Rare Species in the Verde Valley
Thanks to the biologically-rich habitat of the Coconino Forest surrounding Sedona, we have a wonderful diversity of wildlife. When we see a bobcat roaming its hunting grounds, a mule deer foraging among tall grasses, or a herd of javelina traveling a wash corridor, we are thankful we live in Red Rock Country.
Many local animal species are considered rare. They may be federally-listed as endangered or threatened, have a Forest Service status of sensitive, or a state status of species of greatest conservation need. Not including migratory birds, there are 54 special status species in the Red Rock Ranger District. Sadly, three federally-listed species – Mexican Gray wolf, grizzly bear and jaguar – can no longer be found here and the southwestern river otter is extinct.
Animal species living in or alongside waterways dominate the list of special status species, and the trends for these species are not positive. Over the last 100-150 years, water habitats in the Southwest have been dramatically reduced, with negative impacts on animal life.
We care about saving species for the thrill of seeing them; educational purposes; and their ecological, historic, and cultural values. Each species plays an important role in an ecosystem. When a species becomes endangered, it indicates something is wrong with the ecosystem. Like the canaries used in coalmines whose deaths warned miners of bad air, the increasing numbers of endangered species warns us that the health of our environment has declined. Measures we take to save endangered species will help ensure the planet we leave for our children is as healthy as the planet our ancestors left us.
The Coconino National Forest Plan requires that the Forest be managed for the betterment of threatened and endangered species. The goal is to manage system habitats in such a way as to recover threatened and endangered species, and to avoid the need to implement any special protection measures.
Some rare species are protected by an Act of Congress. The Eagle Act, passed in 1940, prohibits the take, possession, sale, purchase, or transport of any bald or golden eagle. “Take” includes pursuing, capturing, wounding or disturbing a bald or golden eagle. “Disturbing” a bald or golden eagle includes actions that might cause injury to an eagle; nest abandonment; or interference with its eating, breeding, or sheltering behavior. In today’s world such “disturbance” might be caused by flying a drone near an eagle’s nest.
There are five known pairs of nesting bald eagles in the Verde Valley. They generally stay close to their nests, which are located in riparian areas on the Verde River and its tributaries. To protect bald eagles from disturbance at high recreation use sites, the Forest Service implements annual closures of the nesting sites from December through June.
Resident golden eagles stay in the area year-round, but there is limited information about their numbers or nest sites. Unlike bald eagles, golden eagles nest in dry canyons, high up on cliff ledges. Their huge nests are six feet and larger in diameter. While golden eagles normally feed on jackrabbits, they are capable of taking down larger prey.
The DDT pesticide caused the decline of peregrine falcons. DDT made the egg shells thin, resulting in adults crushing eggs during incubation. There are eleven known pair of peregrine falcons in the Verde Valley, though it is likely more reside here. Nesting on high cliff walls, they can be disturbed by activity on nearby hiking trails, rock climbing, aircraft, and drones.
The yellow-billed cuckoo is threatened by decreasing habitat along local waterways. Fairly easy to hear, but hard to spot, yellow-billed cuckoos have a distinctive, knocking call. These secretive birds live in the mesquite woodlands along rivers, where they forage slowly and methodically for caterpillars, cicadas, tent caterpillars, and other large arthropods.
We have eighteen known species of bats in the Verde Valley, five of which have special status. Some bats migrate but those that remain for the winter do not stay in hibernation all winter long. They occasionally wake up to expel waste and reset brain chemicals, but they have just enough fat to wake up the necessary number of times. Waking up just once burns 30-60 days of fat reserves. People who are recreating near hibernation sites can cause extra arousals that kill bats by causing them to starve to death while they are hibernating.
These are just a few of the species that have become rare in the Verde Valley. As a community, it’s important to do what we can to protect the animals residing here. All our lives are improved by supporting a healthy, abundant ecosystem.
Serving Sedona, written this week by Janie Agyagos, Forest Service District Wildlife Staff, and Carol Wirkus of Sedona Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.