Wild About Arizona

It is springtime in Arizona and it's great to go out and experience the outdoors as the days warm up, well, snakes, lizards and other reptiles are getting out in the warm temperatures as well! Host Michael Colaianni talks with Tom Jones, our Amphibians and Reptiles Program Manager about rattlesnakes and other critters you might encounter out on the trails. Learn more about living with wildlife on our web site!

All animals move across the landscape to varying extents in order to acquire the resources necessary for survival: food, water, protective cover, and mates and can roam over vast expanses that can encompass thousands of acres. Barriers such as roads, urban areas, and railroads can affect each of these movement patterns and may pose a threat to the long-term persistence of wildlife populations Maintaining a natural network of connected landscapes also benefits our human population, perhaps most obviously through increased public safety. Creating wildlife-friendly over- and underpasses can greatly reduce the likelihood of collisions. On this episode, we get an update from Jeff Gagnon on new projects in the works with AZGFD and partner organizations. Learn more about wildlife habitat and connectivity

Host Andy Clark talk trout and so much more with Chase Newlon, the fishing recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) coordinator at the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Alec Young, the R3 coordinator Arizona game and Fish and Trout Unlimited. This podcast features a fall fishing forecast for 2023! Visit our fishing page: www.azgfd.gov/fishaz

Taluissnails, Mountainsnails, Woodlandsnails and Ambersnails are just a few of the over 200 native species of mollusks found across Arizona. On this episode, Jeff Sorensen, the Invertebrate Wildlife Program Manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department helps us get to know more about our slimy neighbors. Visit our web site: www.azgfd.gov

In Arizona there's a new and modern way to tag your animal when hunting, all done from your smartphone. On this episode of Wild About Arizona we sit down with Luke Thompson, Habitat, Evaluation and Lands Branch Chief to talk about electronic tagging and the new Arizona e-tag mobile app. Find out more: Arizona E-Tag FAQ's (PDF)

Arizona provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the nation, with more than 800 animal species and 50 million public acres of natural land to explore. But what if you're not sure where to go or what to look for? On this episode of Wild About Arizona, Jeff Meyers and Cheyenne Dubiach of our wildlife viewing program sit down to give us some advice, knowledge and talk about various wildlife viewing opportunities you can take part in. Find out more on our website: www.azgfd.gov

In 1976, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Mexican wolf as an endangered species. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been actively involved in reintroducing Mexican wolves to portions of their historical range since before the first release of wolves in 1998. On this episode of Wild About Arizona we welcome Jim Heffelfinger, Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Science Coordinator and Jim deVos our Mexican Wolf Coordinator to discuss ongoing management and recovery activities along with challenges and successes of Mexican Wolf recovery efforts. Visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department Web Site: www.azgfd.gov

Arizona is full of diverse fishing opportunities, from the large reservoirs to the trout lakes in the mountains, low-elevation fishing holes and five major rivers. We welcome Andy Clark, Statewide Sportfish Program Manager to discuss all the ways you can fish in Arizona and have fun while doing it. Get your license and get started fishing by visiting our web site: www.azgfd.gov/fishing