Peloncillo Mountains South | Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy

The Peloncillo Mountains straddle the border of New Mexico to the east and across the international border with Mexico to the south. Most of this mountain range occurs in New Mexico. This north-south oriented mountain range is an important part of the sky islands network of mountains that connect the Sierra Madre Occidental range in Mexico to the Rocky Mountains to the north. Like other sky islands, the Peloncillos offer important high-elevation Madrean woodland habitats for a variety of wildlife that are unique to the area. This range is also an important stepping stone for migratory species moving north and south.

Conservation Goals

Remove barriers and improve habitat connectivity to adjacent sky islands and across the international border.
Identify and conserve areas known as stopover and breeding habitats for migratory birds and support their full life-cycle conservation through international collaborations that address threats to their migration and wintering habitats in Mexico, Central America, and beyond.

Map

Primary Threats

1. Agriculture

1.3: Livestock farming and ranching

3. Climate Change and Severe Weather

3.1: Habitat shifting and alteration

7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance

7.1: Recreational activities

8. Invasive and Other Problematic Species

8.1: Invasive non-native species

9. Natural System Modifications

9.1: Fire and fire suppression

11. Transportation and Service Corridors

11.1: Roads and railroads

Potential Conservation Actions

1. Land and Water Protection

1.2: Resource and habitat protection

Develop conservation easements on public or private lands in order to maintain and protect wildlife corridors.

2. Land and Water Management

2.1: Site/area management

Identify and conserve areas known as stopover and breeding habitats for migratory birds and support their full life-cycle conservation through international collaborations that address threats to their migration and wintering habitats in Mexico, Central America and beyond.

2.3: Habitat and natural process restoration

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.
Improve habitat connectivity between this COA and other sky islands.

7. External Capacity Building

7.2: Alliance and partnership development

Work with federal and state agencies to address the critical need for wildlife movement across the international border with Mexico, and help design any necessary border barriers to improve wildlife movement.

3. Species Management

3.1: Management of specific species of concern

Improve management and restoration of agave species to provide resources and migration corridors for lesser long-nosed bat and other pollinator species.