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Water is a Wonderful Thing

Arizona Elk Society volunteers fill dry water tanks. Southwestern water studies show visitation rates by non-game species exceeded that of game species in hot weather.

Arizona Elk Society volunteers fill dry water tanks. Southwestern water studies show visitation rates by non-game species exceeded that of game species in hot weather.

Sedona AZ (June 26, 2013) – It is summer and the weather is hot and dry. So dry in fact that many wildlife species are stressed by the aridity and lack of available water.

Many species like deer, elk, and pronghorn are all pregnant during this season and need lots of water to help make enough milk to support young babies. Also, water is critical to digestion in these species.

Humans depend on stomach acids to break down food into short-chain proteins that are absorbed in the small intestine to keep us going. Most big game species, however, have a complex digestive system consisting of multiple stomach parts, with a “soup” of micro-organisms that break complex proteins into simple proteins that can be easily absorbed to support life. When water is lacking, being able to survive is a challenge.

Not only does big game depend on water but many non-game species do as well. Studies on wildlife use of waters in northern Arizona documented extensive use of available free water by bats which are also working hard to support young at this time of year. In southwestern Arizona water studies visitation rates by non-game species exceeded that of game species! The bottom line is that water is important to wildlife when the weather is hot and dry as it is now.

As budgets for resource agencies such as the U. S. Forest Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department have declined, wildlife conservation organizations have stepped in to help make sure that water is available to wildlife in need. The Arizona Elk Society (AES) has been a leader in this arena.

So far, most of the AES efforts have been in proximity to Flagstaff but the demand for water hauling and repair of facilities is not limited to this area. So far this year, the AES has hauled water to dozens of dry or nearly so water sites in northern Arizona. Furthermore, the AES organization has worked repairing fences to replacing troughs where wildlife drink on these dry days.

As word of the AES effort spreads so has interest from resource professionals with too much to do and too few resources to do their jobs. The AES is making itself available to lend a hand to these folks and to help make sure that the wildlife in the region are able to get water when needed.

At this time, there is considerable interest from other sections of the state for AES help – both in water hauling and in repair of debilitated water sources. The AES is working with a Payson, Arizona volunteer group interested in what we do in their region and we have a new set of Flagstaff volunteers willing to brave the elements at this time of year to receive training on how to make water available for wildlife.

Lack of water is an ecological bottleneck for Arizona wildlife.

Lack of water is an ecological bottleneck for Arizona wildlife.

During this time of year, one AES problem is that the demand is so great that we work double-time trying to get as much done as possible to eliminate the ecological bottleneck for wildlife. As temperatures rocket over a hundred degrees in the woods with relative humidity near single digits, wildlife need water and they need it now. We scramble to do what we can!

One of the goals of the AES is to build a more functional program each year. Working closely with resource agencies we have a full slate of projects to work on. With more volunteers and more money AES could better help the agencies make water available for wildlife, so the next time you go to the faucet for water, think about donating a few bucks to help the bulls in the field make it through the summer.

To learn more about the AES and its programs, visit ArizonaElkSociety.org. That said, it is time to get to the woods and make more water available for not only elk, but all wildlife that need a helping hand at this time of year.

This SedonaEye.com article written by Jim deVos, Director of Conservation Affairs. Visit the  Arizona Elk Society website for more information and to donate.
For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

 

2 Comments

  1. Frank E. says:

    Thank you so much for this reminder that it’s human beings who are responsible for displacing wildlife from their natural habitat and thus limiting their resources. The least we can do is heed this really important message. Thank you Arizona Elk Society and Sedona Eye for bringing this issue to public attention and shame on those who do not appreciate a flip side of a coin.

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