Field Notes
Where Does Wildlife Go?
October 4, 2019We recently explored a small section of existing border wall habitat on the US side of the border with Mexico at Coronado Memorial. A sandy wash meanders southward through the park from the Huachuca Mountains and abruptly runs into the steel border wall. As we looked for signs of wildlife on the move, sure enough…
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Wildlife Tracking 101: How many toes?
October 2, 2019Did you know you can separate animal footprints, also called tracks based on how many toes you see? There are many variables that can affect how many toes show up, ground type, speed of the animal, and age of the track. But if you can count the number of toes you see, you are on…
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Meet a Cross-Border Cat—Jaguar
September 30, 2019Panthera onca, known as the jaguar, is the largest cat in the Americas. Revered in many cultures and religions, these powerful animals are the top predator in their environment. Their distinctive rosette spots is what makes the jaguar unique. Because of their spotted coat, they are Near Threatened according to the IUCN Red List. However,…
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Meet a Cross-Border Cat—Mountain Lion
September 25, 2019Puma concolor is known by many names: mountain lion, puma, cougar, catamount, and panther, but all refer to the same species. Mountain lions have the widest geographic range of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere. They roam across North and South America, but due to hunting pressures the mountain lion went extinct in the eastern…
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Meet a Cross-Border Cat—Ocelot
September 24, 2019Known in Spanish as el tigrillo or ocelote, Leopardus pardalis is a neotropical cat that roams forests, scrublands, and savannas from South America northwards into the southern US. This spotted wildcat is roughly twice the size of a housecat, weighing up to 35 lbs. The ocelot is much smaller than the other spotted cat of…
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Meet a Cross-Border Cat—Bobcat
September 21, 2019Lynx rufus is small wildcat that prowls deserts and forests from Central Mexico to Canada. Slightly larger than a house cat, these adaptable felines love to hunt rabbits throughout the borderlands and you just might see one strolling through your suburban neighborhood. Keep a watchful eye out for these nocturnal cats with short tails and…
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Wildlife of the Borderlands
June 28, 2019Sky Island Alliance’s Border Camera Summary Sky Island Alliance has been monitoring seventeen cameras within thirty-five miles from the United States and Mexico border. These cameras have been operational since July 2017, monitored by dozens of dedicated volunteers and this is a summary of over twenty-two months of photo data. The purpose of this summary…
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