Sonoran pronghorn return to King Valley at Kofa Refuge
Not only do wild animals have problems with extreme heat in our area during our summer months, they suffer from the lack of water as well — rain water, that is almost non-existent, as well as water hauled by humans to fill the water catchments that are continuously in need of being filled with water at our desert and mountain areas.
The Outdoor Wire said it best in their story, “Sonoran pronghorn return to King Valley.” They wrote, “For the first time in over 100 years, Sonoran pronghorn (antelope) are residing in King Valley on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Arizona.
“The Sonoran pronghorn have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1967, and the United States population was on the brink of extinction in 2002 due to habitat fragmentation, human disturbance, loss of forage and perennial rivers, and periods of extreme drought. In early 2011, construction was approved by a 0.5 square mile captive breeding and release facility in King Valley, a location historically occupied by the species, to establish a population, expand its range, and bolster pronghorn numbers. The new breeding facility in King Valley was completed in December (2012) and the transfer of animals from a captive breeding facility on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge took place Dec. 15.
“Twelve pronghorn (two bucks and 10 does) are currently residing in the pen and being monitored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. By 2013, it is anticipated that the two-year-old offspring will be released from the facility into suitable adjacent habitat.
“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would like to remind visitors to King Valley that the captive breeding pen and a 1/4 mile area surrounding the captive breed- ing facility are posted and closed to public access for the safety of the animals. For more information, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department in Yuma at (928) 342-0091 or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 783-7861.”
The latest update in April of this year on the Sonoran pronghorn indicates that the captive breeding at the Cabeza Pen, “all the pronghorn have been accounted for and every one seems to be in good health and exhibiting normal behavior. South pen has 12 fawns and north has 11. In the north pen, most adults that have fawns spend almost all of their time on the eastern half of the pen whereas the pronghorn that do not have fawns are more likely to explore and graze on the western half. This is also true for south pen but, in general, we see more activity staying on the eastern half of the pen. Most of the older fawns are beginning to feed from the feeders with the adults. The young fawns have not been observed feeding yet.
There has been an emaciated coyote photographed in the pen. The pen crew has been trying to remove it but so far has been unsuccessful. It does not seem to be preying on any fawns or other pronghorn. The north half of the pen was irrigated for 13 hours, south half 5 hours. The irrigation line to the south pen needed some repairs and valves replaced which is why it was irrigated less. Animals in the Cabeza, north half — adult females 10, yearling females (b. 2017) 9, adult males 4, yearling males (b. 2017) and fawns (b. 2018) 11. South half - adult females 11, yearling females (b. 1027) 10, adult males 6, yearling males (b. 2017) 5, fawns (b. 2018) 12.
Kofa Pen: The majority of fawning appears to be finished; two adult does still have not given birth but do not appear to be pregnant. There were two main birthing periods, March 19-30 and April 4-9 with 15 births. One fawn was found dead in the pen on April 21 and appears to have been killed by a bobcat. Trapping began April 21 and one bobcat was removed on April 25; however, the other bobcat is still being photographed in the pen and we have been unable to trap it so far. By the end of April, only 7 fawns are believed to have survived. The Kofa pen has been short-staffed with only one technician working very hard at the pen this month as the other technician is on medical restrictions. Personnel from KNWF and Region IV Terrestrial program have assisted with the operation and maintenance of the pen on a frequent basis.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department personnel with assistance from members of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and other volunteers are all of the utmost importance in keeping these animals in good shape with their needs met. These hardworking people literally ‘bust their butts’ to see that the job of insuring these animals survival gets taken care of in good order. They truly care, no doubt about it. This is but one of many ways the guys and gals at Game and Fish go beyond their limits to see the job gets done. And the same for all the volunteers with their main reason for the unselfish giving of their time and energy to assist for the benefit of the animals in need.
One of the biggest problems with the hauling of the water is that there aren’t ever enough volunteers with the time to give with work (employment) taking up the time for giving of that time at the “right” time when the hauling of water is needing to be done, usually on weekdays while their free time is so many times only at the wrong times. The huge need is that our wildlife animals need water at ALL times, not just now and then — it’s a constant need, no matter the circumstances. Doug Beach, past president and hard working member of the Rod and Gun Club, has asked more members of the club to come forward to volunteer with the hauling of the much-needed water saying it’s not a lack of water or equipment utilized in the hauling, it’s finding people who have the time to assist. Retired adults with that free time are at a minimum and always welcome; the need for younger, hard working people is needed badly as well.
Anyone interested in assisting can call Game and Fish Region IV Yuma office at 342-0091, public information, education program manager, Chris Bedinger at 341-4045, as well as wildlife manager and volunteer coordinator, Richard Myers says, “The challenges we face with our volunteer force is we do work during the week and weekends which is hard for working folks,” or visit Chris at cbedinger@azgfd.gov, John Hervert at jhervert@azgfd. gov, Jill Bright at JBright@ azgfd.gov, Mike Sumner at MSumner@azgfd.gov or Richard Myers at RMyers@ azgfd.gov.
If you can drive a truck or just have some time to spare, they’ll welcome the contact. These animals cannot wait for the water in order to survive and your help would be appreciated more than words can say. Give any of the people I’ve mentioned a call and learn more on what the job involves — you’ll be glad you did.
• Reminder of the summer HAHWG meeting July 21-22: The Hunting and Angling Heritage Work group has 5 reasons for being there. To get out of the heat, connect and network with a bunch of good folks like yourself with guest speakers Phil Seng and Daniel Escher of DJ Case & Associates, a national resource on conservation, hunter recruitment and more. Tons of knowledge in the room, to meet the new R3 coordinator from NWTF, Ryan Conat, a great resource for the upcoming season and tons of topics and subjects for discussion from partner event reports, to survey findings, to data on past participants and how all that feeds into improving how we do the business of recruitment, retention and reactivation for preserving our heritage. This 2-day event and collaboration with passionate stakeholders of the hunting, angling and wildlife conservation community to share ideas and develop solutions to the decline in participation in outdoor traditions to assure species, habitat and recreation for future generations will be at the Arizona Nordic Village, Flagstaff, AZ. Registration is open now for the annual gathering. Call Douglas Burt at (602) 531-7578 or email dburt@azgfd.gov.
• Prairie Dog Shoot hosted by Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: July 6-7 at Seligman for interested hunters. Email Doug Beach at beachdc@ aol.com or call (928) 446-1122.
“A fed bear is a dead bear” (for those who may have missed the story of Bearizona in last week’s column): Bearizona, a drive-and-walk-through wildlife park south of the Grand Canyon in Williams, Ariz., (near the intersection of Historic Route 66, I-40 and Highway 64, known for providing permanent homes for wild animals in need, rescued two tiny black bear cubs who were left in the Arizona woods in May without a mom. The 4-month old bear cubs were discovered hiding at the top of a 75-foot tree a day after their mother had been taken from a residential neighborhood in Pinetop-Lakeside, Ariz., where a woman had been feeding the bear daily. To make a long story short, A professional tree climber ultimately rescued the baby bears weighing just 15 pounds each at the time, lowering them back down to safety in a backpack. The cubs were then taken to Dr. Ole Alcumbrac at White Mountain Animal Hospital who called Bearizona to see if the park could rescue the cubs and provide them with a permanent home. Bearizona owner Sean Casey said, “Although the circumstances behind this rescue are unfortunate, we are ultimately grateful to be able to provide a safe and loving home for these two little cubs. Wildlife advocate Jack Hanna said, “Habituation of wild animals is happening more now than ever. This is exactly why people shouldn’t feed wild animals. It is fortunate there are places like Bearizona to help rescue animals in need.”
• 4-H Shooting Sports: Call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740. Keep watch for dates in September when the new year of training in their shooting sports program will begin.