Developed by theArizona Game and Fish

Department

Updated December 2010

The purpose of this program is to provide you with some of the major topics you can expect to encounter during the wildlife portion of the Arizona Envirothon.

This program will NOT provide all of the answers. Instead, it will introduce you to the major topics you should understand.

Each topic will consist of two slides. The first will have questions for you to consider as you prepare for the competition. The second slide will provide links that will help you answer those questions.

Remember: this program is just a starting point! You should be familiar with many of the issues facing Arizona wildlife and conservation today.

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What is the role of the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) in wildlife management and outdoor recreation?

What is the mission of the AGFD? How is AGFD funded? How is this different than

other state agencies How are the roles and responsibilities of federal

and state wildlife agencies similar and different?

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Inside AGFD: http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/inside_azgfd.shtml

AZ Revised Statues – Title 17 – Game and Fish: http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=17

Arizona’s State Wildlife Action Plan: http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/cwcs.shtml

AGFD Heritage Program: http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/heritage_program.shtml

We are Arizona Game and Fish video: http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/18/yf-X-cYDTwY

Protecting Arizona Wildlife video: http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/295/JOTpv86YW_w

Heritage Grant video: http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/314/81ekzfzNoHg

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/

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What are the differences between birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish?

Why do animals interact with each other? What are the different ways that animals interact with each other (i.e., predator/prey, food chains and webs, and symbiosis)? Name some common Arizona examples.

What are the similarities and differences between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores?

What factors affect the wildlife population sizes (i.e., carrying capacity, birth and death rates, etc.)?

How does Arizona’s diverse habitats affect physical and behavioral adaptations of wildlife?

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Desert Animal Survival:http://www.desertusa.com/survive.html

Life in the Desert video:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/10200-life-in-the-desert-animal-adaptations-video.htm

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What are the components of habitat? What biotic communities can be found in Arizona?

What are the characteristics of these communities, especially the Sonoran Desert and the Sky Islands?

What are the current and potential threats to Arizona’s habitats, both natural and human-caused?

What is habitat fragmentation? How does it impact wildlife in Arizona?

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Biotic Communities of Arizona:http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~are-p/road_map/eco/biotic.html

Biotic Communities of the Colorado Plateau:http://cpluhna.nau.edu/Biota/biotic_communities.htm

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What are the benefits and detriments of dams to humans and wildlife in Arizona?

What are the benefits and detriments of water catchments (a.k.a. drinkers, guzzlers)? What role do they have in wildlife management?

Which Arizona waterways are natural and non-dammed? Which have been restored? What is their status and health? How are they used?

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San Pedro River Conservation video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/20/i6cntlf201c

Arizona Fossil Creek fishing video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/21/AZNoQ6RlQvs

Building Water Catchments video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/86/HwEPfxmrBgg

Grand Canyon Dam Colorado River Flooding video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/124/Xr8ivZBJ8WE

Fossil Creek video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/233/dEle8afsOJc

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How do highways and roads affect wildlife populations and their movements?

What are wildlife linkages? What is habitat connectivity?

What projects are currently being implemented in Arizona to help link habitats? Who is involved in these projects?

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Arizona’s Wildlife Linkages:http://www.azdot.gov/Highways/OES/AZ_Wildlife_Linkages/index.asp

Highway 93 video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/13/FxBIYDKPaoI

Elk Crossing video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/201/Kz4fCk7MZLk

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Why is wildlife management important? What is the role of sportsmen and women in

wildlife conservation? How does the public affect wildlife policy? Who owns wildlife and does that affect wildlife

management decisions? How does land ownership affect wildlife

management? What tools and techniques are used to help

manage wildlife? What role does science play?

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North American Model of Wildlife Conservation:http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/northamericanmodel.shtml

Bighorn Sheep Translocations video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/129/S_9PZhNvehs

Wild Turkey Relocation video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/237/8r0u6YGT7w4

Building Fish Habitat video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/238/j1xDg_92XPE

Safe Harbor Frogs video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/2/29J82Dk5JZg

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What are native, non-native, invasive, and exotic species? Based on the criteria you’ve identified, how would you classify the following species: a. wild horse and burro, b. pigeon, c. tumbleweed?

What are some common Arizona aquatic and terrestrial invasive plant and animal species?

What are the economic, recreational, and biological impacts of invasive species to Arizona? Provide examples.

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Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council:http://www.governor.state.az.us/AIS/

Protect Your Waters:http://www.protectyourwaters.net/az/

AZ Nonindigenous Aquatic Species:

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/SpeciesList.asp?Group=&State=AZ&Sortby=%5BGroup%5D,Genus,Species,SubSpecies&submit2=Submit

Arizona’s Invasive Species:

http://www.governor.state.az.us/AIS/Documents/Final%20Invasive%20Report%20low%20res.pdf

Arizona’s 10 Most Unwanted Invasive Species:

http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/w_c/invasive/10MostUnwantedInvasiveSpecies.pdf

Arizona Center or Invasive Species:http://az.gov/invasivespecies/

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How does outdoor recreation affect Arizona’s economy?

How do each of the following impact wildlife: a. ohv, b. boating, c. hunting, d. fishing, e. wildlife watching, f. shooting sports?

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Economic Impact:http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/survey_results.shtml

Fishing Worth Millions:http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/fishing_worth.shtml

Outdoor Recreation:http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/outdoor_recreation.shtml

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What are the definitions of endangered, threatened, species of special concern, and reintroduced? Identify an Arizona wildlife species for each one.

What are the economic, biological, and political effects of Mexican grey wolf reintroduction, California condor, and black-footed ferret in Arizona?

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Heritage Data Management System:http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/edits/species_concern.shtml

Mexican Wolf Reintroduction and Management:http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/wolf_reintroduction.shtml

California Condor Recovery:http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/california_condor.shtml

Black-footed Ferret:http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/blackfooted_ferret.shtml

Black-footed Ferret Recovery video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/242/3E0BmCu6g9E

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How do (and might) each of the following issues impact Arizona’s wildlife management:• Wildlife diseases (CWD, Avian influenza, rabies)• Quagga mussels• Wild horse and burro• Renewable energy• Decline of hunters• Border security• Climate change

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Wildlife Diseases:http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/wildlife_related_diseases.shtml

Quagga Mussels:http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/zebra_mussels.shtml

Slow the Quagga Mussel Spread video:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/70/no4fPQTm2lE

Alamo Burros:http://www.youtube.com/user/magnusgrafex#p/u/267/jcTcqZoOeSc

Reducing Impacts to Wildlife from Wind Energy:http://www.azgfd.gov/hgis/pdfs/WindEnergyGuidelines.pdf

Commission Opposes Wild Horse and Burro:http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/WildHorseBurro.shtml

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Interpret data and maps Use binoculars Understand techniques used to identify animals from

pictures, replicas, or live specimens Use common field guides to identify birds,

mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, tracks, scat, and skulls.• Know how its organized (by color, family)

Be familiar with basic GPS operation

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In addition to the information presented, you need to be familiar with a variety of wildlife-related skills. You should be able to:

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Learning to identify animals can be frustrating. Practice helps develop your observation skills. In addition, it helps you become familiar with your equipment and field guides. If possible, going out with an experienced individual will sharpen your skills.

Adjust the barrels of the binoculars to fit the width of your eyes. You should see a single image and no black areas.

Learn proper cleaning. Learn the visual limits of the binoculars - distance

both near and far and its ability to collect light. Binoculars come in various sizes. An example is

10 x 42. The first number is the magnification and the second number is the diameter of the large lens in millimeters.

To use, first look at the object without the binoculars. Then, without moving your head, raise the binoculars to your eyes and adjust the focus.

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The front of the field guide will give tips on observation and how to use the guide.

Understand how the field guide is organized (by color, family, etc.)

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Observe the animal, then take notes. You may only have a few seconds to observe before the animals leaves. Then, look at the field guide.

Get the major field marks, then look for details if you have the time.

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Size - Compare it to something you are familiar with, like a soda can or book bag. Is it larger than a soda can or smaller?

Shape - Short, squat, ball-shaped, slender, tall, oblong or football-shaped

Overall color - dark, light, solid, patterned General habitat – describe the common habitat or

plant communities (i.e., desert, scrub, pinyon-juniper, pine, chaparral, riparian, grassland)

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Markings – stripes, spots, eye ring, coat color, leg color, tail strips, beak color, wing bars, etc.

Posture – upright, squat, round, tail visible or not, leaning forward

Behavior - tail flicks, head bobbing, constantly moving, still, retreating, aggressive, secretive, what time of day are they active, if it is eating what kind of food and how it gets its food

Cover – open, bushy, large leafy trees, grass, edge, woodland, shore, riparian

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Bill shape – cone, short, long, narrow, curved, hooked, flat

Feet – webbed, lobbed, talons, long toes, short toes

Wings – rounded, pointed, long, short Tail – long, short, forked, rounded, square Eye color – can change with age Plumage color – can change with age Song and call - whistled, flutelike, raspy,

mechanical, short notes, long notes, pattern, rhythm

Flight pattern - up and down, straight, circle, quick beats, long beats, glide

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Coat pattern Eye color Tracks and scat – see additional slides Feeding patterns – look for signs on plants, flesh,

or bones

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Color on the sides or underneath Behavior - head bobbing, push ups Eye color

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Shape and size of scales Fin placement Tail shape Mouth shape Eye color Remember the water will distort what the fish

looks like.

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Size Shape Number of toes Presence or absence of toe nails Foot type – hooved, webbed, front, hind Gate or stride – walking, running, standing Tail drag

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Shape –segmented, pointed, rounded, log shaped, pellets

Size Distribution – piled, scattered, perched on top of

something else Smell – feline, canine Content – fur, seeds, bones, smooth, grassy

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Type of teeth - omnivore, carnivore, herbivore Number of teeth Position of the eyes – predator, prey Size of the eyes - nocturnal, diurnal, crepuscular Size of the nasal cavity – the importance of smell Sagittal crest – strength of the jaw muscles.

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