Animals
The Coconino National Forest's wide range of habitats — ranging from alpine tundra to lowland desert — supports a biologically-rich diversity of wildlife and fish populations.
The Coconino is home to more than 500 vertebrate species, including at least 300 species of birds, almost 100 species of mammals, a wide variety of herpetefauna (amphibians and reptiles), 16 native fish species, and many invertebrates.
The wildlife and fish resources of the forest are among the most diverse and unique within the Southwest.
Animal Interactions
Several areas on the Forest have been recognized for their diversity of bird species.
The National Audubon Society recognizes Anderson Mesa as a global Important Bird Area (IBA), Lower Oak Creek as a state IBA, and Mogollon Rim Snowmelt Draws as an identified, but not yet designated IBA.
The Northern Arizona Audobon Society has designated several Bird Sanctuaries and is evaluating other potential areas on the Forest.
The Arizona Watchable Wildlife Experience is a community partnership committed to connecting people with Arizona's natural environment and promoting its conservation.
Nine of Arizona's 10 big game species occur on the Coconino National Forest, including black bear, bighorn sheep, elk, javelina, turkey, mountain lion, mule deer and white-tailed deer. Buffalo is the only big game species without a Coconino presence. Seven of the nine small game species have abundant habitat on the forest, and there are also opportunities to hunt waterfowl, predators and furbearers.
Fishing opportunities are abundant as well. The Arizona Game and Fish Department manages about 27 sport fish species in the state. The Coconino provides angling opportunities for most of those species in stream and lake habitats. Of the 27 sport fish species, most have been introduced to the state from elsewhere, but Apache trout, desert sucker, and roundtail chub are native sport fish. Gila trout were native to the Verde watershed on the forest but have been extirpated. Efforts are underway to restore stream habitat for potential re-introduction of Gila trout. The Coconino National Forest provides a unique opportunity to fish for native roundtail chub in Fossil Creek.
You can find more information on hunting and fishing opportunities and species through the Arizona Game & Fish Department.
The Coconino National Forest is home to three wildlife viewing areas:
- The Doug Morrison Overlook at Mormon Lake
- Upper and Lower Lake Mary
- Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail
Special Status Species
The Coconino National Forest is home to 60 "special status species," such as threatened, endangered or sensitive species.
Of those 60 special status species:
- Nineteen are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act or are identified as candidate species.
- Three other federally-listed species (the Mexican Gray wolf, grizzly bear and jaguar) are historic to the forest, but have been extirpated. There are no current plans for recovery on the forest.
- One other federally-listed species (the brown pelican) has been noted very rarely as an “accidental” species on the forest.
- Forty wildlife and fish species are classified as "sensitive" on the Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species list.
- The Coconino National Forest contains habitat for 24 of the state’s 28 bat species, due in part to the wide range of biotic communities ranging from desert scrub up to alpine tundra
Aquatic and riparian species dominate the list of special status species. Seventeen of the 23 federally-listed species (74%) and 25 of the Sensitive species (63%) require aquatic and/or riparian habitats. Of particular note, 15 of 16 native fish species that currently occur and/or historically occurred on the forest are federally-listed or Forest Service Sensitive species. Trends for many riparian and aquatic native species are not positive. Riparian and aquatic habitats in the Southwest have been dramatically altered or reduced in extent over the last 100-150 years, with concurrent impacts on native aquatic and riparian species. Serious impacts are occurring due to the introduction and persistence of non-native species in riparian systems, especially to sensitive aquatic fauna such as native fish, leopard frogs, and garter snakes. Non-native fish species prey on and/or compete with native species, and crayfish are a growing concern in aquatic systems, since they can completely alter or destroy aquatic habitats. Interestingly, Arizona is the only state that does not have any native crayfish, and the introduction of nonnative crayfish species is having serious effects on native species.
More Information
The first bald eagle nest in Arizona was documented at Stoneman Lake in the late 1800’s, and the largest concentration of bald eagles ever counted in Arizona (120 eagles) was documented on the Coconino National Forest near Mormon Lake.
The Coconino is home to the only stream in Arizona that supports a large assemblage of native fish that is non-native fish-free. Fossil Creek contains eight native fish species as well as the last robust population of lowland leopard frogs on the forest.
The Forest has more than 200 Mexican spotted owl nesting/roosting areas, called Protected Activity Centers (PACs). The central portion of the forest provides the core of ponderosa pine-Gambel oak habitat within the species’ range.