The Dos Cabezas are an important part of the Madrean sky islands network of mountains in southern Arizona. The COA is home to several SGCN, including lesser long-nosed bat, golden eagle, and western burrowing owl. This mountain range is part of the important Galiuro-Pinaleños-Dos Cabezas linkage that connects three sky island mountain ranges.
Conservation Goals
- Conservation of a major sky island with diverse Madrean woodland habitats that support populations of resident and migratory birds.
- Maintain and improve the status and distribution of endemic SGCN snails and reduce threats to their populations and habitat.
- Maintain and improve habitat connectivity between adjacent sky island mountain ranges.
Map
Primary Threats
3. Climate Change and Severe Weather
7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance
8. Invasive and Other Problematic Species
9. Natural System Modifications
11. Transportation and Service Corridors
Potential Conservation Actions
2. Land and Water Management
- Reintroduce prescribed burns to increase habitat resiliency in this unique and diverse Madrean woodland habitat.
- Restore woodland habitats with more climate adaptable species to improve landscape resilience over time.
- Maintain and improve connectivity between these and adjacent mountain ranges; improve permeability across I-10.
3. Species Management
- Conduct research that includes surveying and monitoring species and habitats to determine status and conditions so that resources can be appropriately allocated where they are most needed.
- Implement Chiracahua leopard frog recovery efforts, including monitoring for invasive species such as American bullfrog.
- Monitor bat populations for white-nose syndrome.
- Conduct acoustic surveillance to detect trends in baseline bat activity and species richness over time.
7. External Capacity Building
- Form and provide support for partnerships and alliances to promote information sharing, learning, and collaboration.
Habitats Present
Strategy Species
Amphibians
Birds
American Kestrel, American Peregrine Falcon, Black-throated Sparrow, Cactus Wren, Canyon Towhee, Elf Owl, Swainson's Hawk, Western Screech-Owl
Invertebrates
Apache Talussnail, Southwestern Fringed-snail, Stronghold Canyon Talussnail
Mammals
Cave Myotis, Fringed Myotis, Jaguar, Lesser Long-nosed Bat, Mexican Long-tongued Bat, Pale Townsend's Big-eared Bat
Reptiles
Black-necked Gartersnake, Canyon Spotted Whiptail, Gila Monster, Sonora Mud Turtle, Sonoran Spotted Whiptail, Yarrow's Spiny Lizard
Fish
See Associated Aquatic COAs for fish species.
Protected Areas and Other Areas of Conservation Value
- Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness
- Fort Bowie National Historic Site
Potential Partners
- Bureau of Land Management
- US Forest Service
Relevant Conservation Plans
- Arizona Missing Linkage: Galiuro-Pinalenos-Dos Cabezas
- Fort Bowie Foundation Document
- USFWS White-nose Syndrome National Plan
- Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery Plan
- Jaguar Recovery Plan
Associated Aquatic COAs
- No associated Aquatic COAs