about on the AWF and NWF websites. In a previous project funded by the National Science Foundation, an interdisciplinary team of social and ecological scientists collected data in NWF-certified habitats in residential yards and other types of landscapes to measure plant and bird biodiversity. During this project, I also led the analysis of social survey data to better understand who is gardening for wildlife and what is motivating them relative to people with traditional lawns or other types of landscapes. More recently, we have been analyzing where Certified Wildlife Habitats® are located in the state, and how many yards and other types of properties have been certified over the last 50 years. In this blog series, we present the results and welcome your feedback. 

The ASU team includes three bright undergraduate students — all of whom are majoring in sustainability with links to geographical sciences and urban planning. All three are passionate about wildlife and conservation: Alexandra (Lexi) Cegielski, Sharika Kapur, and Sophia Ruger. Each student has co-written a blog post to share past and recent research findings.

First, Lexi details the biodiversity impacts of Certified Wildlife Habitats® in people’s yards compared to other types of yards and parks based on research by my colleagues, Drs. Padu Cubinos, who is a biogeographer, and Susannah Lerman, who is an ecologist.

Next, Sharika explains how aesthetics and maintenance concerns dominate when residents are making decisions about their yards. By extension, we provide tips for designing beautiful yards that are easy to maintain.

Lastly, Sophia Ruger presents our preliminary geospatial and temporal analyses of the Certified Wildlife Habitats® in Arizona, partly using Geographic Information Systems which enable mapping and spatial analysis. In addition to showing that the vast majority of certifications are in people’s yards, some years have experienced relatively high and low numbers of Certified Wildlife Habitats®, which are prevalent in some Arizona communities more than others.

We hope you enjoy learning about our work!

Mexico state and federal team with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Photo Courtesy of Betty Dickens.

Author: Glen Dickens, President, Board of Directors, Arizona Wildlife Federation and Vice President, Board of Directors, Arizona Antelope Foundation

Glen Dickens is a retired Arizona Game and Fish Department Certified Wildlife Biologist. He is currently on the Board of the Arizona Antelope Foundation and has served as their Vice President and Projects manager since 2010. He is currently the President of the Arizona Wildlife Federation joining their board in 2010. Glen has a passion not just for wildlife, but to ensure that wildlife and habitat policies and decisions are grounded in “sound science and best governance.”

Tuesday, October 29, 2024, marked a wildlife restoration milestone when Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) biologists and volunteers delivered 98 healthy black-tailed prairie dogs (BTPD) to private ranch grasslands north of Cananea, Sonora. This reintroduction effort was possible because of the growth and success of reintroduced BTPD colonies in the Bureau of Land Management’s Las Cienegas National Conservation Area near Sonoita, Arizona.

The AZGFD team pose next to the 98 black-tailed prairie dogs being transported. Photo Courtesy of Betty Dickens.

Historically, Arizona was home to two of the five species of prairie dogs: the Gunnison’s and the black-tailed. While the Gunnison’s of northern Arizona survived efforts to remove them through poisoning from the 1920s through the 1950s, by 1960 black-tailed prairie dogs had been successfully removed from their entire range of 740,000 acres of grasslands in Santa Cruz, Pima, Cochise, and Graham counties. In response to a National Wildlife Federation 1998 petition to list the BTPD as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, a Western states recovery action plan was put in place in 2009. As a result of that National Management Plan, Arizona agreed to reintroduce BTPD to 7,100 acres in at least three counties to help the recovery of the species. 

Paco and Perrito helping transport one coterie of black-tailed prairie dogs. Photo Courtesy of Betty Dickens.

In 2008, this effort (funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) began in earnest in Arizona when BTPD trapped in New Mexico were re-introduced to the BLM’s Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. As of 2024, six colonies have been established in this grassland zone.

In 2011, in an effort to provide genetic diversity to the then three Las Cienegas growing colonies the AZGFD, in cooperation with the Secretariat of Environment Natural Resources and Fisheries Mexico (SEMARNAT), Comisión de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable del Estado de Sonora (CEDES), and a private landowner/rancher in Sonora, Mexico captured 60 BTPD in Sonora and distributed them equally to each of the three new and growing colonies in Las Cienegas. Due to circumstances that occurred over the next several years, the colony on the private ranch in Sonora failed.

Thus, this fall’s effort to return and re-establish BTPD on the same Sonoran ranch has been on the books for quite some time. The AZGFD set up camp near the sponsor colony to be trapped on October 17th to begin pre-baiting the prairie dogs. Trapping occurred on the 25th and 26th of October. 

To successfully trap and relocate prairie dogs, it is important to understand their biology. Behaviorally, all prairie dog colonies are comprised of multiple social units, referred to as coteries. A prairie dog coterie is a family unit of prairie dogs who live together within the boundary of a colony. Coteries are made up of one or two breeding males, several breeding females, and their young. In recognition of this social order and behavior, AZGFD biologists go to great lengths to identify and actually flag these family groups prior to trapping to ensure that they are caged and transported together and released as a family unit into their respective new home’s holding cage and artificial burrow (see an example of this in the photo to the right).

By Sunday night, all 98 BTPDs were snug in their respective transport cages and ready for transport in two vans (they receive both alfalfa pellets and carrots while in their transport cages…they simply love carrots!). On October 27th, biologists and other personnel from Mexico’s two wildlife agencies and their Department of Agriculture arrived. The next morning, everyone caravaned south in five vehicles to Douglas to cross into Sonora at the Aqua Prieta port of entry. The necessary inspections and paperwork took several hours to complete (prairie dogs had never been imported to Mexico!). Finally at 2 pm, with permitting completed, we headed southwest to the city of Cananea to overnight. 

Black-tailed prairie dog nibbling on a carrot. Photo Courtesy of Betty Dickens.

Arising early Tuesday morning, October 29th, the group headed north from Cananea in the dark for the hour-and-a-half drive to the ranch release site. The site had been prepared in advance by SEMINART and CEDES biologists with 25 cages and artificial burrows. Over the next several hours, the process of quietly removing the prairie dogs from the van and putting the individual family coteries into their respectively numbered and flagged artificial burrows occurred. By 3 pm, the restoration mission was completed! 

Transferring black-tailed prairie dogs to their new home. Photo Courtesy of Betty Dickens.

To this long-retired AZGFD wildlife biologist who began mapping the Gunnison’s prairie dogs in 1980, who worked on the reintroduction of the black-footed ferrets in 1996, and who encouraged the reintroduction of the BTPD to southeastern Arizona in the late 1990s, this was a moving event. I shed many a tear as I observed the respect and care that was demonstrated by each and every biologist, from both of our countries, to re-establish this little, keystone grassland species. It’s not small stuff!

Author: Elise Ketcham, Communications Manager, Arizona Wildlife Federation

Elise has been a dedicated team member of the Arizona Wildlife Federation for over two years. She is an advocate for the protection of and public education about our wildlife species and public lands. A passionate birder and regular hiker, she also leads AWF's All Afield Hikes once a month.

Halloween is here, and while we’re busy dressing up, Arizona’s nocturnal wildlife is out celebrating — no costume or disguise needed when you’re naturally mysterious! Nocturnal wildlife is active tonight too, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate while looking out for Arizona’s incredible native species. Here’s how you can keep the festivities fun and safe for our wildlife neighbors.

1. Nocturnal Wildlife to Watch for This Halloween

If you’re out and about tonight, keep an eye (and ear!) out for some of Arizona’s nocturnal wildlife that may be joining the Halloween festivities:

• Owls: Arizona has 13 species of owl! The call of great horned owls often echoes through the night, as they are one of our most commonly seen owls. Halloween is a fitting time to spot these incredible birds — perhaps you’ll even observe one capturing a midnight snack!

• Bats: While some may be alarmed to see bats flitting around the sky at dusk, know that they are a critical part of our ecosystems and prefer to stay away from people. One amazing example of the importance of our native bats is the lesser long-nosed bats, who act as a key pollinator for cacti, particularly the saguaro cactus. Arizona’s 28 different bat species swoop through the sky hunting for insects, so keep an eye out for them tonight!

• Ringtail: Known for being elusive, Arizona’s state mammal may be quietly moving in the background. These adorable raccoon and coatimundi relatives are nocturnal hunters and are not in fact cats at all despite often being referred to as ringtail cats. They are fantastic climbers, so look up on rocky hills, trees, and saguaro to try to spot them!

An Arizona ringtail (Bassariscus a. arizonensis) peeks from behind a rockwall in the darkness of a natural cave. Photo Courtesy of Deidre Denali Rosenberg.

2. Wildlife-Friendly Halloween Decorations

As fun as Halloween decorations can be, some can unintentionally pose risks to wildlife:

• Avoid Fake Spiderwebs: Birds, insects, and even small mammals can easily get entangled in synthetic webbing, causing serious harm. Instead, use pumpkins, cornstalks, and natural materials to create a spooky atmosphere outside your house. You can also keep those fake (and possibly real, we don’t judge!) spiderwebs inside your home.

• Use Low Lighting: Flashing lights can disrupt the natural rhythms of nocturnal animals. Solar lights on timers and string lights with consistent brightness are great options that limit disturbances.

• Keep Pumpkins Out of Reach: To prevent nibbling from curious animals like javelinas and raccoons, keep pumpkins on higher surfaces like porch railings or hang them from sturdy hooks.

3. After Halloween: Turn Pumpkins into a Feast for Birds!

After Halloween is over, don’t let those pumpkins go to waste! Repurpose them as bird feeders to offer local birds a tasty meal as temperatures start to cool and food becomes more difficult to find.

• DIY Bird Feeder: Simply cut your pumpkin in half, remove any leftover pulp, and fill it with birdseed. Place it in a spot where birds feel safe, like the branch of a tree, and watch as the birds feast.

• Composting: If you prefer, compost your pumpkins after Halloween to enrich your soil, which can support the insects that many local species rely on.

4. Preparing Your Yard for Cooler Nights

Arizona’s wildlife may be experiencing cooler nights and even snow in the northern parts of the state. Consider these steps to help native species through the seasonal shift:

• Leave Some Leaf Litter: Leaf piles can provide shelter and warmth for insects, small mammals, and ground-feeding birds. By leaving some areas unraked, you’re creating a natural habitat for these creatures.

• Fresh Water: Water sources are important year-round, especially in the hotter areas of our state. Place a bird bath or shallow dish of fresh water where wildlife can safely reach it. Note — if the bird bath is a bit deep, add in some rocks to assist smaller wildlife like lizards and bees in crawling out if they fall in the water.

5. Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat!

The Arizona Wildlife Federation partners with the National Wildlife Federation to help you transform your outdoor space into a certified wildlife habitat. By providing essentials like food, water, and cover, you can join others across Arizona who support our wildlife year-round. When you certify your habitat and purchase a certified wildlife habitat sign, a portion of the cost supports the Arizona Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation's programs to help stop the decline of habitat for bees, butterflies, birds, amphibians, and other wildlife.

Enjoy Halloween with a wild touch this year, and let’s keep the festivities safe and friendly for our wild neighbors. With a little care and creativity, you can make Halloween magical for both people and wildlife!

Author: Elise Ketcham, Communications Manager, Arizona Wildlife Federation

Elise has been a dedicated team member of the Arizona Wildlife Federation for over two years. She is an advocate for the protection of and public education about our wildlife species and public lands. A passionate birder and regular hiker, she also leads AWF's All Afield Hikes once a month.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) Small Game Program is embarking on an exciting research project to unravel the migratory patterns and daily movements of the interior band-tailed

 pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata fasciata) in Arizona. These striking birds grace our state from late March through mid-October, nesting in the lush canopies of mixed conifer forests, ponderosa pines, and dense stands of evergreen oaks and pines between elevations of 4,500 and 9,100 feet.

Author: Jeffrey Sorensen, Invertebrate Wildlife Program Manager, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)

Jeff is the “Snail Guy” for Arizona and has been with AZGFD for over 33 years as a wildlife and fisheries biologist. He is also a volunteer rappelling instructor for the AWF’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops.

If you spot what looks like pink bubble gum along shoreline vegetation and rocks at your local pond or river, you most likely have found apple snail eggs.

Apple snails are large freshwater snails of the genus Pomacea, originally from South America, Central America, and Florida.

Years ago in Arizona, these snails were sold as pets for home aquariums. Unfortunately, someone had illegally dumped their unwanted pet apple snails into the lower Verde River around 2009. Since then, those apple snails have become well established in the lower Salt River and the canals and urban lakes of the Phoenix metropolitan area. A new infestation of these snails was recently documented in Silverbell Lake in the Tucson area.

Apple snails are highly invasive, with female snails capable of producing thousands of young each year. They adapt well to our waters and may outcompete our native snail populations, which are an important food source for many fish and wildlife. Most of our fish, water birds, amphibians, and reptiles don’t find apple snails very tasty, so there is little to no predation pressure on these large snails.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is working with the Tonto National Forest, OdySea Aquarium, Sealife Aquarium, the Phoenix Zoo’s Trailblazers Program, and dedicated volunteers to help survey and combat apple snails in our local waters. By smearing or knocking the pink egg masses from shoreline vegetation and rocks into the water, we help reduce the number of young apple snails. The snail eggs will drown if submerged. Juvenile and adult apple snails can be netted from shallow, warm waters and properly disposed of in trash bags.

We recommend that you wash your hands after handling any apple snails or eggs. The snails are known to carry a parasite that causes rat lungworm disease, which can infect humans. We also ask the public not to release unwanted pets into the wild. It’s illegal, and it causes more harm to our fish and wildlife that live in those waters.

To see some of this important work in the field, check out the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s educational video at the button below:

Save our snails! Invasive Apple Snails and what we can do about them

Want to get involved? You can assist AZGFD biologists with monitoring for native land snails on your own time! Learn more at the button below:

Report Native Snail Sighting through iNaturalist

Every year, it seems the Arizona Wildlife Federation pushes back on a handful of damaging public lands bills in our state legislature. The 2024 legislative session was different. There was an egregious amount of anti-public lands bills. We believe that this onslaught of bills was at least in part reactionary to the designation of our newest Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Although this new monument protects one of America’s greatest wildernesses from irresponsible energy development and resource extraction, conserving it for hunters, anglers, ranchers, and all Americans, there are still those who oppose any form of federal land designation.

This session, five bills and five memorials targeted various proposals, ranging from requiring state legislature, governor, and county approval for a private and willing landowner to sell their land to the federal government, to rescinding the Antiquities Act and asking that 30% of our federal public lands be turned over to the private hands of the state. Additionally, there were even bills opposing conservation easements, which are widely recognized as effective tools for independent landowners to support conservation efforts.

Fortunately, in the end, all the bills died in committees with just one (the private lands sale permission bill, HB2376, mentioned above) passing through the House and the Senate to the Governor’s desk where it was successfully vetoed. Unfortunately, the five aforementioned memorials passed and were transmitted to the Secretary of State. While memorials are not actionable items and are therefore not taken seriously oftentimes, they do send a dangerous message to our administration that Arizonans don’t care about or value our public lands.

With the defeat of all actionable bills, the 2024 legislative session can certainly be counted as a win for our public lands, outdoor recreation, and conservation. That being said, the passage of the five anti-public lands memorials should be a reminder to all who value their and their families’ access to Arizona’s beautiful public lands to stay tuned and stay vigilant!

For more information on the 2024 session and these bills, please visit our bill tracker at: azwildlife.org/2024-Arizona-Bill-Tracker

To learn how you can get involved in future advocacy opportunities, reach out to our Advocacy Director, Michael Cravens at michael@azwildlife.org

Photo Courtesy of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Author: Kathryn (Ryn) Davison, Ranid Frogs Specialist, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)

Kathryn is a specialist in amphibians and reptiles with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, where she focuses on conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species across the Southwest.

Part of my job as a wildlife biologist includes looking for new habitat for the threatened species with which I work: the Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis). These frogs exist between elevations of 3,280 to 8,890 feet. In general, we search for habitat features such as the lack or low density of invasive species (like bullfrogs or crayfish) and suitable cover like undercut banks, protruding roots, and rocky outcroppings. Their range spans through parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. 

Last summer, our team headed south near the US-Mexico border to survey an earthen pond (also called a ‘tank’) on an actively grazed cattle allotment in the Coronado National Forest. We schlepped down a hill with our backpacks, clipboards, and a dipnet. There, we were met by a herd of stoic cattle gathered around the water. A couple of calves were swimming from one side to the other, their heads peeking up over the surface. As we were greeted by a few sassy “moooooos,” we set down our gear a short distance away from the water’s edge. 

Breaking out our binoculars, we began to scan the area for any sign of frogs. It is like a game of “Where’s Waldo.” We look for eyes popping over the water and in the emergent vegetation as well as any lumps on the perimeter of the pond. These critters vary from green to brown and may appear darker in color in cooler water. It doesn’t take long before we’ve spotted our target species. Identifiable by their broken/inset dorsolateral folds (the ridges on their back) and their black and white peppered noduled thighs, they stood out from the surrounding rushes and grasses as they splayed out on the surface. Each of us counted up the number of frogs we saw, and we compared our finds. 

Photo Courtesy of Christina Akins.

“Oh look, there’s another!” and “Add ten to that,” are always music to our ears. This particular pond housed hundreds of frogs. With our initial counts in our heads, we neared the water’s edge for a more in-depth survey. Upon our approach, the frogs on the bank leaped into the pond. Each step set off a chain reaction: imagine frogs doing “the wave” at a sports game. It was thrilling to see so many frogs, big and small, persisting in a state that is thought of to be quite dry. We scooped our dipnet into the water and found tadpoles of the species as well. 

That pond has been fortified by a collaboration between the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), U. S. Forest Service, and the permittee who runs cattle on the land. These frogs rely on permanent water sources, which can be scarce in a state where it generally rapidly evaporates in the heat. Since ranchers and private landowners are stewards of the water, it makes sense that we team up in a way that suits all of our needs. Sustainable grazing practices preserve the quality and quantity of resources on the landscape, which is important to both frogs and cows. The shared interest in water retention between cattle growers and AZGFD biologists creates a strong foundation for the conservation of the species as well as the livelihood of the people who live on and work the land. 

We appreciate the assistance and dedication of participating landowners in the Safe Harbor program, which provides private landowners (many of whom are ranchers) protections and assistance in habitat maintenance for threatened and endangered species in exchange for establishing or protecting frog populations on their properties. Strengthening water sources via recontouring, cleaning out, and deepening tanks (which many cattle growers do already) can benefit frogs as well. At the AZGFD, we apply for funding for similar habitat construction projects all across the state for private and public lands. The projects range from but are not limited to helping line ponds, building and maintaining fence lines, and working with ecosystem engineers to create wetlands. With a resource as scarce and precious as water in the Southwest, there is hope in cooperation to promote the goals of multiple parties and to allow different species to coexist. 

Author: Morgan Andrews — Artist & Field Ecologist

Morgan Andrews, a local to the Southwestern US, was born and raised amid the rugged canyons of Sedona. Immersed in both art and nature, her passion for the outdoors and artistic expression has been a lifelong endeavor. Currently, Morgan is a field ecologist at the Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes at Northern Arizona University, where she collaborates with fellow researchers on various native plant projects across Arizona, Hawaii, and beyond. When she is not working, she is either playing in the backcountry, watering her house plants, or volunteering for the CCSO Search and Rescue team. See more of Morgan's photography on Instagram: @morganandrews_photography

I've spent numerous days resting or working beneath the canopy of an oak tree, and I've often pondered…how many others have done the same? 

Southwestern oaks witness the abundance of life, from humans seeking relief from the heat along the Arizona-Sonora borderlands, deer and jaguars taking refuge in the sky islands, to the numerous insect species nestled amidst oak litter in the riparian forests of Sedona. Oak trees, with their sometimes stout and twisting shapes, can take different forms from dense shrubbery to towering canopies, creating shaded oases in the extreme environments of their range.

While oaks are often prized as a hardwood species, harvested for firewood and furniture, their value is more than just utility for human use. These trees serve as invaluable cultural resources for indigenous peoples, havens for wildlife, and are stewards of watershed health. Oaks, in general, offer sustenance, shelter, and essential ecosystem services to the diverse array of organisms that call southwestern environments home. Specifically, Emory oaks (Quercus emoryi), also known as 'blackjack oaks,' are key players both culturally and environmentally.

Within Arizona, Emory oaks range from the well-known red rock canyons of Sedona to the rugged borderlands of Mexico. The native range of this species also extends into eastern New Mexico and western Texas, then descends into northern Mexico. 

Emory oaks vary in size and growth form, but are unified in their ability to offer diverse benefits to humans and ecological communities, thus earning their status as a cultural keystone species.

But what exactly constitutes a keystone species? A keystone species is an organism whose presence plays a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance of an ecosystem. If such a species were to decline severely, the repercussions would be felt throughout, potentially disrupting that ecosystem and, in the case of culturally important species, connections with human communities. Emory oaks fulfill this essential role by providing habitat and sustenance for a diverse array of life. 

Emory oaks have served as a vital resource for Indigenous people such as the Western Apache Tribal Nations. Their acorns have been harvested for thousands of years and are utilized for both sustenance and ceremonial purposes. Exceptionally low in tannins, these acorns are prized for their suitability in flour production. During acorn season, Emory oak groves facilitate cultural gatherings, prompting families to gather and pass harvest traditions to new generations' practices.

Historically, The Apache Tribes have managed oak forests by dispersing acorns, promoting human-induced fire, and managing wildlife populations through hunting across the woodland landscape. The connections between the Apache people and Emory oaks were damaged when reservations were established in the late 1800s. Recently, Apache tribal elders and researchers have noted a decline in Emory oak recruitment and acorn production. The suspected causes include climate change, overgrazing, drought, and loss of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) on the landscape. Ultimately, oak woodlands in the southwestern United States are understudied, historically receiving limited scientific attention.

Here at Northern Arizona University we are working closely with the Apache people and the USDA Forest Service to better understand the significant shifts we are seeing today. In partnership with The Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative (EOCTRI), our goal is to "restore and protect Emory oak groves (Quercus emoryi) and to ensure the sustainability of subsistence foods for Arizona tribes."

The connection between these oak woodlands, humans, and other creatures that occupy them is undeniable, and there is a deep complex interaction that is distinctly unique to the desert southwest. So next time you find yourself sitting in the shade of an old oak tree, ask yourself… how many others have done the same? 

To learn more about Emory oak research and the EOCTRI initiative: https://labofconservationecology.rc.nau.edu/research-products-2/

Author: Mandela van Eeden

Mandela is an educator and conservationist who guides in Africa, New Zealand, Alaska, Idaho, and the Grand Canyon. She is passionate and actively involved with conservation issues on every continent. She does this both professionally and during her spare time on the board of directors for the Montana Wildlife Federation. You can connect with her via www.TrailLessTraveled.net, and listen to her podcast, “The Trail Less Traveled,” everywhere.

The decision to step away from guiding full-time in the Grand Canyon and play a larger role in protecting it has been a grand adventure. The transition from guiding 250 days a year to rowing a desk 40 hours a week for the National Wildlife Federation has been challenging yet equally rewarding. Joining the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition and speaking at the White House felt pivotal for this life-changing decision and our collective efforts to permanently protect critical lands, water supplies, wildlife, and cultural and religious sites. 

On August 8, 2023, President Biden used the Antiquities Act to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The sun was high in the sky when he signed the proclamation and permanently protected nearly 1 million acres of public land surrounding our iconic National Park. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” in the Havasupai language and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” in Hopi. 

In early June 2023, I joined my colleagues at the Arizona Wildlife Federation in Washington, D.C., for a fly-in with ten other conservationists. We met with the USDA, DOI, CEQ, and White House staff. We came on behalf of a much larger group of local elected officials, sporting groups, military veterans, recreationists, guides, conservationists, and local and national businesses. It was an honor to officially represent the Grand Canyon River Guides Association alongside Grand Canyon Trust, Trout Unlimited, HECHO, Chispa AZ, Coconino County, and the Arizona Faith Network. We each brought a unique perspective and had the opportunity to elaborate on why we felt strongly about permanent protections. My focus was on the recreational economics and springs hydrology of the Colorado River; I used science-based data, pictures, and tribal art to impress upon the audience the importance of protecting this landscape.. To exemplify one of the area’s many economic values, I shared that I have relied on my income from guiding for over a decade, as well as my first-hand knowledge of many small businesses associated with commercial river trips and outfitters.

After several days of back-to-back meetings, our coalition hit our stride when we spoke at the Department of the Interior. After I spoke, the DOI’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy said she wanted to go rafting with me. I smiled and promptly responded, “Yes, the rapids in the Grand Canyon are RAD, but the springs are the most important destinations we share with river runners, and if they get contaminated, it’s not feasible.” My river guide lingo produced a round of laughter as perhaps it was the first time the word “rad” had been used at the DOI. It was inspiring to sit in the White House while observing other U.S. citizens walking the corridors advocating for various issues. I hope all Americans realize that this doesn’t happen in every country and that participating in the legislative process is part of what makes a democracy. 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

As river guides, we are incredibly privileged to run the river 1 to 14 times per year; but with privilege comes responsibility, and it is vital for us to prioritize awareness of existing and future threats to the Grand Canyon. 

This National Monument designation will prevent new uranium mining on almost one million acres of land, protecting groundwater, air quality, and ancestral homelands. The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, which drew up the monument proposal, includes members of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Tribe of Paiutes, Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Shivwits Band of Paiutes, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Zuni Tribe, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. 

Arizona’s 18^th National Monument includes Marble Canyon, the Echo and Vermilion Cliffs, and the Havasupai’s sacred “Wii’i Gdwiisa” (Red Butte) mountain. Prior to the forced restriction of the Tribe into their canyon in the 1800s, the Havasupai hunted and gathered during winter around Red Butte. This is the place of emergence for the Havasupai, and for them, is a lung of Grandmother Canyon. Today, Red Butte is federally recognized as a traditional cultural property, and the summit can be reached by a short but steep trail. Looking north from the top, you may see the Pinyon Plain Mine (also known as Canyon Mine). This uranium mine sits 10 miles from the South Rim on top of the deep Redwall-Muav Aquifer and shallower “perched” aquifers, which feed the seeps and springs in Havasu Canyon. This mine may eventually contaminate the deeper aquifer, which provides water for people, livestock, and crops in the village of Supai.

The Havasupai challenged Kaibab National Forest’s decision to approve the Pinyon Plain Mine in 1986, but they lost their appeal in federal court in 1991. As of today, the mine has resumed operations without revising or updating the original 1986 plan of operations. In 2016, the mine struck groundwater, and as a result, has pumped out over 49 million gallons of water contaminated with high levels of uranium and arsenic. The water is often “misted” into the air to speed up evaporation, but when it is windy, radioactive water reaches far into the surrounding National Forest. Unfortunately, the Pinyon Plain Mine can continue its operations because it’s subject to “valid existing rights,” meaning any mine or claim with VER is grandfathered in under the temporary or permanent mining ban. Pinyon Plain Mine is the only claim to get that determination of the nearly 600 claims that are preexisting. 

Advocacy:

“We were given the responsibility to protect and preserve for those who are yet to come. We have a job to do. The rock writing tells us: protect this place, guard this place, this is your home.” - Rex Tilousi, Havasupai Elder.

In 2011, more than 200 Arizona small businesses addressed postcards to former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. In 2012, Salazar finalized a 20-year mineral withdrawal for more than one million acres of BLM and U.S. Forest Service land to protect the Grand Canyon and its watershed from the potential adverse effects of additional uranium and other hard rock mining. Up until now, that mining withdrawal was temporary and at high risk of being overturned. 

Native peoples have stewarded these lands since time immemorial and the Tribes have actively gathered, danced, and prayed for water and for future generations who will inherit this sacred ecosystem. As Grand Canyon river guides, it is our responsibility to continue this legacy of stewardship by being informed, engaged, and vocal with our guests and elected officials. The designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument should make us feel empowered to take on the Big Canyon Dam proposal along the Little Colorado River. We can do this by supporting the work of the Little Colorado River Initiative and Save the Confluence as they actively work to change the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) dam permitting rules to require tribal consent and consultation. Please make it a priority to raise awareness regarding current and future threats by urging your guests to advocate on behalf of the Grand Canyon. 

Uranium:

Uranium mining in Arizona has taken place since 1918. The uranium market rebounded in the late 2000s, and a swarm of new uranium claims popped up in the greater Grand Canyon region. At best, only 1.3% of the nation’s total uranium supply occurs in the Grand Canyon region. To extract that 1.3%, mining companies would have expanded uranium mining at an unprecedented rate. There is 10-fold more uranium in Canada and 40-fold more in Australia, two friendly countries with which we trade.