Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 251 - 275 of 627
Ziggy is a handsome Hybrid Calico Macaw (Greenwing x Military Macaw) who is missing the toes on both feet as well as the portions of his wings where his flight feathers would grow. Most likely he was born with these deformities due to poor hybrid genetics. Like all special needs birds, Ziggy does not realize that he has any "problems" and has adjusted to life exceptionally well. After living with a family for over 16 years, he was abandoned in their home when they moved. A neighbor alerted a... Full story
WDFW IS seeking comments on the draft status reviews for sea otters, pygmy rabbits, and grizzly bears. OLYMPIA – State wildlife managers are seeking public input on their recommendations to keep the pygmy rabbit and grizzly bear on the state's endangered species list, and to downlist the sea otter from endangered to threatened. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) periodically reviews the status of protected species in the state. The public can comment on the listing r... Full story
Residents of Alpine, Ariz., Reserve, N.M., and surrounding areas may notice a low-flying helicopter in the region between through Saturday, Feb. 3 as biologists conduct their annual Mexican wolf population survey and capture. The flights are part of the Mexican wolf Reintroduction Project, a multi-agency cooperative effort among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Service... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) prides itself on providing ample fishing opportunities for its legions of anglers and the state's growing populations of cormorants have taken notice. State Has Two Species In early 2017, AZGFD began a study of the state's two species of the bird - neotropic and double-crested cormorants - both of which are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under those protections, cormorant populations have flourished nationwide, competing... Full story
Each year as part of its highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) asks outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to help this magnificent bird in Arizona. Various land and wildlife management agencies close areas around breeding locations during the birds' breeding season to protect the state's 67 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some closure areas are located near popular... Full story
People love their pets. But sometimes hardship forces them apart. That's where we come in. As the only organization in the Valley focused on both pets and people in crisis, we are dedicated to rescuing pets abandoned or at risk of homelessness. We provide pet care when people find themselves in challenging life situations. When people are facing times of crisis that jeopardize their ability to care and provide for their pets, we are here to help. Some Unfortunate Factors Domestic Violence... Full story
Standing at less than 11 inches tall, the American kestrel is a mighty bird of prey, yet the future of this fierce little falcon is uncertain, as populations are on the decline nationally. Locally, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is enlisting the help of landowners and citizen scientists to assist biologists as part of the American Kestrel Partnership, a program designed to collect data to be used to conserve this important species for future generations. AZGFD is participating in... Full story
Sometimes things happen when you least expect them. "I came upon this brave cactus wren taking on the cholla cactus," said Pamela Parker of Mesa, explaining how she got the winning shot of this year's wildlife photo contest. "I loved how the wren was framed by all the needles and had to take the photo." She kept a watchful eye, taking several shots and capturing the bird surrounded by the cactus. Parker used a handheld camera because she likes to be "on the same level as my subjects." She... Full story
At its regular December meeting, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission passed a motion in opposition to a proposed ballot initiative that would ban the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats and restrict management of the state's wild cats by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The proposed initiative has not yet qualified for the ballot, but the Commission regularly takes positions on federal and state legislation with potential impact on the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and the... Full story
The Home At Last campaign will raise $1.75 million to purchase the building we currently occupy and make some significant renovations that include the following: • additional kennels to increase capacity • improvements to dog and cat living spaces • a new canine medical room • custom catios for all of the cat rooms • installation of a fire sprinkler system But that's just the beginning of our exciting news! We are thrilled to share that we have received a $1,000,000 donation from an anonymous... Full story
After an absence of more than 70 years, the endangered Gila topminnow has reappeared in the Santa Cruz River in northwest Tucson, fish surveys conducted in November confirm. Scientists were hopeful native fish would return to the river near Tucson after the river's water quality significantly improved following upgrades to wastewater-treatment facilities releasing effluent (highly treated wastewater) into the river at Agua Nueva and Tres Rios treatment plants in 2013. The native Arizona... Full story
You can help sick or injured wildlife not only on a Giving Tuesday, but also on any day of the year. The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Wildlife Center treats sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. Some can be released to the wild, but those that can't require continued care, either as "wildlife ambassadors" for educational presentations at local schools and community events, or for placement in a zoo or wildlife sanctuary. The animals pictured with this story have all been rescued during the... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department manages more than 800 native species and the public had a chance to visit with come of them on Wildlife Day in November. This free family friendly event was designed to allow the public to meet their wildlife neighbors up close, while helping raise funds for the AZGFD Wildlife Center. "The Wildlife Center is often the first stop for many wildlife needing lifesaving care," said AZGFD Wildlife Education Program Manager Mike Demlong. "Wildlife Day helps us to...
It happens every year. As if on cue, they pick up and travel thousands of miles from places like Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, and some from as far away as Canada, Alaska and even Siberia. They are Arizona's true "snowbirds," content to spend winter days basking under mild, sunny skies before getting the itch to turn around and head back north sometime in March or early April. For the past few weeks, sandhill cranes by the thousands have been trumpeting their annual arrival in southeastern... Full story
An annual survey of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel showed a significant decline due to the effects of the lightning-caused Frye Fire in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The annual survey, conducted jointly by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), Coronado National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation-Phoenix Zoo, and the University of Arizona, resulted in an estimate of only 35 squirrels. This is a significant decrease... Full story
Staff at the Turtle Conservancy are celebrating the hatching of three Critically Endangered Pan's Box Turtles (Cuora pani) this week at their conservation center in California. It is the first time the Turtle Conservancy has hatched this species and the first second generation breeding of this species in the United States. Pan's Box Turtles are understood to be effectively extinct in its native China due to over-collection for the medicinal and pet trade. A Critical Step "This is a critical... Full story
Chiricahua leopard frogs received extra help getting the hop on avoiding extinction after 454 of the threatened species were recently released into restored habitat on the Clifton Ranger District on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. The young frogs were released under a partnership between the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (ACNC) – Phoenix Zoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management New Mexico (BLM), U.S. Forest Se... Full story
Help us prepare or join us for a Purrfect Holiday Celebration to support rescue pets! Enjoy sparkling champagne, a delicious brunch, a huge silent auction with gifts for everyone's holiday shopping list, rousing live auction with a vivacious auctiontainer, adorable pets, and inspiring stories. A big and exciting announcement will be made so this event is one to attend! Spread the word and bring your friends/family that you want to introduce to the rescue. Where: Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at... Full story
Evidence shows range includes southern parts of Ariz., N.M. and 90 percent in Mexico. A recent peer-reviewed scientific paper re-affirmed the historical range of the endangered Mexican wolf as being southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. To Clarify Range The paper was the featured article published in the July issue of The Journal of Wildlife Management, a leading international wildlife science journal. The authors - each reputable experts in... Full story
The public also can enter a raffle for a 2017 Polaris Ranger Crew 570-4 donated by RideNow Powersports. Each year the State Employees Charitable Campaign (SECC) gives State of Arizona employees the opportunity to voluntarily contribute monetary donations to support nonprofit agencies. The funds raised by state employees support more than 400 charities. The campaign conducts events and promotions that are usually limited to state employees, but this year there is an opportunity for the public to... Full story
Arizona remains Chronic Wasting Disease-free due to surveillance efforts. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking hunters to continue doing their part to help keep Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a neurodegenerative wildlife disease that is fatal to deer and elk, at bay. All successful deer and elk hunters are encouraged to bring the head of their harvested animal, especially bucks and bulls, to any department office statewide between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The preferred... Full story
From highlighting the Sonoran pronghorn recovery to an in-depth look at the making of a wildlife manager, the Arizona Wildlife Views TV show covered a diverse range of wildlife and topics in the last season. And, there's good news if you missed any of the shows from 2016: You can watch them all now on the Arizona Game and Fish Department's YouTube channel. The Emmy-award winning program is produced by the department's Information Branch and airs on PBS and city cable channels. It was recently... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has submitted its official comments on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) draft Mexican wolf recovery plan which, when finalized, will outline a science-based strategy for continuing the successful reintroduction of Mexican wolves in its historic range. The FWS developed the draft recovery plan to replace the outdated 1982 plan. The updated plan was done in collaboration with state wildlife agencies in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado;... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is accepting applications for more than $400,000 in Heritage Fund grants. The deadline to submit an application is Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 to be eligible for grant funding, which will be available through a competitive application process in the following categories: environmental education, outdoor education, schoolyard habitat, urban wildlife/habitat, public access; and Identification, Inventory, Acquisition, Protection and Management (IIAPM). In addition... Full story
Arizona's bald eagle population continues to soar as the number of breeding areas expanded statewide and a record 82 young hatched during the 2017 breeding season, according to an annual Arizona Game and Fish Department survey. While the number of hatchlings rose from the previous high of 79 in 2016, the number of young that actually fledged dipped slightly to 63 birds that made the important milestone of their first flight. In Arizona, at least 95 eggs were laid, which was slightly less than... Full story
