Area Habitats and Environments: I do not consider myself a birder; for me, birds are one element in my more general enjoyment of wildlife. Arguably, birds are more accessible than other wildlife, especially here in southeastern Arizona, where ranchers and the government eliminated or "managed" into near extinction many of the larger mammal species over the last century. Sometimes the mechanism of the slaughter was the shooting of grazing wildlife felt to compete with cattle for available forage, such as the desert bighorn and the pronghorn. Some of it involved the shooting, trapping, and poisoning of predators believed to kill cows, such as wolves, bears, eagles, and hawks - although more recent research has shown that most wolves, bears, eagles, and hawks that eat cows didn't kill them to do so, but encountered the carcasses already dead of disease or accident. (One would think this would be obvious for the case of hawks and, to a lesser extent, eagles.) Currently, domestic dogs kill more than 100 times the number of cattle as all other animals combined.
Another mechanism of the decimation of local fauna has been the massive habitat change wrought by overgrazing. The consequent elimination of grassland prairie and its transformation into mesquite-infested, desert-pavemented barrens in much of the southwest has either eliminated, or greatly restricted the range and population of such animals as survived the management policies of the past. Small predators such as foxes, the ringtail, and badger cling to fringe territories, but they, along with most other species, have significantly vacated rangeland.
Habitat change usually harms some species and greatly benefits others. We reap the rewards of this today with an incredible profusion of rabbits and gophers, which are barely kept in check by the raptors, coyotes, and other predators that aren't poached by landowners of 19th century mentality living in the 21st century. Some areas are seeing an explosion of deer, which have taken up residence in residential neighborhoods and eat the gardens.
The news is not all bad, of course. In recent times, many ranchers have adopted new attitudes toward wildlife that are informed more by research than the reflexes of the past. Contemporary overgrazing is relatively rare (except in some cases in which federal lands are grazed), as it leads to stock mortality and this cuts into long-term profits. Many ranches around Nature Conservancy preserves include scenic and no-hunting easements, and it is realized that many native species do not significantly compete with cattle for digestible forage. Many ranches along Rt. 82 and 83 are now good pronghorn habitat. In addition to less destructive ranching practices, local wildlife has benefitted from the many important areas that were preserved here in the last 20 years, particularly the San Pedro River area. Area national forests tend not to be useful for the timber industry, and thus escape much of the road-building and clear-cutting that national forests in other parts of the country suffer. Areas have been set aside as wilderness areas, and while this does not always control human impact as well as it should, on the whole local political attitudes are favorably disposed to such protection. The state government, though, still shoots mountain lions from airplanes - but only "offending" ones, which is bureaucratese that means they only kill the ones they feel like killing.
Admittedly I do more birding here than I am able to do general wildlife watching. And the area is certainly a prime territory for it. This page serves as a sort of guide to good birding spots and notes about birds in my area. I've been to many of the sites listed, but others are on my list to go visit in the future.
One of the most common habitats in my area is desert scrub, a consequence of overgrazing which took place mostly in the late 1800's and the first half of the 20th century. The most common more or less natural habitat is grasslands, mostly in wide shallow valleys between mountain ranges. As you gain elevation in the mountains, you will pass through different climatic and ecological zones. Canyon habitats tend to be a rich 'interface' between different habitats. Some canyons (such as Ramsey Canyon) are fed by springs and have flowing water most or all of the year. There are no mountains that extend above treeline in this area, but the higher mountains form a sort of extreme ecological case, known as "sky islands." For the most part, animals and plants in these islands do not mix with animals and plants of another island, unless they fly or are carried by flighted animals. Finally, there are a few wetlands habitats in the area, which attract a disproportionate variety of species, of both birds and other classes.
This variety of ecosystems is unusual in such a small area, and for the birder or wildlife watcher it means that moving very short distances can result in a dramatic change in the frequency of particular species. The most popular wildlife watching areas are those at the interfaces of different habitats - wetlands near grasslands, for example.
For birding and wildlife viewing, carrying binoculars should be a given when visiting any of these sites. You will probably want a spotting scope at many of the sites; some of these are indicated in the notes below. Any habitat that includes water in southeastern Arizona is prime scope territory.
Pishing is generally considered benign in this area, but tapes are greeted with open hostility by most local birders, and using them is illegal in some areas. In general, these ethical guidelines lay out what is expected of birders in this area (and hopefully, elsewhere too).
Hikers should always take water no matter how short a hike is planned. Do not try to ration or 'save' your water on a hike - unless you have been well trained to know exactly how much you need to survive. There are numerous instances of people dead of dehydration in this desert who were within a few feet of drinking water. They appear to have tried to make the water last, and they got so dehydrated they became irrational, and forgot they had water with them. In this respect, dehydration is as pernicious and deadly as hypothermia - it affects your judgment, and that is where the danger lies. I'd also recommend carrying water in your vehicle.
During the summer, we have frequent thunderstorms. Hikers are well advised to take raingear. The storms can turn dirt roads into impassable quagmires. They can also cause flash flooding in canyons, and this kills several people every year, though mostly this happens in the northern part of the state. Also, it can create dangerous conditions at washes, which for the most part are not bridged but forded by roads. A running wash can sweep a vehicle downstream and drown its passengers. If you encounter a running wash, wait for levels to drop (it rarely takes long), or detour. Getting rescued from your vehicle in a wash is a very expensive proposition, and the authorities will charge you the bill.
During the fall and spring, be prepared for large changes in temperature around sunset. It is not unusual for there to be a 30 degree F difference in temperature from an hour before to an hour after sunset during these periods. Nighttime during the summer is usually warm; during the winter lows into the 20's F and below are not uncommon in the mountains.
Hiking in the mountains can entail a lot of vertical walking. Grades of over 10% are not uncommon on Forest Service trails in southeastern Arizona. My personal bias is that trekking poles are a great help, and I rarely hike without them. Even on short and flat hikes such as Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate I will usually have them strapped to the back of my daypack (which always contains water). I don't care if people joke about me being a lost skier. You can see my poles in some of my photographs, such as in the Iceberg Notch panorama, taken in Montana.
Hikers are well advised to wear a hat that shades them from the sun. The traditional "cowboy hat" is a good choice. I use something a bit lighter weight that can be crushed into a daypack easily. Sunblock is also recommended. Though the sun is harsh and hot, it is rarely uncomfortable. The higher elevations in this part of Arizona (compared to Tucson or Phoenix) make the climate considerably cooler.
For more information about my equipment preferences, you can see my outdoor gear page.
I really have no information about birding guides (as in people who will take you to the hot spots) in this area. I've done most all of my exploring on my own.
The Southeast Arizona Bird Observatory should probably be the first stop for anyone looking for guided trips with an interpreter. These folks are also a wealth of information about birding in the area, recent sightings, conditions, and so forth. They are on a shoestring budget, and I recommend making a donation to them, even though their website irritatingly turns off most of the useful functions of the more popular browsers. Appearances suggest that they believe (wrongly) that this will keep people from stealing their photos.
SABO has a list of bird-friendly businesses which includes contact information for several area guides.
Two good self-guiding resources are the SABO Guide to Birding Hotspots, and the Southeastern Arizona Birding Trail.
If you have landed here, you haven't found the best web pages that talk about birding areas in southeastern Arizona. You should also check out these sites:
The Staples and Fry's grocery store parking lots attract what I believe to be Lesser Nighthawks during the summer.
These stores are located on the NW of the rt. 90 (Fry Blvd) - rt. 92 intersection. Access is from rt. 90 east of the intersection or rt. 92 north of the intersection.
The "Sierra Vista Wetlands" are a complex of sewage treatment and recharge ponds a few miles east of the city of Sierra Vista. Access is off rt. 90. The turn is on the N side of 90, adjacent to Jimbo's Beach Shaque, and is not well marked. Look for a small brown brick sign indicating the treatment plant. The Refuse Transfer Station (well-signed) is east of the wetlands; the Beach Shaque is west. Follow the paved road north until you come upon the raised observation platform.
Nothing in the way of hours is posted at the wetlands. Last I heard, the site was open from 7 AM to 3:30 PM only, and the city bureaucrats seemed a bit paranoid about people wandering around. There isn't any incentive to do so. The observing platform is built atop a 20' high artificial hill, which gives a much better view of the ponds than any ground-level location. It is nice and spacious (plus I've had it all to myself whenever I've been there), and has some tables and benches. It is a good place to set up a scope, and I recommend bringing one. In addition to waterfowl, raptors seem to frequent the area. On my first visit, a Northern Harrier was working on a meal some distance from the observation platform (35x would have been about right, but I had not brought a scope). The viewing area is exposed to the wind, so it might be wise to bring more clothes than you think you will need.
The City of Sierra Vista offers a PDF format bird viewing guide which includes a checklist and some propaganda explaining the project.
Species:
The upper parts of the canyon are excellent for spring, summer, and fall species. Trails in the lower portion tend to be mild, but in the upper reaches of the canyon there are several very steep trails. There is a guide to some of the trails at the Forest Service Sierra Vista Ranger District site.
From Sierra Vista, proceed south on rt. 92. Turn right at the sign for the canyon.
Species:
Beatty's is a commercial guest ranch. It is a nice operation run by nice folks. There is a substantial wildflower garden with plenty of hummingbird feeders. The viewing area is wheelchair accessible.
From Sierra Vista, head south on Rt. 92. Turn right (west) on Miller Canyon Road. Proceed 3 miles.
Species:
This is a good area for higher-elevation species.
Trails into the Miller Peak Wilderness tend to be steep, and after the Oversite Fire of 2002, some of them are becoming overgrown. There is a guide to some of the trails at the Sierra Vista Ranger District site.
The Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve is internationally known as a birding hotspot. It has a nice visitor center, conducts frequent guided walks, and has a short and not too steep trail connecting to the National Forest. It is best known for its hummingbirds, which it has in common with many canyon habitats, but also sports a wide variety of species due to the presence of water in the canyon.
From Sierra Vista, proceed south on Rt. 92 to Ramsey Canyon Road. Turn right (west), and proceed for four miles. Parking is limited but the Preserve is rarely crowded on a weekday.
Species:
The Coronado National Memorial, which also inexplicably has an expanded website here, is located just below Montezuma Pass. A short but steep trail to Coronado Peak is a popular place to go to look at the two valleys, and in good visibility distances of 70 miles or more can be seen.
From Sierra Vista, take rt. 92 south to Coronado Memorial Road (the turn is well marked). Proceed 5 miles up Coronado Memorial Road to the visitor's center.
There are good views from the Visitor Center, and plenty of trails in the area.
Species:
Parker Canyon Lake is a small reservoir located in the Coronado National Forest, on the west side of the Huachucas. It has produced several record fish and is well known as a sunfish and trout fishing hotspot, but that is declining rapidly now that some nitwit has illegally introduced Northern Pike into the lake. Northern Pike eat trout, sunfish, and bass (which have not evolved good defenses against this predator) in such quantities that these species nearly disappear from Northern Pike waters. This causes the food chain to collapse, though the process is more complicated here because trout in this lake were the result of stocking.
Sunnyside Canyon is adjacent to the lake. The road extends some three miles into the canyon. There is a trail in the canyon that is worth walking.
To get there, take rt. 83 south from Sonoita. This turns into Forest Service Road 48, but you might not notice. Turns to Parker Canyon Lake and Sunnyside canyons are marked.
Species 4 :
The Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area includes rare wetlands habitat that was saved from commercial development in 1988.
The BLM provides a bird checklist on their site.
The Empire area is located 7 miles north of Sonoita. Access is from rt. 83.
Maps:
Species:
The site consists of grasslands and a small pond.
To get there, start in Patagonia (on Rt. 82). Take Forest Service Road 765, go two miles. Take the dirt road on the right and proceed for 0.5 miles.
Species:
The Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve is a Nature Conservancy preserve comprising riparian habitat, grasslands, and floodplain. They report over 300 bird species seen there. Definitely check their website - they have some odd hours. The Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is nearby and includes some of the same habitat types (see Patagonia Lake State Park).
From Patagonia (on rt. 82), take 4th Ave to the northwest, then turn southwest on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Patagonia Lake State Park contains Patagonia Lake and some of the surrounding land. There is a two mile shoreline trial that can be profitable to walk for birding. There are also pontoon boat charters available.
The Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is accessed from the park and includes some of the same habitat types as the nearby Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve.
To get there, take rt. 82 for 8 miles SE of Patagonia, turning north on Lake Patagonia Road for four miles.
Species 4 :
Kino Springs apparently consists of ponds and thickets, prime habitat for several species. There is a nice page about Kino Springs worth reviewing. I've never been to this location; apparently it is on a golf course.
From I-19, get off at Exit 8 and head east on Highway 82. After six miles take Kino Springs Drive.
Species 4 :
The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail extends from near Nogales, Arizona to San Francisco, California. The 'hot spot' part of it referenced here is located near Tubac Presidio State Historical Park north of Nogales.
I've never been here and heard about this site only through the SE Arizona Birding Trail guide. Access is at Tubac Presidio State Historical Park, near highway 19's exit 34. The trailhead is near the picnic area.
The habitat is described as a restored wetlands area due to water treatment facilities.
Species 4 :
Madera canyon is dominated by sycamore. The road is paved into the lower canyon, and there are plenty of hiking trails in the area. The area is a transition zone between Saguaro desert species and mountain species.
Santa Rita Lodge is located in Madera Canyon. Though it is a private facility, the public has been welcome to watch hummingbirds in the front from lawnchairs.
From Tucson, take Rt. 19 south exit 63. Proceed southeast on Forest Road 62 until you reach Forest Road 70. Turn south.
Species:
The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area consists of about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River, in the San Pedro River valley east of Sierra Vista, west of Bisbee. It extends from the border with Mexico to St. David.
It was designated a national conservation area by congress in 1988. To environmentalists and conservationists, this was for the protection of one of the last riparian ecosystems in the Southwestern US (and it does serve this purpose well). The harsh political reality is that a significant consideration in its protection was that residents of Phoenix and others benefitting from the Central Valley Project wanted all the water flowing through it for themselves. Whatever the motives, protected status has greatly benefited the area. Have a look at the huge difference before and after the area's protection, and the effects of cattle grazing.
The river is lined with cottonwood, willow, ash, and walnut trees. Over 350 species of birds have been reported, and more than 80 species of mammals have been seen. There are also more than 250 prehistoric and historic sites of human habitation.
A central point of access is at the San Pedro House, located off Rt. 90 east of Sierra Vista (look for the sign on the road). The BLM has a map of the trail system that originates at the San Pedro House.
Access to the southern portions is via the Palominas Access Area, which is just off Highway 92 at the river. Slow down and keep a careful lookout as you approach the river - this entrance is easy to miss.
Another access at the Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate ruins. This area is not really a birding hotspot. To get there, starting from Whetstone take rt. 82 east from rt. 90, and drive to Keller Road, just before the river. Take Keller Road about two miles north to the Presidio pullout. A mild hike down a trail and an old basalt railroad bed (?) takes you to the ruins and to several places where you can overlook the river from high cliffs. I've not used any of the paths down to the river in this area, and suspect they are hazardous. The ruins themselves are interesting to look at, though they have been disturbed by archaeologists decades ago who cut some of the walls in half, and then put them together again with layers of nylon in between - you will notice this if you look carefully. Otherwise, they are the most intact ruins of a Spanish presidio of the period.
Because of the extensive north-south San Pedro Trail, and the porous border with Mexico, illegal immigrants are commonly seen along the trail. From the information I have, though, this is not a dangerous smuggling route.
BLM keeps an office in Sierra Vista; their phone number is 520-458-3559.
There is a bird checklist available from the BLM site.
Cochise Stronghold is located on the east side of the Dragoon mountains. From I-10 take rt. 191 south for 12 miles to Ironwood Road. Take Ironwood Road west. Ironwood Road turns into Forest Road 84 at the forest boundary.
There are two constructed trails at the Cochise Stronghold Campground. One is a short paved loop trail; however there are some pretty good grades on this trail. The trail is dotted with interpretive signs and 'pullouts.' The other trail is the Stronghold Trail, made of gravel and about a half mile long. Grades here are gentle but there are stairs. There is also a complex of backcountry trails in the area. The area is heavily used by hikers, rock climbers, horseback riders, and others.
Species:
A natural alkali lake bed south and east of Willcox. Access by rt. 191 or rt. 186 and Kansas Settlement Road.
The playa is usually dry, but after rains anywhere in the Sulphur Springs Valley it may become a large shallow lake. There is no drainage exit to the Sulphur Springs Valley, and the playa is the ending spot for much of the water that falls in the valley. The playa is also noted for the mirages it generates in the summer.
The playa can be seen from rt. 191 on the west side, and rt. 186 and Kansas Settlement Road on the east side - but private property makes access difficult. The Willcox Playa Wildlife Area is a welcome exception; it is on Kansas Settlement Road about four miles south of rt. 186. There are also several dirt roads east from Kansas Settlement Road that reach the Playa.
There is a really neat page about the Playa that is well worth reading.
Species:
Actually a sewage pond complex, located just south of Willcox. Reputed to be good for waterfowl and shorebirds.
To get there, head south from I-10 on Maley Street (turns into rt. 186), and after only a short distance turn south on Rex Allen Jr. road - the sign for Twin Lakes Golf Course might be more conspicuous here than the road sign. The parking area is just past the golf course, where you will also find a bird list and registry. I've got a phone number (520-384-2272) for this place, which I've never called.
Species:
The Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area, which also has a web page here, is owned and administered by the Nature Conservancy, the US Forest Service, and the US Bureau of Land Management. The visitor center, camping area, and casitas are run by the Nature Conservancy. Call them at (520) 212-4295 if you want accommodations (I've never done this).
Access is by Jackson Cabin Road, which I'm told is only suitable for high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicles. Take Airport Road out of Wilcox to the west for about 15 miles, turning right at Muleshoe Road and go for another 15 miles. I've never been to this place; you are on your own.
Species 3 :
The Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness is located on BLM land in the south part of the range. To get there, get off I-10 at Bowie and head south on Apache Pass (dirt), taking the spur to Indian Bread Rocks and Happy Camp Canyon. The map indicates you might also get off I-10 at rt. 186 in Willcox, drive to Dos Cabezas, and take the spur just north of the town, but it looks as though this road might cross private property; I've never taken it. If you want to use this route, I'd call the BLM Safford Field Office at (520) 348-4400 and ask about access first. You might also want the topo maps for the region (7.5-minute: Luzena, Bowie Mountain North and Dos Cabezas).
This area is known to support mountain lions, white-tail and mule deer, and the unusual Collared lizard (found in the upper parts of Buckeye Canyon).
Species:
The entrance to Chiricahua National Monument is on the west side of the range, off rt. 186. In 2002, the Monument began work on the road to Massai Point; until this work is completed visitors should expect delays and possibly closures of certain areas to vehicle traffic.
The Monument has an excellent visitors center and a good staff. It is most noted for its odd vertical rock spires, and for its volcanic terrain. There is an entrance fee.
Species:
Located near Portal in the Coronado National Forest. From Portal, follow the road up Cave Creek Canyon. The road passes the Southwestern Research Station of the American Museum of Natural History, and then turns north and into dirt, climbing into Pinery Canyon and ending at Rustler Park Campground. The South Fork Cave Creek Trail (closer to the Southwestern Research Station) is 8 miles long, but most people say the best birding is in the first few miles. I'm not sure if this is because that is as far as most birders get or if it is true.
The Apache Station Wildlife Viewing Area has parking, picnic facilities, a wheelchair accessible viewing area, and public restrooms. It is located on Highway 191, 8.5 miles south of the I-10 interchange. Access is free.
The viewing station overlooks artificial wetlands created by the AEPCO generating station.
Species 1 :
The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is located along the Arizona-New Mexico border about 20 miles east of Douglas. It comprises only 2,309 acres, but includes several endangered native fish species. According to the US Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, the refuge has recorded 231 species of birds.
The John Slaughter Ranch Museum is within the refuge, and they have a special page about birding.
To get there, from Douglas head east on 15th street. This will turn into Geronimo Trail. It is 15 miles to the ranch gate; the gate has a "Z" that represents John Slaughter's cattle brand.
Species:
This refuge is located about 15 miles north of Douglas in the Swisshelm Mountains. Only 1,240 acres, the refuge contains upland, riparian, and aquatic habitats.
Species:
The main entrance is on Coffman Road, which intersects Davis Road; alternately, use Bagby Road or Lee Road from Central Highway. Public restrooms and picnic tables are available.
Species reported here have included 1 :
Sandhill Cranes winter in the Sulphur Springs Valley (the valley that extends from Douglas to Willcox). Cranes of both the Rocky Mountain population, made up of the Greater subspecies (Grus canadensis tabida) and the mid-Continent population (consisting of the Lesser, Grus canadensis canadensis; the Canadian, Grus canadensis rowani; and the Greater, Grus canadensis tabida) are represented. The Rocky population nests substantially in Idaho, and winters in southwestern New Mexico, the Sulphur Springs Valley in Arizona, and northern Mexico. The Central population nests in central and northern Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, and winters in Texas, New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and northern Mexico.
Arizona Game and Fish figures suggest that between 9,000 and 13,000 birds winter in the Sulphur Springs Valley, though the 1994 count found 24,000 individuals.
Sandhills leave their northern range around September, and migrate south in long flights. They are in the Sulphur Springs Valley from about late October to late February.
Because the Sandhills prefer shallow water roosting areas, Willcox Playa is a favored location. They will typically leave the roosting area early in the morning just before sunrise, and head to agricultural fields to eat waste grain. After feeding the birds might return to the roost site, or head to other wetlands or grasslands. Sandhills might take an evening meal. They return to the roost near sunset and well into twilight. In practical terms, this means you should be at the roosting areas either 30 minutes before sunrise, at around 11:00 AM, or about a half hour before sunset. Cranes are not hard to find in their feeding areas at other times; try fields along Kansas Settlement Road, rt. 191, Central Highway, Davis Road, and elsewhere during feeding times.
Sites:
Do-It-Yourself:
Guided opportunities:
There are 16 species of hummingbirds in Arizona:
Rare:
Summer:
Migration:
Year-Round:
Hummingbirds engage in some impressive visual antics. Female birds will spread their tail feathers while perched, revealing the white or colored tips. Males will raise their feathers on their throat and chin, sometimes tossing their head about. The shuttle flights so often heard of are quick back-and-forth darting movements made in front of another bird, often in conjunction with the feather displays already mentioned. The shuttle-flight isn't very wide - a left-right movement of a foot or so is quite common. The most impressive display, the power dive, is performed by males. Though the specifics of the flight path can vary with species, it is a generally u- or j-shaped dive often accompanied with vocal or wing-feather noises. It is easy to lose sight of the diving male at the high point of his flight.
Most species must eat frequently, about every ten minutes, and will consume 2/3 or more of their body weight in food each day. Hummingbirds metabolize sugar to support a high metabolism, but they also eat insects (which they can catch in the air) and pollen.
Most observed feeding is at nectar-rich flowers or feeders, where the bird will lap up its food, sometimes at a rate of 15 licks per second. The birds have a good memory for food sources, with individual birds checking the same places season after season.
Identification problems are almost always related to female individuals:
Only 20 or so black bears live in the Huachuca Mountains. Despite the low population, the bears are not difficult to find during the summer and fall. During this period they will be seen foraging in the lower elevations of the mountains, favoring brushy areas in the upper canyons. I'm not sure what effect the Oversite Fire will have on Black Bear forage patterns, though. The fire has created new zones dominated by lush brush, including important food species for black bear.
Bear sign in the form of scat is common on the trails in the Huachucas. Most of the scat is quite old - in the desert, the scat can last for more than a year. Scat dries completely in about a day or day and a half; older scat is powdery inside. Note that during the monsoons it is not uncommon to encounter apparently fresh scat which is, on inspection, quite old and still dry inside. During these times the drying time of fresh scat can increase to several days as well. The presence of the scat on the trails should tell you something about black bear transit zones. Be cautious, especially at dawn, dusk, and nighttime, traveling on Huachuca trails. The black bear here are very skittish in general, but like all bears are unpredictable and potentially very aggressive when surprised or with cubs.
The opportunities for watching wolves in southeastern Arizona are few and far between. The best chances are in the Chiricahuas. Be prepared to spend a lot more time looking for these beautiful animals than for elusive species like the mountain lion. Although wolves inhabit this area, from an economic standpoint, you would probably be better of heading to Yellowstone to observe wolves.
Livestock predation is the hot-button issue when it comes to wolves. In the Yellowstone area, where wolves were re-introduced in 1995 amid opposition from ranchers, predation by wolves has been statistically insignificant. In the seven years from 1995 to the summer of 2002, wolves killed 41 cattle and 256 sheep in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. By contrast, before wolf re-introduction, ranchers estimated their livestock losses as at 8,340 cattle and 12,993 sheep each year, which works out to 58,380 cattle and 90,951 sheep dead or killed by accident, disease, domestic dogs, and other problems, in the same period. That puts wolves at the bottom of the heap of causes of livestock mortality. More recent information is available here.
In 2001, wolves were responsible for 1% of the cattle killed by predators and 0.4% of the sheep killed by predators in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Deaths from non-predators - accident, disease, and killing by domestic dogs, which are not considered predators - are much more numerous than all predatory killings combined.
Granted, livestock depredation is a serious business issue to people whose livelihoods are dependent upon their stock, even at these tiny levels. This is especially so considering that individual ranchers can be significantly affected by predation - for example if they have small herds, or graze them in an inviting wolf habitat. That is why the government pays ranchers market-value compensation for livestock lost to predation. This is as it should be, and since such losses are insured, most ranchers accept the risk of predation as a cost of doing business similar to that faced by other business owners. The industry in general, however, could benefit far more by ranching-industry education on the obligations and responsibilities of pet owners than from wolf rhetoric, since it is known that domestic dogs are so deadly to herds.
Only a few trigger happy extremists want to gun down every living animal in their grazelands. Some ranchers, showing entrepreneurial spirit, have opened their land to wildlife watchers on a fee basis, much as they have traditionally done for deer and elk hunting; and are thus economically benefitting from the wolves. So is the Yellowstone regional economy, as tourism has increased lockstep with the chances of observing wild wolves.
Here in Arizona, the wolf predation issue is nearly non-existent. This is because the wolves are nearly non-existent. Possibly there are no resident wolves in my part of the state - the occasional reported sighting, rarely confirmed, in the Huachucas and Chiricahuas possibly being the result of cross-border ranging by wolves resident in Mexico. Sightings are complicated by some wolves looking quite similar to larger, healthy coyotes, making field identification fiendishly difficult. Most of the reliable information about their range in this area comes from collared animal studies, and shed hair analysis.
Although attempts at reintroduction have been made in this area, the state of Arizona has regularly flown airplanes around to shoot coyotes (which has had no discernable effect on anything except the budget - these planes cost more than $250 per hour to operate). In the course of these airborne killings, gunmen who can't tell the difference between a coyote and a wolf have reportedly killed wolves on several occasions. The killing of coyote predators certainly hasn't helped the coyote "problem" as perceived by the state Fish and Wildlife people.
1 I have used this page, reproduced from this local paper, as a source for some information in this section.
2 I have used this page as a source for some information in this section.
3 I have used this page as a source for some of the information in this section.
4 I have used the Southeast Arizona Birding Trail publications as a source for some of the information in this section.
Preliminaries:
Equipment and Preparedness:
Guides:
Links:
Staples-Fry's Parking Lot, Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista Wetlands Pilot Project
Miller Canyon
Beatty's Miller Canyon Guest Ranch and Orchard
Carr Canyon
Ramsey Canyon Preserve
Coronado National Memorial
Sunnyside Canyon and Parker Canyon Lake
Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area
Bog Hole Wildlife Area
Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve
Patagonia Lake State Park
Kino Springs
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
Madera Canyon
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
Cochise Stronghold
Willcox Playa
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area
Cochise Lake
Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area
Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness
Chiricahua National Monument
Cave Creek Canyon
AEPCO Apache Station Wildlife Viewing Area
San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge
Slaughter RanchLeslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge
Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area
Sandhill Cranes
Hummingbirds
Black Bear
Wolf
References:
Jeff Medkeff's home page.
Jeff's astronomy pages.
Copyright © Jeff Medkeff, 2002, All Rights Reserved.