Sensitive Species Projects
"Continued fragmentation and isolation of existing dispersal habitat within the Tucson Basin will most likely serve to concentrate burrowing owls, and their predators, in small, isolated patches thereby resulting in elevated mortality rates. Careful planning for dispersal corridors and the strategic location of artificial burrow structures within the urban matrix may help maintain a viable population of burrowing owls in the Tucson Basin by facilitating movement, providing shelter sites, and protecting burrowing owls from predation".
-Survival and Movement Patterns of Juvenile Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Tucson Basin, Tucson, Arizona, 2008
Arizona is home to some of our nation’s most spectacular and unique wildlife. Unfortunately, many of these species are under growing pressure as cities and towns expand into shrinking wildlife habitats.
The Wildlife Contracts Branch is dedicated to the conservation of these species by identifying and mitigating the impact development has on wildlife. We work with government agencies, military installations, municipalities, and private entities to design and implement wildlife research and survey and monitoring studies throughout Arizona and beyond.
Our results offer scientifically rigorous solutions to help protect these species and their habitats while serving to inform decisions that foster responsible growth in Arizona.
- Ongoing Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Projects
- Desert Tortoise Habitat Evaluations and Road Mortality Mitigation
- Yuma Clapper Rail Surveys and Monitoring
- Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Demographic and Occupancy Monitoring
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Surveys and Habitat Evaluations
- Lesser Long-Nosed Bat Monitoring
- Mexican Gartersnake Surveys and Monitoring
- Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl Captive Breeding Program
- Western Burrowing owl survey and Monitoring Training Module
