Category Archives: Arizona Game and Fish

Endangered Mount Graham red squirrel shows promising rebound

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PHOENIX — Three years after their habitat was nearly wiped out by the 2017 Frye Fire in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona, an annual survey of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel shows an exciting and notable increase in their population.

The annual survey, conducted jointly by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), Coronado National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Arizona Center for Nature Conservation – Phoenix Zoo, and the University of Arizona, resulted in a minimum estimate of 109 squirrels. This is the first time the population has returned to the triple digits since they were severely impacted by the Frye Fire.

In 2016, there were an estimated 252 squirrels. Immediately following the Frye Fire estimates dropped to a mere 33 individuals. Typical ranges since 2000 fall between 200 and 300 squirrels.

“Mount Graham red squirrels have faced some significant, daunting challenges since their habitat was severely damaged by the Frye Fire,” said Tim Snow, AZGFD terrestrial wildlife specialist. “The data suggests that while the fire was devastating to red squirrel habitat and their overall population, this is truly a resilient species.

“Even though much work still must be done to help conserve and protect this squirrel to ensure its continued recovery, seeing this growth is extremely promising and a signal that our conservation efforts are working.”

This annual red squirrel survey consisted of visiting all known middens, which are areas where red squirrels store or cache their cones. Activity at these middens is used to estimate the population size.

“The squirrels are teaching us about their resiliency and how they respond to altered and even devastated habitat,” said Jeff Humphrey, USFWS Arizona Ecological Services field supervisor. “The survey results are a ray of hope in our partnership efforts to address their post-fire habitat needs.”

The subspecies was listed as endangered in 1987. Mount Graham red squirrels live only in the upper elevation conifer forests of the Pinaleño Mountains and feed primarily on conifer seeds. This subspecies is highly territorial and has lower reproductive rates than red squirrels in other locations.

“The Safford Ranger District is pleased to see an upward trend in numbers for the Mount Graham red squirrel,” said George Garcia, Safford District Ranger for the Coronado National Forest. “This is very encouraging as we move forward in working with our partners and community in ensuring the long-term health and resiliency of the squirrel. We work together to actively manage and restore forest conditions for the benefit of all the species on Mount Graham.”

Long-term impacts to Mount Graham red squirrels and their habitat include high-intensity wildfires and associated insect infestations, possible competition with Abert’s squirrels and poor cone crops caused by drought, all of which influence population size. Biologists continue to explore new methods to conserve and protect the species, including continued squirrel research, developing long-term forest management strategies across the fire-impacted landscape such as re-seeding and planting coniferous trees, and a managed care breeding program.

Commission supports expanded hunting opportunities on national wildlife refuges

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AZGFD website details amended state regulations on four refuges

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently approved amendments in support of new federal guidelines that expand hunting opportunities on four national wildlife refuges in southern Arizona.

The amendments, unanimously passed by the Commission during a public meeting Sept. 25 in Greer, broaden opportunities to hunt several species of small game, migratory birds and predators/furbearers for the 2020-2021 seasons at the following wildlife refuges: Cabeza Prieta, Cibola, Buenos Aires and Leslie Canyon.

For complete details about the amended Arizona hunting regulations, visit:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently expanded hunting opportunities on national wildlife refuges for the 2020-2021 seasons. Hunting opportunities are authorized and provided on USFWS-managed lands in accordance with federal, state and tribal (where applicable) regulations and seasons.

Eastern Arizona Counties Organization contributes $35,000 to Range Rider Program to reduce Mexican wolf depredations on livestock

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AZGF Photo

PINETOP — The Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO) has made a contribution of $35,000 to support the Range Rider Program managed by the Interagency Field Team (IFT) of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Project.

Created in 1993, the ECO includes Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties. The ECO counties have developed a leading role in natural resources and public lands management issues in eastern Arizona, including forest and watershed restoration, travel management and public land access, threatened and endangered species management, rural economic development, and recreation issues.

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its conservation partners are grateful to the ECO for their support of the Range Rider Program,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD assistant director for wildlife management. “One of the key activities the department is engaged in is reducing depredations on livestock in the wolf recovery area. This monetary contribution will go a long way toward increasing staff availability to livestock producers and the IFT to haze wolves from areas with active depredation activities.”

A range rider is a person who spends time in areas where wolves and cattle are in proximity and chases wolves from the area. It is a way of proactively deterring conflict between wolves and livestock. The range rider will work in much of eastern Arizona and will be directed to areas where high levels of depredations are occurring.

“ECO is pleased to provide this funding to AZGFD and the IFT,” said Jason Whiting, ECO chair. “Over the past two years, the number of depredations has increased as the wolf population increased, and this is impacting the region’s ranchers. Wolf depredations usually peak in early summer and continue into the fall, so this funding for the Range Rider Program will be put on the ground now.”

Richard Lunt, ECO vice chair, has been actively involved in wolf depredation prevention management. “Finding tools to reduce wolf impacts is important, and I am hopeful that the Range Rider Program proves to be a mechanism that works for a wolf recovery strategy that is compatible with livestock stability,” he said.

AZGFD’s deVos notes that Mexican wolf recovery has seen growth over the last decade, with the 2019 wolf count being 163, nearly a 24% increase from the prior year.

“As the wolf population continues to grow, reducing conflict over depredations is essential and something that the IFT works on daily,” he said. “This financial assistance from ECO will be put directly on the ground.”

Nominations sought for 2020 Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for the 2020 Commission Awards. The deadline for submission is September 4, 2020. The purpose of these awards is to recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination. To nominate someone, download a form (visit https://www.azgfd.com/agency/commission/awards/) and follow the instructions on the form.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will select the 2020 Commission Award recipients at its September 25-26, 2020 meeting. The awards will be presented at the annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2021, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, 11111 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85020.

2020 AWARD CATEGORIES

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE:
Any individual, group, organization, club, foundation, or agency that has excelled in efforts to benefit wildlife, wildlife habitats, or programs of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

YOUTH CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR:
Any individual, 18 years of age or younger, who has excelled in efforts to benefit wildlife and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

MEDIA OF THE YEAR:
Any media source (radio, television, magazine, newsletter, or periodical) that has published articles or materials beneficial to public interest about wildlife or wildlife related topics and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR:
Any organization, group, foundation, or agency that has excelled in efforts to enhance the welfare of wildlife, wildlife related recreation, and the mission of the Game and Fish Department.

CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR:
Any individual, not associated with a professional agency, which has excelled in efforts to enhance, conserve, and manage wildlife or their habitats.

NATURAL RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR:
Any individual who through a professional agency affiliation has excelled in efforts to enhance, conserve, and manage wildlife or their habitats.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR:
Any individual who, as a registered volunteer with the Department, has excelled in efforts to support and benefit the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR:
Any individual whose educational activities have advanced and supported the welfare of wildlife, wildlife related recreation, or the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

MENTOR OF THE YEAR:
Any individual who has acted in the role of a mentor and whose efforts have resulted in the promotion and support of future wildlife conservation efforts and the development of future wildlife conservation leaders in Arizona.

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR (Two Nominations):
Any individual that has engaged in political advocacy for the betterment of wildlife conservation and in the support of the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR:
Any business partner that actively promotes Game and Fish through innovative approaches, community involvement and a customer service focus that benefits the citizens of Arizona and supports the Game and Fish’s mission of wildlife conservation.

BUCK APPLEBY HUNTER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD:
Any hunter education instructor who actively participates in hunter education activities and demonstrates the highest level of customer service, dedication and professionalism during these activities. Award category recently approved by the AZGFD Commission in honor of Buck Appleby, a long time hunter education instructor who passed away in 2010.

Remote water measuring sensor saves bighorn sheep

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PHOENIX — Earlier this month, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) received an alert from one of its solar-powered remote water sensors, located in the Chocolate Mountains near Yuma, indicating that a wildlife water catchment – critical to wildlife survival – was dry.

The sensors, developed and installed by the United States Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), deliver timely, remote notifications of significant water loss.

Concerned for the well-being of the animals, an AZGFD team hiked – in scorching heat – nearly 2 miles of steep terrain to assess the situation. Upon arrival, the team discovered the empty water catchment…and 15 bighorn sheep standing nearby. A broken pipe was responsible for the water shortage. The team mitigated the problem by turning on a back-up water system.

Without the real-time data from the electronic water measuring system, AZGFD would have not found the failure for weeks, which could have resulted in the death of bighorn sheep and other wild animals. In total, YPG has developed and installed four remote sensors on its property, where AZGFD manages several water catchments.

“Rain is unpredictable in southwest Arizona, and this requires innovative approaches and partnerships to protect wildlife,” said AZGFD Yuma Regional Supervisor Mike Sumner. “By continuing to foster our relationship with our partners at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground – who adapted existing range equipment to monitor these water sensors – we can develop affordable solutions to protect wildlife and provide them with the water they need to survive during dry periods.”

Ben Avery Shooting Facility prepares to reopen with changes

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PHOENIX — The Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) soon will be open and ready for business, but with some operational changes that will affect customers.

To ensure public health and safety protocols are observed, and to maximize opportunities for all recreational shooters, only online reservations will be accepted when BASF reopens at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 13. The new online reservation system will be available Monday, May 11.

At this time, the shooting facility is unable to accommodate walk-in customers on its rifle and pistol ranges, as well as the Clay Target Center (CTC). Any changes will be based on gradual reopening guidelines for businesses and customers, as outlined by the Governor’s Office.

“BASF’s implementation of a new online reservation system is two-fold: We want to maximize the shooting opportunities that this world-class facility has to offer, while maintaining common sense health practices,” said Mike Raum, shooting sports branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, BASF is one of the nation’s largest publicly operated shooting facilities. A City of Phoenix “Point of Pride,” the facility has received a five-star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges.

Public comment sought on proposed Commission Orders for raptors, amphibians, reptiles, and crustaceans and mollusks through June 6

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public comment on proposed 2021-2025 regulations for raptors, amphibians, crustaceans and mollusks, and reptiles.

Comments will be accepted from May 8 through June 6, 2020. If warranted, public meetings on the proposed changes to these Commission Orders may be held telephonically.

The proposed Commission Orders 25, 41, 42 and 43, if approved, will be in effect for the years 2021 through 2025. The documents posted below are only for 2021, but only the year will change for the Commission Orders for each of the subsequent four years.
• Commission Order 25 – Raptors
• Commission Order 41 – Amphibians
• Commission Order 42 – Crustaceans and Mollusks
• Commission Order 43 – Reptiles

Written comments can be submitted by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Terrestrial Wildlife Branch, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, Arizona 85086, or they can be emailed to:
• CommOrd25@azgfd.gov (Raptors)
• CommOrd41-43@azgfd.gov (Amphibians and Reptiles)
• CommOrd42@azgfd.gov (Crustaceans and Mollusks)

For more information, call (623) 236-7506.

AZGFD creates web page to bring outdoor enthusiasts latest updates

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is committed to staying connected with its customers and providing exceptional service, while protecting everyone’s health and safety.

Get the latest information about changes to processes and procedures, and review frequently asked questions, by visiting the department’s new web page: www.azgfd.com/agency/covid-19-related-updates/.

In the meantime, all seven department offices statewide are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). Customers also can call the department’s main number at (602) 942-3000, or email customerservice@azgfd.gov.

Customers are reminded they can conduct most department business online by visiting www.azgfd.gov.

Leftover elk permit-tags remain only for “low density” hunt

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s random draw for 2020 elk hunts has been over for weeks, and all leftover permit-tags are gone — with one exception.

More than 600 hunt permit-tags remain available for the minimal occurrence zone/low-density hunt in game management units 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B. There are two ways that hunters can purchase these leftovers on a first-come, first-served basis:

By mail: The preferred method would be to mail a paper application addressed to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Draw/First Come, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Note: There is no “mini” draw. Allow 10 to 15 days to receive a permit-tag by mail.
In person: Applications will be accepted in person beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, March 30, at any of the department’s regional offices.

Before mailing that application, or venturing out to a department office, hunters are reminded that these four units combined have an extremely low-density elk population of less than 50 animals. The department is specifically managing these units for wildlife values other than elk, and an established population is not desirable. The intent of this particular hunt (Hunt No. 3799) is to eliminate this elk population.

Those who purchase one of these permit-tags should be aware that because of extremely low densities, hunt success likely will be less than 5 percent. Only those who did not receive a permit-tag in the random draw may buy one of these permit-tags. Bonus points are not affected when purchasing a permit-tag through the first-come, first-served process.

The cost of a permit-tag is $48, which includes a $13 non-refundable application fee. A non-resident hunt permit-tag is $50, which includes a $15 non-refundable application fee. The hunt dates are April 15-Oct. 8, and Oct. 23-Dec. 31, 2020. A bull or cow elk may be harvested.

Mexican wolf population rises to at least 163 animals

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AZGF Photo

PHOENIX — The wild population of Mexican wolves continues to grow at a healthy pace. The recent Mexican wolf count shows the population of Mexican wolves has increased by 24 percent since last year, raising the total number of wolves in the wild to a minimum of 163 animals.

That number is among the findings of the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT), a task force comprising federal, state, tribal and international partners. From November 2019 through January 2020, the team conducted ground counts in Arizona and New Mexico that concluded with aerial counts of Mexican wolves in January and February.

According to the IFT, the 163 wolves are distributed with 76 in Arizona and 87 in New Mexico. Last year, the team documented 131 wolves at the end of 2018, which was a 12 percent increase from 2017. This population has increased an average of 15 percent annually in the last 10 years.

“The count shows we have more wolves, more breeding pairs and more pups born in the wild than ever before,” said Amy Lueders, Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Albuquerque, NM. “This is the second year we have seen a significant increase in the wild population of Mexican wolves, a success that is directly tied to the science-based, on-the-ground management efforts of the Interagency Field Team.”

Among the 2019 findings:

  • At the end of 2019, there were a minimum of 42 packs of wolves (including 11 new pairs), plus 10 individuals. A wolf pack is defined as two or more wolves that maintain an established territory.
  • A minimum of 21 of the 28 packs the IFT was monitoring in spring of 2019 had pups; 19 of these packs had pups that survived to the end of the year.​​​​​​​
  • A minimum of 90 pups were born in 2019, and at least 52 survived to the end of the year (a 58 percent survival rate). Average survival of Mexican wolf pups is around 50 percent.​​​​​​​
  • The IFT documented 14 mortalities in the wild population of Mexican wolves in 2019. This is a 33 percent decrease from documented mortalities (21) in 2018.

During the aerial count, biologists captured 21 wolves and fitted them with new GPS tracking collars. This brings the number of collared wolves in the wild to 103 (63 percent of the known population). These radio collars use satellite technology to accurately record wolf locations on a frequent basis. Biologists on the IFT use this information to gain timely information about wolf behavior in the wild and assist with management of the wild population.

In 2019, the IFT placed 12 captive-born pups into five wild dens (a process called “cross fostering”) to boost the genetic variability in the wild population. The IFT has since captured and collared two of these pups and will continue efforts in 2020 to document others that may have survived. Since the first cross-fostering of Mexican wolf pups in 2014, the IFT has documented a minimum of nine cross-fostered pups recruited into the population and currently alive. Four cross-fostered wolves have survived to breeding age, resulting in multiple litters of genetically diverse pups born in the wild. Three more cross-fostered wolves will reach breeding age in April of 2020.

“The numbers highlight the wolf’s progress in the wild,” said Jim deVos, Assistant Director of Wildlife Management for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The results of this census are very important as they reflect the great progress being made in the recovery of the Mexican wolf in the United States. The increase in the Mexican wolf population is not an isolated year, but rather a continuum of increases over the last 10 years.”

The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America. It is listed separately from the gray wolf (Canis lupus) as an endangered subspecies under the federal Endangered Species Act. Once common throughout portions of the southwestern United States and Mexico, it was all but eliminated from the wild by the 1970s.

Working with the Mexican government, the Service in 1977 began developing a captive breeding program to restore the wolf’s numbers. It started with seven wolves, aiming for the day the program could release wolves into the wild. That day came in 1998, when the Service, in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, released 11 wolves within a range called the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area in Arizona and New Mexico. In 2011, the program expanded to Mexico with the release of wolves in the Sierra Madre Occidental. Mexico currently estimates there are approximately 30 Mexican wolves in the Sierra Madre Occidental.

In November 2017, the Service completed a revised Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, after working with state agencies and other partners. The recovery plan uses the best available science to chart a path forward for the Mexican wolf that can be accommodated within the subspecies’ historical range in the southwestern United States and Mexico. This revised plan provides measurable and objective criteria for successful recovery. When those goals are met, the Service will be able to remove the Mexican wolf from the list of endangered species and turn management over to the states.

In addition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, partners in the recovery program include the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), USDA Forest Service (USFS), USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (USDA-APHIS WS), White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. National Park Service (NPS).

For more information on the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, visit the USFWS Mexican wolf website (www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf) or visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department website on Mexican wolves (www.azgfd.gov/wolf).