Escudilla | Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy

Significantly impacted by the 2011 Wallow Fire, the Escudilla COA captures portions of Arizona’s limited subalpine grassland and subalpine conifer forest habitat types. Petran montane conifer forest habitat is also found within this high-elevation COA. With elevations ranging from approximately 7,100 feet to approximately 9,400 feet, the Escudilla COA is adjacent to the Escudilla Wilderness Area and the Hulsey Bench Wildlife Quiet Area, which provide refuge habitat for Mexican spotted owl, northern goshawk, elk, deer, turkey, and black bear.

Conservation Goals

Improve and maintain forest and grassland vegetation communities within their range of natural variability for wildlife habitat and make these communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Improve and maintain the hydrologic and ecological function of the watershed conditions, streams, riparian and wetland areas and the habitats they support.
Maintain and enhance travel corridors and thermal cover for a wide variety of wildlife species.
Promote and implement post-Wallow Fire aspen recovery and restoration.

Map

Primary Threats

1. Agriculture

1.2: Wood and pulp operations

2. Biological Resource Use

2.3: Logging and wood harvesting

3. Climate Change and Severe Weather

3.1: Habitat shifting and alteration

3.3: Temperature extremes

3.4: Storms and flooding

7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance

7.1: Recreational activities

9. Natural System Modifications

9.1: Fire and fire suppression

9.3: Other ecosystem modifications

Potential Conservation Actions

1. Land and Water Protection

1.1: Site/area protection

Conserve a variety of habitats that support healthy populations of fish and wildlife as climate changes.

2. Land and Water Management

2.1: Site/area management

Restore and maintain diverse habitats to support broad species assemblages that account for range shifts.
Improve the connectivity of natural landscapes to better link wildlife populations and allow for range shifts.

2.3: Habitat and natural process restoration

Implement projects focused on improving the quality of altered systems creating suitable habitat and/or habitat features for wildlife.
Maintain natural fire regimes on the landscape through prescribed burns and natural fire management.

3. Species Management

3.1: Management of specific species of concern

Implement long-term monitoring protocols for vulnerable species and habitats to inform adaptive management.
Conduct research targeting species and habitat types likely to be vulnerable to climate change impacts.

3.4: Ex situ conservation

Establish new wild and/or captive populations of climate vulnerable SGCN.

Habitats Present

Strategy Species

Birds

Flammulated Owl, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Grace's Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Long-eared Owl, Mexican Spotted Owl, Mountain Chickadee, American Goshawk, Olive Warbler, Red Crossbill, Red-faced Warbler, Steller's Jay, Townsend's Solitaire, Vesper Sparrow

Mammals

Allen's Lappet-browed Bat, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Hoary Bat, Mexican Vole, Mexican Gray Wolf, Silver-haired Bat, Southwestern Myotis, Arizona Myotis

Escudilla COA