Summer 2016

Living with Wildlife Series:

Mother Nature at Her Best

Art and Science behind

Efficient Excavators Of the Desert

The Breeding Habits of Wildlife

Making a Javelina Herd

About US

Southwest Wildlife rescues and rehabilitates wildlife that has b een injured, displaced, and orphaned. Once rehabilitated, they are returned to the wild. Wildlife education includes advice on living with wildlife and the importance of native wildlife to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Education and humane scientific research opportunities are offered in the field of conservation medicine.

Sanctuary is provided to animals that cannot be released b ack to the wild.

Board of Directors Anne Ruddy-­‐Chair Linda Moore-­‐Assistant Director Mike Wilson Michael Sapp Dr. Mark Finke Ann Siner

SWCC Staff

Suri

Linda Searles Founder and Director

Linda Moore Assistant Director

Kim Carr Animal Care Director

James O’Brien Veterinary Tech.

Lynne Cataldo Animal Care Specialist/Volunteer Coor .

Robyn Moul Education

From the Founder

Dear Friends of SWCC: After more than 20 years at our Rio Verde Foothills location, the unthinkable happened: a new neighbor moved in and tried to shut us down. However, just like a summer monsoon storm rescues the desert from the heat of the summer, friends, supporters, volunteers, neighbors, entire communities, government agencies, school children, and complete strangers all rallied together to save SWCC.

Over 200,000 people signed the Care2 petition—not just people from Arizona but people from all across the US and around the world.

SWCC has obtained a special use permit, which will allow us to continue to be here to rescue wildlife, provide a permanent home for sanctuary animals, and provide wildlife education to prevent human-­‐ wildlife conflicts and educate the next generation of wildlife specialists.

We knew SWCC had touched a lot of animals’ lives over the last 22 years, but we had no idea how many people we had touched through our educational programs.

We thank you for all your efforts on our behalf.

Sincerely:

Linda Searles

SWCC is Open for You !!!

Many of our long-­‐time friends are familiar with

Mother Nature at her Best

SWCC’s “orphan season”: the time from late April through July during which SWCC is

The Breeding Habits Of

Wildlife

inundated with baby wildlife. The reason for this peak activity is that the breeding season for the majority of Arizona mammals is timed so that newborns arrive during optimal springtime temperatures: the cold nights of winter are in

By LoriAnn Busse

the rear-­‐view mirror, while the oppressive heat of summer still lies ahead.

Breeding Seasons

Annual Breeding Seasons

Raccoons, foxes, deer and elk, bobcats, coyotes, and wolves breed only once each year. Breeding season varies somewhat among these species, as does the number of days of gestation.

The gestation period for wolves and coyotes average 60 to 70 days. Raccoons and bobcats average 65 days and the gestation period for deer and elk is u sually between 200 and 240 days, depending on environmental conditions. Generally, baby wildlife start arriving in mid-­‐March and continue thru mid-­‐May.

Year-­‐Round Breeders

Javelina are the only mammals in Arizona that breed year-­‐ round. Because this species originated in the more temperate climates of rain forests located farther south, producing litters year-­‐round was a successful reproduction strategy. As members of this species migrated further north, this was n o longer the case. Those born during seasons of cooler temperatures often suffer from respiratory infections that may ultimately lead to death. However, javelina may have two litters every year.

Extended Breeding Seasons

Many assume that rodents, such as rabbits, squirrels, mice, and rats, b reed year-­‐round because they seem to be so prolific. Rodents do have an extended breeding season and may breed 1-­‐4 times per year, with litters generally arriving between March and S eptember. However, if there is excessive heat or drought, which d irectly affects food availability, they may not have additional litters.

Some of the smaller rodents, such as mice and rats, may breed but experience delayed implantation. This means that any embryos resulting from breeding will not implant and begin to develop unless/until environmental conditions are favorable.

The coyote, an animal strongly associated with the desert southwest, is a pack animal. Each pack has one alpha male and one alpha female, who mate for life. Generally, the alpha male will breed with only alpha female; no other members of the pack will breed. However, if there has been a devastating event that has dramatically d ecreased pack membership, the alpha male may breed with other adult females in the pack.

As a means to maintain genetic diversity, n ature e ncourages some young adult members of a pack to disperse from the pack of their birth to join other packs or to form their own packs as early as their first fall. While single annual breeding seasons may be the norm, they are not the rule.

Biennial Breeders

Mountain lions and black bears generally only breed every two years. This is because both lion and bear cubs spend their first two summers with their mothers, and the females won’t mate while rearing their young. If cubs are lost, however, both lions and b ears will breed during the next breeding season. Adult male bears, e specially, are known to kill the cubs of females they haven’t mated with in order to mate with them the following breeding season.

Bears also experience delayed implantation. Although they breed in late summer, usually in August, development of the cubs will not b egin until late November or early December. In order to survive the winter, bears practice hyperphagia (excessive eating) during the autumn months, often increasing their weight by 35%. In Arizona, much of this weight gain is dependent upon fall berries and other high-­‐ calorie foods, the availability of which is dependent upon our monsoon rains.

Contrary to common belief, bears do not really hibernate; they will even sometimes rouse themselves during the winter and leave their dens for short periods. This is possible because, instead of h ibernating, bears go into a state called torpor. In this state, their breathing slows and their heart rates reduce from 40-­‐50 beats per minute to only 8 beats per minute. Although they do experience a d ecrease in body temperature as well, it is not to the extent of that of truly hibernating animals.

This is of vital importance to a female with cubs, as it allows her to immediately protect h er cubs, if necessary, without waiting for her body temperature to rise enough for her to become physically active.

Once the female and her cubs first leave the den in the spring, the source of food they rely primarily upon is the new growth of twigs and leaves on b ushes and small trees.

However, if there has not been adequate snowfall during the winter, such growth will not occur and lactating females can be hard pressed to consume enough food to meet the demands of their hungry cubs.

How SWCC has Helped There was the situation approximately a decade and a h alf ago, when SWCC took in 21-­‐orphaned bear cubs. The monsoon rains had been adequate to create environmental and biological conditions favorable for embryos to implant in fat, h ealthy females. However, that winter was the beginning of a long-­‐lasting drought. There was little to no snow and, consequently, nearly no new plant growth. When these females emerged the following spring, there was very little for them to e at.

Eventually, the drains of lactation, combined with inadequate food sources, took their toll. Many females with newborn cubs perished. Those cubs, which were lucky, were discovered and taken to SWCC.

After receiving life-­‐saving veterinary care, these cubs were paired up and placed in outdoor enclosures, where they were fed healthy, high-­‐calorie foods for several months. As winter advanced, food was gradually decreased in order to encourage torpor.

All but one of these cubs were then removed from SWCC and taken to denning sites—where they awoke in the spring to the freedom of the wild!

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

The The Art Art of of Creating Creating aa Javelina Javelina Herd Herd It’s It’s all all in in the the family family

Most animals rehabilitated by SWCC are Most animals rehabilitated by SWCC are ultimately released back into the wild. For the ultimately released back into the wild. For the majority of those, we are able to perform what majority of those, we are able to perform what is referred to as a ‘hard release.’A hard release is referred to as a ‘hard release.’A hard release occurs when we take the animal to the release occurs when we take the animal to the release site in a crate and simply open the door of the site in a crate and simply open the door of the crate. crate.

Sometimes the animals will look out h esitantly, Sometimes the animals will look out h esitantly, checking out their new surroundings. From that checking out their new surroundings. From that point, they make a run for it or slowly point, they make a run for it or slowly reconnoiter, giving u s the pleasure of watching reconnoiter, giving u s the pleasure of watching the animals’ behaviors in their new, wild the animals’ behaviors in their new, wild surroundings. Other animals quickly bolt from surroundings. Other animals quickly bolt from the crate, and we barely catch a glimpse of the crate, and we barely catch a glimpse of them before they disappear. them before they disappear.

Javelina, however, are more challenging. They Javelina, however, are more challenging. They are herd animals that rely upon their herds for are herd animals that rely upon their herds for safety. Regrettably, existing javelina herds safety. Regrettably, existing javelina herds won’t accept n ewcomers into their herds. won’t accept n ewcomers into their herds.

Every year, SWCC receives countless numbers Every year, SWCC receives countless numbers of orphaned baby javelinas or ‘reds’. of orphaned baby javelinas or ‘reds’.

Our challenge was to design a method of Our challenge was to design a method of creating a new herd of young javelina from creating a new herd of young javelina from several different herds. several different herds.

One trait unique to a javelina is a scent gland One trait unique to a javelina is a scent gland located along the center of their backs about six located along the center of their backs about six inches forward of where their tails should be. inches forward of where their tails should be.

Each and every javelina has a scent that is Each and every javelina has a scent that is different from e very other javelina. Their different from e very other javelina. Their scents are kind of like our fingerprints! scents are kind of like our fingerprints!

The scent is a bit musky and not altogether The scent is a bit musky and not altogether pleasant. They, however, seem to appreciate it pleasant. They, however, seem to appreciate it far more than we do. Within a herd of javelina, far more than we do. Within a herd of javelina, each member will repeatedly rub its head and each member will repeatedly rub its head and body along the scent gland of every other herd body along the scent gland of every other herd member. member.

This activity results in each member wearing the scent of every This activity results in each member wearing the scent of every other member. We call this result the ‘herd perfume’. other member. We call this result the ‘herd perfume’.

Now, since a javelina herd will not accept a newcomer unless he Now, since a javelina herd will not accept a newcomer unless he smells like the herd perfume, how do we create these herds? smells like the herd perfume, how do we create these herds?

Creating a herd

We begin with a series of chain link pens arranged in a circle around a central area, each containing one javelina or a litter of javelina raised together. Each javelina can communicate and rub through chain link with the javlina located on either side of him. Once we see two javelina rubbing each other, we will place them into the center pen.

Then, as other javelina in the surrounding pens begin to rub with the original two, we add them to the center pen. Eventually, all javelina are located in the center pen, and we have successfully created a herd!

Once a herd is created and a location for release determined, we begin acclimating the herd to the trailer in which they will ride to the release site. We do this b y feeding them in the trailer, so the trailer is a positive place to be.

The Release

Despite all these extra efforts on behalf of the herd, something happens on the way to the release site: the h erd bonds fracture as a result of transit. We can’t perform a hard release, as each javelina would go its own way instead of staying together as a herd. This would b e a virtual death sentence for each of them.

Instead, we p erform a ‘soft release.’ Once the trailer reaches the release location, chain link panels are put up around the rear. Food and water is placed within this portable pen, and the doors to the trailer are opened b efore we depart. The javelina are left alone for 3-­‐4 days, within the safety of the pen, to acclimate to the new sounds and smells of the site and to reestablish their herd bonds.

When we return, we place food and water for 3-­‐4 more days within the pen.

However, before we leave, a portion of the pen is left open so the javelina can exit to explore their new environment while still being able to return to the familiarity of the pen.

By living in close p roximity the young javelina get to know e ach other well and start forming a family unit.

Upon our next return, the pen is empty—the herd has adjusted to its new, wild environment and moved on as a cohesive group, ready to meet any challenges that lay before them-­‐together just like family!

SWCC’s Living with Wildlife SWCC’s WildlifeSeries Series SWCC’sLiving Living with with Wildlife Series

Diminutive Desert Dwellers Diminutive Dwellers DiminutiveDesert Desert Dwellers Efficient Excavators Sonoran Desert Efficient ofofthe Sonoran Desert EfficientExcavators Excavators ofthe the Sonoran Desert

With the the m many any ccalls alls aand eemails ww e e receive, inquiring minds often want With nd mails receive, inquiring mm inds often want With t he m any c alls a nd e mails w e r eceive, i nquiring inds o to know “What’s making all these small holes in the ground?” ften want to k now “ What’s m aking a ll t hese s mall h oles i n t he g round?” to know “What’s making all these small holes in the ground?”

There are over 130 different mammal species that inhabit the Sonoran Desert. While Southwest Wildlife

There are over 1C30 different mm ammal sipecies that imnhabit the Sonoran Desert.

While Southwest Wildlife There are over 130 dm ifferent ammal species that iammals nhabit tohe Sonoran Desert.

Southwest ildlife Conservation enter ainly specializes n the larger f the southwest such W as hile bears, mountain Wlions, Conservation C enter m ainly s pecializes i n t he l arger m ammals o f t he s outhwest s uch a s b ears, m ountain lions, coyotes and bobcats, he desert is also home to alarger diverse population f smaller mammals. round squirrels Conservation Center tm ainly specializes in the mammals of othe southwest such G as bears, mountain lions, coyotes a nd b obcats, t he d esert i s a lso h ome t o a

d iverse p opulation o f s maller m ammals.

G round s quirrels and kangaroo rats are jtust few of is the desert dwelling animals who may boe f dsigging those holes. Ground squirrels coyotes and bobcats, he ad esert also home to a diverse population maller mammals. and k angaroo r ats a re j ust a

f ew o f t he d esert d welling a nimals w ho m ay b e d igging t hose holes.

and kangaroo rats are just a few of the desert dwelling animals who may be digging those holes.

Round-­‐tailed ground squirrels

Round-­‐ tailed ground squirrels Round-­‐ tailed ground squirrels

Round-­‐tailed ground squirrels are often mistaken for prairie sdquirrels ogs. Although Round-­‐tailed ground are often Round-­‐tailed g round s quirrels are often they look like miniature prairie dogs mistaken f or p rairie d ogs.

A lthough mistaken prairie Aslthough and they fsor hare some doogs. f the ame they l ook l ike m iniature p rairie dogs they l ook l ike m iniature p rairie ogs habits, the two are not related. Tdhese and t hey s hare s ome o f t he s ame and they sghare some of the same common round squirrels only weigh 6-­‐ habits, t he t wo a re n ot r elated.

T habits, the atnd wo are related. hese These 7 ounces live in nsot emi-­‐colonial social common g round s quirrels o nly w eigh 6-­‐6-­‐ groups.

T hey c an o ften b e f ound common ground squirrels only weigh 7 7 ounces a nd l ive i n s emi-­‐colonial s ocial standing n their ind legs watching for ounces aond live hin semi-­‐colonial social groups.

T hey c an o ften b e f ound predators.

Ac w histle alarm all is used groups.

They an often be fcound standing o n t heir h ind l egs w atching for to a lert o thers o f d anger.

T hey’ll standing on their hind legs watching for quickly r etreat to an underground predators.

A

w histle a larm c all i s u sed predators. A whistle alarm call is used system hen a r aptor, snake, to to aburrow lert others of odw alert others f anger. danger. T hey’ll They’ll fox, croyote otr o bobcat is n ear. Typically, quickly etreat an underground quickly retreat to an underground you w on’t s ee t hese s quirrels isn the burrow system ww hen a araptor, nake, burrow s ystem hen

r aptor, s nake, winter, as they spend the colder fox, c oyote o r b obcat i s n ear.

T ypically, fox, coyote r bobcat is nthey ear. e merge Typically, months in toorpor.

When you ww on’t see these squirrels in in the you on’t s ee t hese s quirrels from this long period of inactivity, the winter, as ts hey spend the colder winter, they pend he colder they’ll afeed on sseeds, gtrasses, months i n t orpor.

W hen t hey emerge months in torpor.

Wfruit hen atnd hey emerge wildflowers, cactus from t his l ong p eriod o f i nactivity, occasionally carrion. from this long period of inactivity, they’ll f eed o n s eeds, grasses,

they’ll feed on seeds, grasses, wildflowers, c actus f ruit and wildflowers, cactus fruit and occasionally c arrion. occasionally carrion.

We are not prairie dogs!!!

We are not prairie dogs!!!

We are not prairie dogs!!!

Harris’ antelope squirrel

Another type of ground dwelling squirrel, the Harris’ antelope squirrel, looks similar to a chipmunk.

Chipmunks are found at higher elevations, while the Harris’ antelope squirrel is found in rocky deserts.

This squirrel h as a white stripe on each side of its body and a bushy tail that arches high over its back. Even during the hottest part of the day, they’ll dart around looking for fruit and seeds and will even scamper up a cactus to survey their surroundings.

These solitary animals prefer to dig burrows under desert shrubs. Unlike the round-­‐tailed ground squirrel, the Harris’ antelope squirrel is active year-­‐round.

Kangaroo rat

The kangaroo rat is small desert mammal that also digs burrows underground. These rodents have a large head, a long, tufted tail and super-­‐sized hind legs that give them tremendous hopping power. These amazing animals are capable of going their entire lives without ever drinking water! Kangaroo rats can manufacture water from the seeds and vegetation they consume, making them perfectly well-­‐suited for desert life. Their days are spent underground sleeping, waiting until the cool of night to search for food.

These are some of the excavators that dig the holes, but we didn’t have time to mention the animals that might be living in the holes that others dug, like snakes and tarantulas. That’s a “hole” different article!

SWCC

Discovery Corner

Creative ‘Critters’ of the Desert There are so many different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles living in the Sonoran desert that it is considered one of the most d iverse and interesting b iomes in the world. A biome is a large, naturally occurring community of plants and animals living in a major habitat. We are all familiar with the larger mammals that live in the desert, such as mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, deer, and javelina. However, some of the smaller, and often-­‐times nocturnal, mammals are regularly overlooked.

Nocturnal animals are active during the night and rest during the day. The role these tiny animals play is vital to the health and balance of a fragile environment such as the desert.

Many, but not all, of these tiny animals are rodents. The Sonoran desert, with its many different environments, has a wide variety of rodents. These different environments have caused rodents to d evelop traits that set them apart from one another. All rodents, however, are gnawers. The front teeth of rodents are constantly growing and are kept trimmed by the action of their frequent gnawing. Rodents are a food source that most desert predators rely h eavily upon. Because they are a major food source for larger predators, M other Nature has given them the ability to have several large litters multiple times each year. Let’s explore a few of these industrious little mammals!

Desert Wood Rats :

The wood rat (sometimes referred to as a pack rat) is a very industrious member of the rodent family and is famous for its cleverly-­‐designed homes made of sticks, cactus, rock, and even animal dung. These architectural wonders can be found tucked under mesquite trees, h ackberry bushes, or thorny cholla cactus. The home is a safe haven where these vulnerable animals can raise their young and store food for the hot and arid seasons. The cactus used for building the nests acts as a protective barrier from digging coyotes!

You need a sharp eye to find the home of the desert wood rat. The nest is known as a midden, This amazing structure has several entries and exits, with tunnels a few inches below ground that have ‘rooms’ for food storage and grass-­‐lined nests for sleeping. The busy wood rat is never satisfied as their home is constantly under construction.

The Desert Shrew:

Many people think a shrew is a rodent, but it is an entirely different species. Shrews are primarily insectivors and are very efficient predators in their own right. Sometimes they will prey upon small lizards in addition to insects.

Shrews will even eat scorpions, as they appear to be immune to their sting. Desert shrews are one of the smallest animals of the desert. The average weight of an adult is only about 3 grams, or the weight of a penny!

Scientists have discovered that shrews use ‘echolocation’ to help them find their food. Echolocation is the use of sound waves to detect and locate objects. Some animals, like bats and dolphins, emit sounds that reflect off objects and return to the animal's ears or other sensory receptors, telling the animal the location of objects. Pretty amazing

for the tiniest of all desert animals!

The pointed nose of the desert shrew is an important tool and helps with digging and sensing food.

These tiny mammals, along with other rodents found in the Sonoran Desert—such gophers, cottontail rabbits, field m ice, and kangaroo rats—are all important to the balance of the desert ecosystem. So the next time you are out hiking, keep an eye out for signs of these industrious little creatures. They m ay be tiny, but they are mighty!

Southwest Desert Word Search See how many words you can find in our word search puzzle. To learn more what these words mean and how they apply to Sonoran Desert mammals, look through the articles in this newsletters

B P R E D A T O R S

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X H U R M G C B S X

X H

N G Z M R E S

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S U B R X

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L O C R R

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O A B O U A K F N X N E C W G B P W T T U Q X B P

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WORD LIST BURROWS CACTUS FRUIT CARRION COYOTE EXCAVATOR GRASSES MAMMALS PACK RATS PREDATORS SEEDS SNAKE SQUIRRELS STRIPE TARANTULA

Southwest Wildlife Conservation is Open for you to Explore!

Why wait any longer? Come and visit SWCC; meet our sanctuary ambassador animals and learn about our desert wildlife. All tours are guided by one of our knowledgeable tour guides and are educational and entertaining. Our tours are one of the top “Must Things to See” from Trip Advisor for the past 3 years. Scheduling a tour or attending one of our many educational events is a wonderful way to spend time with your family and a unique experience for visiting guests.

SWCC also offers private tours for groups of 10 people or more and is open for school and church groups no larger than 50 people.

Please visit www.southwestwildlife.org for more information or email education@southwestwildlife.org or call our education number: 480-­‐471-­‐3621

Please remember all tours and events are by reservation only.

Yemaya

Saving our Wildlife...

One Life at a Time

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