Learn about 8 endangered species that call Arizona home

More than 60 endangered and threatened species live in Arizona. Learn more about eight of them and how you can help.

Across Arizona, there are more than 60 endangered and threatened plants and animal species. This means those animals are at risk of going extinct. From Mexican gray wolves to California condors, learn more about eight of these at-risk animals and ways you can help them out.

Interested in learning more? Here’s an even longer list of threatened and endangered species in Arizona. 

1. Mexican gray wolf  

The US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Mexican gray wolf as an endangered species in 1976. These wolves were largely killed off since they would attack livestock.

The Mexican gray wolf is also the “most genetically distinct subspecies of the North American gray wolf.” It was once very prevalent throughout the Southwest, according to the Wolf Conservation Center. According to the Arizona Game & Fish, these wolves had almost entirely disappeared from Arizona at one point.

In 1998, the wolves were introduced in the wild. In 2023, a minimum of 257 Mexican wolves were spotted in both Arizona and New Mexico, and the population has grown for the past eight consecutive years according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service. You can even view this map, which shows where the collard wolves have been seen. 

How you can help: Arizona Game & Fish has many volunteer opportunities. You can volunteer to track these wolves here.

2. Black-footed ferret

The black-footed ferret is the only ferret native to North America. It’s also considered one of the most endangered species in the world and is cute as a button. The ferrets were actually thought to be extinct until a small population was found near Meeteetse, Wyoming, in 1981.

One reason why they were almost wiped out? Black-footed ferrets often live in prairie dog burrows, and prairie dogs were killed largely due to the misconceptions that they hurt livestock and the health of the prairie. The ferrets were also prone to human diseases like the flu and the plague. But there’s a silver living here: The Phoenix Zoo has played an important role in helping these animals. It’s one of just six black-footed breeding locations in the world. The zoo alone has produced more than 500 ferrets. Learn more about this program here. 

In September 2018, wild black-footed ferrets and captive-born ferrets were released into Aubrey Valley just outside of Seligman. The 28 ferrets were outfitted with collars and are monitored by Arizona Game & Fish.

Here’s how you can help: Arizona Game & Fish has a black-footed ferret project. Learn more here.

3. Sonoran Tiger Salamander

The endangered Sonoran tiger salamanders are striking creatures with yellow eyes with black irises. One of the reasons why they’re endangered is because their habitats are endangered. They need to live either in or near water, and their homes can be wiped out by storms or people. They need pools of water where they can lay eggs. The female can lay anywhere from 200 to 2,000 eggs, where they can hatch in two to four weeks. If they reside in a place that has water year-round, they can develop gills and can even live in water permanently, according to this document on the Sierra Club’s website.  

Fun fact: This animal is actually the Stormwater Quality mascot for Maricopa County. Read more here.

4. Jaguar

Jaguars are the third largest of the big cats (only lions and tigers are bigger) that were once prevalent throughout the Southwestern United States. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the main reasons why jaguars are so rare is due to habitat loss and the fact they were killed off to protect livestock. Today, they are some of the rarest creatures.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, just eight jaguars have been spotted (pun intended) in the United States over the last three decades. According to that same press release, federal offices also denied funding to reintroduce jaguars into the Southwest.

One was caught on camera in Southern Arizona just north of the border Arizona shares with Mexico in January of 2024. You can watch the full video on YouTube. The jaguar doesn’t appear until the last minute or so.

Here’s how you can help: Although not specifically geared toward the jaguar, you can volunteer with Wild Stew or Wild Arizona to give back to public lands. 

5. California condor

California condors are storied creatures that nearly went extinct. These birds are enormous. They have the largest wingspans of any bird in North America, which measure anywhere from nine to 10 feet. In the mid-1890s, it was thought there were only 22 left in the wild. More than 200 were spotted in California and Arizona in 2013, but the Condor still faces challenges. They’re primarily scavengers and lead shot poisons them. There’s even a Get the Lead Out campaign to encourage hunters to not use ammo that contains lead.

Read more about the California Condor here.

How you can help: Visit the American Bird Conservancy’s website to learn more about how you can help these rare birds.  

Besides not using lead bullets if you hunt, be sure to not leave any garbage in the wild that the condors could ingest. Learn more about how you can take action by visiting the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

6. Desert Pupfish

Desert pupfish are known for being hearty creatures. They reside mostly in California and Arizona and can thrive in water temperatures that top 110 degrees. These fish typically measure less than three inches in length. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, pupfish are frequently mistaken for minnows, but they have teeth. The fish has struggled to thrive in the face of water diversions, livestock grazing, and competition from other species.

Here’s how you can help: The Phoenix Zoo has a pupfish pond, and you can volunteer at the zoo. 

7. Relict Leopard Frog

The relict leopard frog is only found in a very small area of the Southwest — mostly around Lake Mead. This frog was thought to be extinct for many years until a few populations were discovered. They are only three inches long, according to the National Park Service. One of this frog’s predators are bullfrogs. It’s estimated that there are less than 1,100 in the wild, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

Like most of the endangered species on this list, the habitat of these frogs is threatened. They were historically found along the Virgin, Muddy, and Colorado drainages in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. 

How to help: Friends of the Nevada Wilderness has a habitat restoration program you can participate in to help these frogs.

8. Desert Bighorn Sheep

True to their names, bighorn sheep have, well, big horns on both sides of their heads. Horns aside, they’re also known for their fantastic eyesight and concave hooves that allow them to scale desert rocks.

According to Arizona Game & Fish, bighorn sheep reached a population peak of about 2 million. Today, there are only an estimated 6,000 left in Arizona. The sheep population largely declined since the sheep contracted diseases from livestock and competing with said livestock for food.

 If you’re looking to see some, your best bet is to visit Canyon Lake. Arizona Game and Fish even held a bighorn sheep viewing event this past June. 

 How to help: There’s an organization called the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society that works to protect these animals. Learn more about the group here.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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