The great state of Arizona boasts many nicknames, “The Copper State,” “The Valentine State,” and, of course, “The Grand Canyon State.” Few states have earned this multitude of monikers quite so much as the 48th state in the Union.
Perhaps this is because Arizona itself contains such multitudes. In the state’s northern region — past Flagstaff — lush forests and mountain ranges lead to the great gorge, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. To the south and west, moving toward Yuma and Tucson, long, flat, seemingly endless deserts stretch into Mexico and California.
From corner to corner of the state, one is likely to find nearly everything else in between!
Arizona’s inhabitants have celebrated its natural diversity for thousands of years, from Native people to the white settlers, pioneers, cowboys, and modern-day Arizonans who benefited from its beauty and natural resources.
Thankfully, today, some of those natural resources, in particular Arizona’s spectacular array of animal life, are protected against diminishment or even extinction in the ever-changing modern world that surrounds them.
Read on to learn more about Arizona’s four endangered species.
Mexican Wolf
Photo Courtesy John Bradley/USFWS
A likely surprising entrant to find on this list due to the state’s proximity to its neighboring country and its topographical makeup, the Mexican wolf has unfortunately been at great risk over the last few decades.
Once a ubiquitous presence in the American Southwest, with the proliferation of cattle farming in the region and conflicts with farmers and ranchers, the Mexican Wolf had all but disappeared from the landscape by the 1970s before it was placed on the United States Endangered Species list. However, in 1998, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released the first captive Mexican Wolves into the wild in Arizona and New Mexico, which began a slow regrowth of the species in the area once more!
Sonoran Pronghorn
Photo Courtesy NPS
Another less predatory occupant of the high desert finds its species name on the endangered species list: the Sonoran pronghorn. These small, graceful deer-like creatures are very rare to spot in the wild as they are known to be skittish and shy, making accounting for their numbers difficult for researchers. This fear is a survival instinct and also drove the Sonora pronghorn nearly out of existence in the late 20th century with the proliferation of modern highways, cities, and growing fence works being erected to mark property lines.
Thankfully, in 2004, scientists started a captive breeding program to reintroduce greater numbers into the world. With this effort, the Sonoran pronghorn is on its way back to prominence, even if seeing one in the wild is still quite rare.
Woundfin
Photo Courtesy USFWS
This tiny creature is another casualty of the modern world encroaching on its natural habitat. The Woundfin minnow, once found nearly everywhere in the Colorado River Basin, has seen its numbers drop dramatically as dams and other bulwarks have divided the waterways and virtually destroyed its habitat.
Additionally, other species introduced into the area have further dwindled the Woundfin’s numbers to perilously low. The fish is currently listed on the endangered species list. However, in 2007 and 2008, thousands of hatchery Woundfin were introduced into the area once again, which will hopefully spur a resurgence in the tiny river dwellers.
Jaguar
Photo Courtesy Hollingsworth, John and Karen/USFWS
This beautiful and lethal cat is the largest in the Americas. However, that fact can’t keep it from being placed on the endangered species list primarily due to human predation and habitat loss from human-made construction.
These strikingly beautiful spotted creatures, smaller in size only to the lion and tiger around the world, have seen a drop of nearly 20% in their habitats in the 2000s, mostly due to trophy hunting and the illegal trade of Jaguar body parts.
This grisly business has threatened to eradicate the great cats altogether. However, with their placement on the endangered species list and further protections being put in place to protect the mighty cats, the hope is that the Jaguar will again flourish in the American Southwest.
