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Cattle grazing at Arizona national monument harms endangered species

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  • Unauthorized cattle grazing at Agua Fria National Monument in Arizona is damaging the habitat of multiple endangered species. Both the federally protected Gila chub fish and western yellow-billed cuckoo are reportedly at risk.
  • Up to 75% of Arizona’s wildlife species also depend on riparian habitats like those found in the monument. However, less than 1% of the state’s land offers suitable conditions.
  • The Center for Biological Diversity criticized federal and state agencies for failing to prevent the ongoing harm and filed several lawsuits to have cattle removed from the area.

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Environmental advocates are raising concerns about unauthorized cattle grazing at Arizona’s Agua Fria National Monument. They say the activity is damaging a sensitive habitat that endangered species rely on.

Which species are at risk?

The Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit environmental organization, released new findings this week documenting the ongoing impacts of grazing on the monument’s ecosystem. According to the group, which has been monitoring the situation since 2021, the activity has now affected the area for five consecutive years, threatening two species protected under the Endangered Species Act –– the Gila chub fish and the western yellow-billed cuckoo.

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Why is Agua Fria so important to these animals?

The Agua Fria National Monument, located north of Phoenix, is considered a vital refuge for wildlife in the region. Up to 75% of Arizona’s wildlife species depend on riparian habitats like those found in the monument. However, less than 1% of the state’s land offers suitable conditions.

Activists claim unauthorized cattle grazing is contributing to habitat degradation. They say it is eroding riverbanks, destroying native plant life, contaminating streams, and disturbing archaeological sites within the monument.

What actions have state and federal officials taken?

The Center for Biological Diversity criticized both state and federal agencies for what it describes as a failure to enforce legal protections meant to safeguard endangered species. Specifically, the group pointed to the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The group argues that these agencies are obligated to intervene when federally protected species are at risk.

“Our new survey shows that federal officials are continuing to allow cattle herds to trash endangered species habitat in a national monument, breaking the law,” Chris Bugbee, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said. “Federal agencies and the Arizona Game and Fish Department are complicit and choosing to look the other way, even as the wildlife they’re legally required to protect are pushed towards extinction.”

Since 2022, the Center has filed multiple lawsuits against the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service to force action. Initial legal efforts prompted federal officials to review the situation, but according to the Center, habitat loss has continued. In response, the organization filed a new lawsuit in 2024 seeking the removal of cattle from the monument.

The group highlighted Horseshoe Ranch as an area of particular concern. The Arizona Game and Fish Department purchased the property in 2010 using taxpayer dollars for endangered species conservation. However, according to the Center, recent surveys revealed grazing damage at Horseshoe Ranch, similar to other parts of the monument.

What happens next?

The Center for Biological Diversity wants government officials to understand the importance of addressing grazing impacts at Agua Fria to protect species already facing extinction threats in the American Southwest.

“We’ll be back year after year until agencies and cattle growers follow the law and keep their herds away from areas they don’t belong,” Bugbee said.

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UNAUTHORIZED CATTLE GRAZING AT THE AGUA FRIA NATIONAL MONUMENT IN ARIZONA IS DAMAGING THE HABITAT OF TWO ENDANGERED SPECIES.

 

THIS COMES ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY-

WHICH HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING THE ISSUE SINCE 2021.

 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP RELEASED NEW EVIDENCE THIS WEEK PURPORTEDLY  SHOWING THE IMPACTS THIS HAS HAD FOR A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR-

ON THE GILA CHUB FISH AND WESTERN YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO-

BOTH PROTECTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

 

UP TO 75 PERCENT OF ARIZONA’S WILDLIFE SPECIES DEPEND ON HABITATS LIKE WHAT THE MONUMENT PROVIDES-

BUT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE STATE’S LAND ACTUALLY PROVIDES THOSE SUITABLE CONDITIONS.

 

ACTIVISTS CLAIM GRAZING ACTIVITIES ARE HARMING RIVERBANKS, DESTROYING NATIVE PLANTS, CONTAMINATING STREAMS, AND DISTURBING ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES WITHIN AGUA FRIA.

 

A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY SAID FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT HAVE BOTH FAILED TO PREVENT THIS-

DESPITE LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN PLACE REQUIRING THESE GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO DO SO WHEN ENDANGERED SPECIES ARE BEING THREATENED.

 

THE ORGANIZATION HAS FILED MULTIPLE LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AGAINST THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

 

THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT LEGAL ACTION RESULTED IN FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAYING THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER-

BUT AFTER ADDITIONAL HABITAT LOSS WAS STILL BEING RECORDED-

THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY FILED ANOTHER SUIT IN 2024 SEEKING TO HAVE CATTLE BE REMOVED FROM THE AREA.

 

IN A STATEMENT ABOUT THE ONGOING LITIGATION PUT OUT THIS WEEK-

THE GROUP HIGHLIGHTED SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL HARM OCCURRING AT A LOCATION WITHIN THE MONUMENT CALLED HORSHOE RANCH.

 

THIS FACILITY WAS PURCHASED BY THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT IN 2010 USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION.

 

HOWEVER, SURVEYS SHOW THE SAME GRAZING DAMAGE AFFECTING THE REST OF AGUA FRIA IS ALSO PRESENT AT HORSESHOE RANCH.

 

THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY WARNS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AT THE MONUMENT IS CRITICAL TO PREVENTING FURTHER HARM TO SPECIES ALREADY AT RISK OF EXTINCTION IN THE SOUTHWEST.

 

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.