Latest news with #ArizonaGameAndFish
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gnaw and order: An imperiled Arizona river gets help from relocated beavers
For years, conservationists have been building manmade dams to help restore Arizona's disappearing wetlands. Now, the state's last free-flowing river is undergoing renovations from nature's most efficient construction crew: a pair of recently released beavers. Arizona Game and Fish biologists are testing a new protocol for moving beavers from locations where they can be a nuisance to businesses and homeowners to areas of the state where they can contribute to conservation. 'It's a shift in mindset,' said Angie Stingelin, a senior wildlife specialist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, in a news release. 'Instead of relocating a nuisance beaver to an area where it might cause less trouble, we're harnessing its natural behaviors to restore vital habitats within the beaver's known range in Arizona.' The first beaver to be released in this project was trapped at Arlington Wildlife Area along the Gila River after causing land management issues, like clogging pipes and disturbing irrigation infrastructure. After undergoing a multi-day quarantine and health check, the beaver was released in January into the Lower San Pedro River Wildlife Area and it quickly began making improvements on manmade analog dams made from logs and willow branches. A second beaver, believed to be the original beaver's mate, was captured and released into the Lower San Pedro in the spring. The two reunited and have been spotted on trail camera images traveling together. Arizona wildlife: It's a thirsty world for desert creatures. How a state agency keeps water basins full Since the 1800s, more than a third of Arizona's wetlands have disappeared, according to the U.S. Wildlife Service. Beaver dams can help restore these wetlands by holding back water to temporarily flood an area and allow more time for the water to permeate into the ground. Over the years, damming projects in the Lower San Pedro River have shown an increased growth of cottonwood and willow trees, which in turn, have led to an improved habitat for endangered species, like the southwestern willow flycatcher. 'The management of one species leading to the conservation value and increase in numbers of another actually listed species, we see that as a win-win,' said Shawn Lowrey, regional supervisor of restoration and mitigation for Arizona Game and Fish. Before release, captured beavers undergo a 72-hour quarantine period to check their health and ensure they won't transport any invasive species to their new homes. The beavers are also given an ear tag and outfitted with a GPS tracker. The data collected through GPS tracking and onsite monitoring will be used to help implement a project with the Bureau of Land Management planned for Cienega Creek, where a family of beavers is planned for release later this year. Relocating nuisance beavers isn't new in western states. In the 1940s, Idaho's wildlife management agency dropped beavers from planes using parachutes and release boxes to translocate them to remote mountain locations. The relocation of the beavers along the San Pedro River is a comprehensive, thoughtful process, said Lowrey. 'We still need to kind of go through the process of identifying where the ideal locations are for the release of beavers, especially in this 20-year drought,' said Lowrey. 'That way they can still do what they do, living out their lives doing ecological engineering for the greater good.' John Leos covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to Environmental coverage on and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona river area gets help from relocated beavers
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Can you kill a rattlesnake in Arizona? Here's what the law says
Welcome to Snake Week 2025 at Every day from June 23 through June 29, Ultimate Arizona reporter Tiffany Acosta will bring you a new story about Arizona's favorite slithering reptiles. Follow along to learn about venomous Mojave rattlesnakes, ultravenomous coral snakes, all the snakes in Arizona that are nonvenomous, the pros and cons of snakes as pets and the absolutely wildest facts about snakes. Think twice before killing that snake. In Arizona, the law might not be on your side. While it's perfectly natural to be startled by a slithering rattlesnake on your hike, it's illegal to kill certain species of rattlesnakes in Arizona. Arizona law protects snakes and regulates or prohibits hunting, collecting or killing some species. Here's what Arizona law says about killing rattlesnakes and other species. Yes, rattlesnakes are protected by law in Arizona. We talked to Thomas Jones, amphibians and reptiles program manager at Arizona Game & Fish, who told us more about the subject. 'All wildlife is protected in Arizona, technically, and whether one is allowed to collect or to kill wildlife is determined by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. So it's all protected, and protections are eased or added to depending on the species,' Jones said. 'With rattlesnakes and with other wildlife, if the animal presents a danger to people, and in some cases, pets, then one can kill a rattlesnake. We try to discourage that, of course, because there are ways of mitigating that issue.' Jones said that just because a rattlesnake startles you doesn't mean you can kill it. Unless it poses a clear and immediate danger to humans, it's protected by law and should be left alone. It's not illegal to kill a rattlesnake in Arizona, but there are important legal and ethical boundaries. If a rattlesnake poses an immediate threat to you, your family or pets, you're legally allowed to kill it in self-defense. But this doesn't mean you can harm snakes at random while out hiking or working on your property. Seeing a rattlesnake, even if it startles you, is not a justifiable reason to kill it under state law. Some rattlesnake species are further protected by Arizona law, including the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake, the twin-spotted rattlesnake, the banded rock rattlesnake and the massasauga, Jones said. Harming or killing these snakes can lead to serious consequences, including fines or criminal charges. Arizona also prohibits the wasteful killing of wildlife. And if you have a justifiable reason to kill a snake, you can't use hazardous methods like poison or firearms in unsafe ways, particularly in populated areas. The Arizona Game and Fish Department may impose fines of at least $250 per rattlesnake for killing unprotected species, and up to $8,000 if the snake is a protected species. Repeat offenders face steeper penalties, with fines doubling or tripling after multiple violations. In some cases, you could lose your hunting or fishing privileges. You need a valid Arizona hunting license to legally kill, collect or possess most rattlesnakes. 'There is what's called a bag and possession limit for every hunting license or fishing license," Jones said. "It's the number you can take in a certain day or over the course of the year, and then the number you can keep. For most rattlesnakes, I believe It's four animals per day or in possession. "But again, it doesn't allow you to go out and just kill them.' There is no hunting season for protected rattlesnake species like the ridge-nosed rattlesnake, twin-spotted rattlesnake, massasauga and banded rock rattlesnake. 'They are completely protected and may not be taken even with a hunting license. And those four all live in southeastern Arizona and each of them has a very limited geographic distribution,' said Jones. There's no open season on these species, Jones said, because their limited geographic range means it would be easy to deplete their numbers quickly if people were allowed to collect them. Looking for the ? Sign up for our newsletter. Intentionally running over any snake can be considered animal cruelty under state law. Arizona's animal cruelty statute (A.R.S. § 13-2910) prohibits intentionally, knowingly or recklessly inflicting unnecessary physical injury or death upon any animal. Violations can result in misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the severity of the act. Even if the snake is on your property, harming it without legal justification could lead to consequences. However, if a snake poses an immediate threat to human safety or is in a location where it cannot be safely relocated, taking action to protect yourself is legally permissible. In such cases, it's advisable to contact local authorities or wildlife professionals for guidance on safe removal. Shooting a rattlesnake is generally legal in Arizona if you have a valid hunting license and the action is deemed necessary for self-defense or to protect others. 'But certainly people are not allowed to just go out and kill rattlesnakes because they don't like them and they want to kill them,' said Jones. In Arizona, it is illegal to own any venomous snake, including rattlesnakes, coral snakes, cobras and other exotic species. This is to protect public safety and native wildlife. Other reptiles including Gila monsters and Mexican beaded lizards are also illegal to own due to their venomous nature and conservation status. Nonvenomous snakes such as kingsnakes, gopher snakes and rosy boas are generally legal to own as pets, provided they are not protected species and you follow any local city or county regulations. Check with Arizona Game and Fish and your municipality before acquiring a reptile to ensure you're within the law. Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Follow @tiffsario on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can you kill a rattlesnake on your property? What AZ law says
