Sky Island Alliance

Jaguars have played an irreplaceable role in the borderlands’ ecosystems and culture, and they deserve full protection, as the San Xavier District makes clear in a powerful resolution included in the same article. To read the resolution in full: ow.ly/ELin50X6qaZ

Today, we have another jaguar sighting to share from SIA cameras in southern AZ in June 2025 — likely the same male seen earlier this summer. Three days after the sighting, a mountain lion family visited the same site. Learn more at @azluminaria.org: ow.ly/sRy050X7X1W

Another chance to join us on Mt. Lemmon for Bighorn Fire restoration: On Oct. 31-Nov. 2, we’re hosting another camping trip up in the pines. Volunteers will learn how to build erosion-control rock structures to slow down water and help this area thrive again: ow.ly/uIbL50X6lrB

Turns out, if you clear it, they will come! SIA's Oliver Fahrner recently joined a volunteer event at Tucson's Rock Ledge Spring, where we’ve been removing invasive arundo since June 2024. And lo and behold, a pack of visitors showed up. To learn more: ow.ly/TRJp50X4CIC

Are you a borderlands resident and deeply committed to protecting the Sky Islands? Then consider joining Christian Aguilar Murrieta and other SIA supporters as a board member. Your skills in finance, government, law, and community organizing are welcome: ow.ly/jJLr50X3Oqv

Update: We'll be at the Valencia library tomorrow, Oct. 2, at 4:30 p.m. for a general talk about SIA's work and how folks can get involved. And there will be kid-friendly activities. A few details with the lending library still need sorted, so that's to come. More soon!

With new border wall going up in the San Rafael Valley, there’s been concern about where that leaves wildlife. SIA’s Eamon Harrity developed a talk to address questions, and he’ll present Oct. 3 (Rodeo), Oct. 15 (Oro Valley), and Nov. 5 (Tucson). Join us: ow.ly/X8VT50X34Bj

Quick update: This kickoff event at Valencia Library is going to get rescheduled. More details soon!

Our FotoFauna network is expanding with a new wildlife camera lending library in South Tucson. If you know of someone who may be interested in joining our community science project, let them know! This Thursday, Oct. 2, at 4:30 p.m. is the kickoff event: ow.ly/JCQB50X36yU

Did you know that even though Arizona is the 2nd driest state in the U.S., it has the most known springs? More than 10,000! Recently SIA Executive Director Louise Misztal wrote an article for Desert Leaf magazine about her love of springs and what makes them special: ow.ly/6OtC50X1Rrk

A couple updates on our campaign to help save the rain on Mt. Lemmon post-Bighorn Fire: 1) We got some rain and are hoping for more today! 2) This is great timing, given our restoration work this summer and planned for next year. To help us restore this beloved refuge, visit: ow.ly/PhXC50WX849

This Oct. 9, we're presenting a free event in partnership with the Children's Museum of Tucson. Join us! There will be live bats and snakes along with crafts and presentations. Come learn more about these misunderstood creatures from the experts: ow.ly/aB7V50WXP29

Gambel's quail by Mick Thompson/Flickr.

Arizona Game and Fish Commission has a new vacancy and is accepting apps until Sept. 30. If you know of folks who’d be a good fit, please share! This is a volunteer position and crucial for deciding future policies affecting wildlife across the state: ow.ly/KMPp50WXMk2

A year ago this week, Sept 18-25, the San Rafael Valley was a different place, as you can see in this video, tracking wildlife that passed by a single camera. Now border wall is going up. We will continue to keep watch — so have heart and know that all walls eventually come down. ow.ly/1zaV50WXc5Z

This year's been a stark reminder of how crucial water is in the Sky Islands — many areas had record drought, then scarce monsoon rain. Mt. Lemmon is also still recovering from the Bighorn Fire. If you can, consider supporting our work to restore this beloved refuge: ow.ly/PhXC50WX849

Our Ranchos Regenerativos program in Sonora is growing, with new staff and ranchers onboard over the past year. Not sure what makes these ranches special or important? Check out this joint blog today from SIA's Zach Palma and Karen Lopez Roman: ow.ly/HqCk50WVw09

This fall, we’re hosting classes for folks interested in joining FotoFauna and learning how to set up a wildlife camera in their yard as part of our community science project. We’d love for you to join!

Green Valley: ow.ly/ry7H50WU8HK
Oro Valley: ow.ly/jXIh50WU8O8

Who’s up for another volunteer camping trip to Aravaipa Canyon? Our next outing is Oct. 17-19. We’ll be continuing our years-long efforts to remove invasive vinca along the creekbanks and at night will enjoy each other’s company under the stars: ow.ly/E7Qn50WTzh8

We’re building knowledge of the Sky Islands’ springs and, thanks to Laura Gutiérrez, recently received several new contributions. Laura just graduated from UniSierra in Sonora. For her thesis, she studied seven AZ springs. To learn more and see findings, visit: ow.ly/lGiu50WTuHw

Conservationists protect Arizona wildlife amid border wall construction Conservationists are working to protect wildlife in Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, where they say border wall construction threatens endangered species in one of the state’s critical wildlife migration ...

For those tracking the border wall construction in the San Rafael Valley, another great article here with some stunning photos from News21. Our Wildlife Program Manager Eamon Harrity is featured, along with several of our allies: ow.ly/X43q50WTt7F.

📷 Marissa Lindemann/News21

Our team is getting a boost this fall with help from Oliver Fahrner, a grad student at the University of Arizona who's studying Sonora sucker and desert sucker fish populations. Join us in extending a warm welcome. He'll be helping with habitat restoration and springs monitoring: ow.ly/GZFi50WSfAW

Did you know there are four kinds of skunks in the Sky Islands? Learn more about these fascinating creatures on Monday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. SIA Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel will present in a free online talk hosted by Pima Master Naturalists: ow.ly/1ErK50WRzWe

Good guesses, all. “It’s a white-tailed deer!” says Meagan. “The camera is on a down slope so the angle is just weird enough and the tail is just long enough to go off the frame. If it wasn’t for the fluffy white underside and the curved shape of the ear, it really does look like a mountain lion.”

We’re two years in with our road rewilding project in the Coronado National Forest and have made transformative progress. Check out this blog for a full update: ow.ly/8t3Z50WJbNB. And join us Sept. 26-28 for our next volunteer trip in the Huachucas: ow.ly/hNJb50WPIF3

Good guesses but no winners just yet.

A little pop quiz for y’all today, brought to you by our Wildlife Specialist Meagan Bethel: We know what this is — do you?

Today we have a message to share following a hopeful development that cuts through Trump's border divisiveness. With new wall underway in the San Rafael Valley, some of our wildlife cameras have to be moved; our Sonoran neighbors have offered to help: ow.ly/sxkg50WNUJW

The dreaded wall building has already begun in the San Rafael Valley, as you can see in this photo from yesterday. If you're not sure what this means for wildlife, join us for our next virtual Coffee Break this Thursday, Aug. 28, at 9:30am: ow.ly/gl2R50WBIrA 📷 John Kurc

A few days ago, we shared the latest issue of the “Centinela” — our monthly newsletter in Spanish focused on our work in the Sky Islands of Mexico. Check it out to stay up to date and help amplify this work.

See issue: ow.ly/wtfS50Wjauf
Sign up: ow.ly/cNsx50UfnTU

This Sept. 4 at 6:30pm, Tucson's Loft Cinema is holding a screening of “The American Southwest” — a new nature documentary with a focus on the Colorado River and wildlife. Our allies at the Northern Jaguar Project are cohosting and will be there for Q&A: ow.ly/lxax50WFzEk