Wildlife

Wildlife is integral to the Diablo Trust lands and to Northern Arizona. The ranches and surrounding public lands are home to many wildlife species including deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, reptiles, mountain lion, and many types of birds.

Lack of winter precipitation in recent years brought the well-being of wildlife into the public eye and into local newspapers. The Wildlife Working Group chaired by Cathy Taylor has come together to look for solutions. The group includes agency personnel, ranchers, concerned citizens, and students.

Current Projects (2007)

This year we are going to focus on removing fences that are no longer needed. the next project day is August 11 (Long Lake fence removal).

Projects are expected to last approximately 4-5 hours, so bring enough food and water for the day and bring a set of heavy pliers if you have them. Dress appropriately by wearing long pants, long sleeved shirts, gloves and appropriate footwear.

Please meet at the Mormon Lake Ranger Station at 4373 South Lake Mary Road, Flagstaff at 8:00 a.m. Projects are subject to change, but the dates are firm.

Past Projects

Due to extreme drought conditions in 1996 and 2002, the Diablo Trust undertook a number of measures to aid wildlife, including:

hauling over 1,000,000 gallons of water to the area’s wildlife in 2002;
improving roads to access and maintain various water sources for the animals;
purchasing, installing, and maintaining numerous water tanks; and
fencing off many drying lakes and tanks that were deadly mud bogs that trap thirsty animals.

The Wildlife Working Group participated in discussions with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, other agencies, organizations and volunteers concerning declining pronghorn populations. This resulted in the development of the Anderson Mesa Pronghorn Antelope Management Plan. The Trust only supports gunning coyotes on Anderson Mesa to promote greater survival of pronghorn fawns when it is part of an overall management plan.

The Diablo Trust also participated in the Citizen’s Working Group for the Anderson Mesa Landscape Scale Assessment (a US Forest Service project). The result was a document illustrating existing conditions, desired conditions, and possible management practices.

Future Goals of the Wildlife Working Group:

Facilitate discussions on emerging wildlife issues.
Facilitate discussions and actions for providing water for wildlife, especially pronghorn antelope, on Anderson Mesa and other priority areas.
Work with Northern Arizona University students to monitor the use of wildlife corridors established between Anderson Mesa and state and private land.
Promote the gathering of baseline wildlife information (including bird use) of the Hay Lake area, and changes in wildlife use of improved habitat areas.
Add to the baseline data on ephemeral lakes.
Collaborate with the Arizona Antelope Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Continue support for private antelope surveys.

We hope to make progress on all of our goals in the coming year. Volunteers are always needed and welcome!

Learning from the land and sharing our knowledge...
So there will always be a West.