The talented winners of this year’s photo contest have left their mark on the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar. From the cover image — an iconic photograph of a long-nosed leopard lizard in a slot canyon — to the 12 monthly winners inside, this beautiful calendar will make 2010 a memorable year for everyone who cares about Arizona Wildlife.

The calendar is now on sale at all offices of the Arizona Game and Fish Department for just $3. Along with gorgeous photographs, its handy wall-hanging format features timely reminders of important dates. To order, visit any office of the Arizona Game and Fish Department (visitwww.azgfd.gov/officesfor addresses), or go online towww.azgfd.gov/photocontestto print an order form you can send in at your convenience. Get yours today!

It’s official! The winners of this year’s Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife calendar photo contest are:

Grand Prize Winner:

• Ted Hendy, long-nosed leopard lizard

Monthly Winners:

• Ann Beisser, javelina
• Bob McBride, Northern cardinal
• Bruce Taubert, regal horned lizard
• Bryan Hughes, Western diamond-backed rattlesnake
• Cathy Illg, Harris’ antelope squirrel
• Shirley Ramaley, cactus wren
• J.P. Bruce, redhead
• Michael Burm, bighorn sheep
• Pia Wyer, great horned owl
• Ron Watkins, chub
• Ted Hendy, wild turkey
• William Wells, Eastern collared lizard

To see the winning images, pick up a 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar for your very own. Calendars go on sale Nov. 1 at all offices of the Arizona Game and Fish Department for just $3. Or visit www.azgfd.gov/photocontest to print an order form you can send in at your convenience. The page also offers a gorgeous slideshow of honorable mention images.

Have you ever wondered why lizards do those comical “pushups,” or do you need help identifying the species that may be living in your backyard? From large desert spiny lizards to beautifully colored collared lizards, Arizona is home to nearly 50 species of lizards. The public is invited to attend the family-friendly “Learn Your Lizards” guided walks at Boyce Thompson Arboretum to learn more about these fascinating desert reptiles.

The final lizard walks of 2009 will be offered at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 12. Tours will feature presentations by reptile researcher and biologist, Abi King, from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars for the best close-up looks at lizards and cameras to capture the half-dozen lizard species that are commonly seen around the trails and gardens of the Arboretum.

For more information on the lizard walks, visit www.ag.arizona.edu/bta. A preview of the tour is also available at www.youtube.com.

The lizard walk and other weekend nature tours are included in the Arboretum’s daily admission of $7.50 for adults and $3 for children age 5-12. The Arboretum is located off of Highway 60 at milepost #223, approximately one hour east of Phoenix.

The workshop will include a presentation on bison in northern Arizona followed by a field trip to the Raymond Wildlife Area to view these amazing animals. The presentation will be held at the Game and Fish office in Flagstaff at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road. The field trip will take participants 30 miles east of Flagstaff on I-40 and another 12 miles to the wildlife area.

The Raymond Wildlife Area was purchased by the department in 1942 from Flagstaff physician R.O. Raymond to serve as winter range for the Anderson Mesa pronghorn antelope herd. Due to drought conditions in 1945, the ranch became home for buffalo that were moved from the House Rock Valley herd. Visitors to the Raymond Wildlife Area may have the opportunity to see and photograph descendents from the first buffalo herd in Arizona.

“This is our second bison workshop in northern Arizona and based on attendance last year, even with stormy weather, we expect another great turnout,” says Arizona Game and Fish Public Information Officer Shelly Shepherd. “This type of workshop is for the entire family and we encourage everyone to come out and learn about Arizona’s wildlife.”

Attendees should prepare for a one hour presentation followed by a 30 mile drive to the Buffalo Ranch Road exit on eastbound I-40. To access the Raymond Wildlife Area, the public will continue for another 12 miles from the exit on a dirt road. The road to the wildlife area is accessible for most passenger vehicles. Once there, the department will arrange for transportation to locate and view the bison.

Some scopes will be available, but it is recommended that participants bring binoculars, water, snacks, and dress appropriately for the weather and field trip.

For more information and to register for the workshop, contact the Game and Fish office in Flagstaff at (928) 774-5045.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Mormon Lake Lodge invite you to attend an elk viewing workshop on Saturday, Aug. 29. The workshop includes a presentation, a field trip to watch elk in their natural habitat, and a free BBQ sponsored by Mormon Lake Lodge.

Mormon Lake is unique as it is only one of two natural lakes found in Arizona. During the early fall, hundreds of elk can be observed at the site and along Lake Mary Road.

“This workshop will be fun for the whole family and we encourage people of all ages to come enjoy the state’s wildlife treasures,” says Arizona Game and Fish Department Public Information Officer Shelly Shepherd. “We are excited to co-host this event again with Mormon Lake Lodge and their education staff, and to be able to offer participants a BBQ following the workshop. It’ll be a great way to end the day.”

The workshop will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29. Participants will be divided into two groups that rotate between the presentation, to be given in the Kachina Room, and the field trip. The groups will switch after about an hour. The field trip location will be determined the day of the event based on where the elk are seen. The free BBQ will be held outside of the Kachina Room beginning around 6 p.m..

Spotting scopes will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, snacks, and to wear appropriate clothing.

To register for the workshop, contact the Flagstaff Game and Fish Office at (928) 774-5045.  For more information about the BBQ dinner or the lodge, call (928) 354-2227.

Mormon Lake Lodge is located at 1 Main St. in Mormon Lake. To reach the lodge, participants should travel south on Lake Mary Road to the second Mormon Lake Road turnoff. Go past the lake overlook, which is approximately 25 miles from Flagstaff.  Follow Mormon Lake Road about 1.5 miles to the lodge.

While all those recordings drew impressive audiences, the top video attracting more than 127,261 views on YouTube so far was an interesting segment about hunting dogs done for the department’s award-winning television series.

“We’ve had our videos online at places like YouTube for about two years now,” said Webmaster Brian Ference. “We started off slowly with just a couple of videos and have expanded the offerings and the number of Web sites showing them quite a bit since the early days.”

Now you can see all of the department’s “Arizona Wildlife Views” television shows, which are cycled to the Web sites once they have been shown on the Public Broadcasting Stations in Phoenix and Tucson.

There are also how-to videos and public service announcements. Sometimes you will just find interesting video segments on subjects such as wildlife, mounted cowboy shooting, archery competitions, boating, off-highway travel and wildlife watching. There’s a little something for everyone.

Want tips on how to live with urban wildlife? Just sit down at your computer, open up the video at www.azgfd.gov, and start watching any time.

“We even have a fish cam at one of our hatcheries,” Ference said. “Videos on the Web are becoming more and more popular, so I am sure we will continue to expand our offerings. Wildlife especially make fascinating viewing.”

Other places to find Arizona Game and Fish Department videos include:

• DailyMotion
• Yahoo
• MySpace
• Metacafe
• Blip.tv
• Veoh
• Viddler
• Howcast
• Facebook Video

Producers Carol Lynde and Gary Schafer garnered three “Excellence in Craft” awards from the 2009 Outdoor Writers Association of America:

• 1^st place honors were awarded in the “Natural History” category for a story about the Fossil Creek renovation.
  
• 2^nd place honors were awarded in the “Outdoor Ethics” category for a story about National Trails Day.
  
• 3^rd place honors were awarded in the “Shooting Sports” category for a story about the Arizona Game and Fish Department Scholastic Clay Target Program.

In another awards competition, the 15^th annual Communicator Awards honored Arizona Wildlife Views TV with an Award of Distinction in the “Nature/Wildlife” category, for a segment on the Monsoon Frogs of Arizona.

Lynde and Schafer, both Emmy award-winning producers and journalists, strive to make Arizona Wildlife Views the best show in the business. Awards like these from these prestigious organizations are a testament to their skills and abilities.

Arizona Wildlife Views can be seen on KAET Channel 8 public television in Phoenix, KUAT Channel 6 public television in Tucson, and on public access cable channels in most communities around the state. For more information, go online to www.azgfd.gov/TV.

Cash prizes are offered for the 13 winning wildlife images that will grace the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar. The top winner will earn $400, and 12 first-place winners will receive $250 each. Winning photos and those receiving honorable mention also will be published in a slide show on the contest’s Web site.

The deadline for entering the contest is July 6 at 5 p.m. MST. Please note: Postmarks don’t count, so get your entry in today. For contest rules and an entry form, visit www.azgfd.gov/photocontest.

Want to share it with the world?

Eager to earn a spot in the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar?

If you answered “Yes, yes, you bet!” now’s the time to enter the 2010 Arizona wildlife photo contest.

We’re looking for great photos showcasing Arizona’s amazing wildlife. If your photo is selected as a winner, you’ll get a cash prize, plus publication in the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar.

Also, this year we’ll display a slideshow highlighting honorable mention photographs on our Game and Fish Web page, giving your photos many more chances to be seen. Fame and fortune as a wildlife photographer — what could be better?

New this year: Contestants are allowed to enter only three (3) photographs. Pictures are judged anonymously — there is no personal information included with them during the judging process. Send us the best of your best and you just might win.

You can’t win if you don’t enter.

The deadline for submissions to this year’s wildlife photo contest is July 6 at 5 p.m. MST. There is no entry fee. For contest rules and an entry form, visit www.azgfd.gov/photocontest

Winning wildlife images will grace the 2010 calendar, and winners will receive cash prizes. Also this year, a slideshow highlighting honorable mention photographs will be displayed on our Web page, giving your photos many more chances to be seen. Pictures are judged anonymously — there is no personal information included with them during the judging process.

New this year: Contestants are allowed to enter only three (3) photographs, so send us the best of your best and you just might win.

Mark your calendar and start shooting! The deadline for submissions to this year’s wildlife photo contest is July 6 at 5 p.m. MST. There is no fee to enter. For contest rules and an entry form, visit www.azgfd.gov/photocontest.

“The root cause of most human-bear conflicts is typically food. Please keep a clean camp, don’t intentionally feed wildlife, and be sure to keep your food stuffs well away from your sleeping area,” advises Ron Thompson, a furbearer biologist with the Game and Fish Department.

Biologists recommend all outdoor recreationists take the following precautions to minimize potential conflicts with bears and other wildlife:

• Never intentionally feed wildlife;
• Secure all garbage;
• Keep a clean camp;
• Do not cook in your tent or sleeping area;
• Store all foods, toiletries and other scented items well away from sleeping areas and unavailable to bears;
• Wash-up, change clothing and remove all scented articles before retiring to your sleeping area;
• Walk or jog in groups. Pay attention to your surroundings when hiking, jogging or bicycling.
• Supervise your children (especially toddlers) and keep them in sight at all times.
• Keep your pets on a leash – don’t allow them to be free roaming. Or better yet, leave them at home if you can. Pets can easily get into conflicts with a wide range of wildlife from skunks to coyotes.

“Following these simple tips will greatly minimize your chance of having an undesirable encounter with a wild animal while visiting the outdoors. So please exercise your common sense and be safe out there,” said Thompson.

If you encounter a bear in a developed campground, notify the campground host. If you have a problem with a scavenging bear in the forest, notify the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

If you are confronted by a black bear (the only bear species in Arizona), it is advisable to follow these tips:

• Don’t run. Running elicits what is called a predator-prey response – if you run, the animal might instinctively want to chase and catch you. Despite their imposing size, bears are quick and can reach speeds of 40 mph.
• Stay calm.
• Continue facing it, and slowly back away.
• Try making yourself look as big and imposing as possible; put young children on your shoulders.
• Speak loudly or yell and let it know you are human (don’t scream).
• Make loud noises by clanging pans, using air horns, or whatever is available.
• If attacked, fight back.
• Never get between a female bear and her cubs.

Biologists advise that bears and other predators can be unpredictable, so the situation should dictate your actions.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering the public an opportunity to view the majestic bighorn sheep in their natural habitat during its annual Bighorn Sheep Workshops.

The workshop offers wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to learn about these sure-footed animals and view them in their native habitat during two separate two-day workshops on July 31-Aug. 1 and Aug. 7-8.

The first day of each workshop involves mandatory classroom education from 6-8 p.m. at the Kingman Game and Fish office, followed the next day by a field trip on the Colorado River from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The sheep-viewing boat trip will depart from Willow Beach.

These popular workshops are open to any member of the public 14-years-old and up. Nobody under 14 will be registered. Space, however, is limited to 40 people per session. Preference will be given to those who have not attended the workshop in the last two years.

Participants will be selected through a draw process. Applications received on or before June 22 will be drawn at random. Following the draw, all applicants are contacted by mail.

“The draw process is an attempt to give people in outlying areas of Arizona a chance to make it on one of the two workshops,” said Zen Mocarski, public information officer in Kingman. “Our goal is to reach as many people as possible, and that’s difficult with only 80 open spaces over two weeks.”

The workshops include an optional tour of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery prior to the Colorado River field trip. The 45-minute tour will begin at 9 a.m. and will feature both sport fish and endangered native fish.

“Although the tour is not mandatory,” Mocarski said, “we’ve had many positive comments from those who made the trip. It offers people a chance to see the inner-workings of a hatchery.”

To reserve a spot, a $20 per person refundable deposit is required in the form of a check made out to the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation to help reduce the problem of no-shows. The money is refunded when a person either attends the workshop or calls to cancel at least 48 hours in advance. Wildlife for Tomorrow is a non-profit group that works closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Registration is by mail only. Send the check to: Sheep Workshop, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ  86409. Include the names of participants, address, phone number, e-mail (if available) and specify which weekend is preferred. Also, please include a note if you are interested in the tour of the fish hatchery.

Cash donations, which are not mandatory to participate, will be accepted at the workshop to help offset increasing costs for boat rentals and fuel. Please do not send cash donations prior to the event.

Participants are encouraged to bring a camera, water, snacks, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. No tripods will be allowed on the boats, but small coolers are okay.

“It will be hot on the river,” Mocarski advised, “but that’s when bighorn come down for a drink. There is limited shade on the boats, but the temperatures will be in the triple digits.”

Anyone with questions about the workshop may contact Mocarski at (928) 692-7700, ext. 2301, or e-mail zmocarski@azgfd.gov.

The workshops will provide an opportunity for the public to watch an amazing sight as thousands of Mexican free-tail bats exit their roost for the evening at Phoenix’s largest bat colony, near the Biltmore area. The programs begin with a talk by bat biologists and an opportunity to see live bats up close. Participants will then watch the mass exodus using special night vision and ultrasonic sound equipment to hear the bat’s inaudible echolocation sounds.

“Bats are plagued by a lot of inaccurate myths,” says Angela McIntire, Arizona Game and Fish Department bat management coordinator. “But, they do so many good things like helping protect agricultural crops and our backyards from being overrun by pesky insects. And, few Valley residents know that they have a great wildlife viewing opportunity so close to home.”

Additional workshops will be held on:

• Friday, July 17 at 7:15 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 18 at 6:15 p.m.

Arizona is home to 28 bat species, including two species that are nectar-feeders and pollinate plants like the saguaro and agaves. Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Arizona in the summer and most migrate south in the winter. It has a wingspan of 11 to 13 inches, and it roosts in caves, tunnels, and crevices in tunnels, bridges and buildings. Bats are most frequently observed between April and October, but many species are active year-round in the state. They are the only mammal that can truly fly and, contrary to popular myth, bats are not blind.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet some of the Valley’s more secretive residents. The events are free to the public. Educators are also encouraged to attend and receive continuing education credit.

Partners include the Maricopa County Flood Control District and Knight and Associates.

Those attending a workshop should park at the commercial building located at 2400 E. Arizona Biltmore Circle. The building is on the northeast corner of 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle, just south of Lincoln Dr. The workshop will be held on the southwest corner of that intersection at the Maricopa County Flood Control District Tunnel, next to the Squaw Peak Police Precinct. It will be marked with signage. The public is encouraged to arrive on time: The bats leave at sunset and won’t wait!

For more information about bats in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov.

The workshops will provide an opportunity for the public to watch an amazing sight as thousands of Mexican free-tail bats exit their roost for the evening at Phoenix’s largest bat colony, near the Biltmore area. The programs begin with a talk by bat biologists and an opportunity to see live bats up close. Participants will then watch the mass exodus using special night vision and ultrasonic sound equipment to hear the bat’s inaudible echolocation sounds.

“Bats are plagued by a lot of inaccurate myths,” says Angela McIntire, Arizona Game and Fish Department bat management coordinator. “But, they do so many good things like helping protect agricultural crops and our backyards from being overrun by pesky insects. And, few Valley residents know that they have a great wildlife viewing opportunity so close to home.”

Additional workshops will be held on:

* Friday, June 12 at 7:15 p.m.
* Friday, July 17 at 7:15 p.m.
* Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
* Friday, Sept. 18 at 6:15 p.m.

Arizona is home to 28 bat species, including two species that are nectar-feeders and pollinate plants like the saguaro and agaves. Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Arizona in the summer and most migrate south in the winter. It has a wingspan of 11 to 13 inches, and it roosts in caves, tunnels, and crevices in tunnels, bridges and buildings. Bats are most frequently observed between April and October, but many species are active year-round in the state. They are the only mammal that can truly fly and, contrary to popular myth, bats are not blind.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet some of the Valley’s more secretive residents. The events are free to the public. Educators are also encouraged to attend and receive continuing education credit.

Partners include the Maricopa County Flood Control District and Knight and Associates.

Those attending a workshop should park at the commercial building located at 2400 E. Arizona Biltmore Circle. The building is on the northeast corner of 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle, just south of Lincoln Dr. The workshop will be held on the southwest corner of that intersection at the Maricopa County Flood Control District Tunnel, next to the Squaw Peak Police Precinct. It will be marked with signage. The public is encouraged to arrive on time: The bats leave at sunset and won’t wait!

For more information about bats in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov.

Although you may be tempted to pick up a baby bird or other young wild animal that appears to have been abandoned by its parents, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds people to avoid the temptation. The situation may just be another case of wildlife taking steps to protect their young.

For wildlife, leaving young behind is generally a protective sleight-of-hand trick by animals as a response to a potential threat. These animals have not been abandoned and should not be whisked away by well-intentioned individuals.

Such an action can have dire consequences for wildlife.

“The intentions are good, but the results are most often a death sentence,” said Erin Riddering, game specialist with the Game and Fish Kingman office. “The first instinct is to lend a helping hand, but people have to fight that urge.”

This is the time of year, when Game and Fish offices see an increase in people bringing in animals, such as baby quail and rabbits. If at an age where they can’t survive, these animals are humanely euthanized.

Riddering explained that young wildlife is rarely abandoned. When a perceived threat – such as a human in close proximity – disappears, the parents will return and continue to care for the young. By removing the young, their odds for survival diminish dramatically.

For instance, young quail will follow their mothers soon after hatching, but if the mother is frightened, she will fly away or try to distract the perceived predator by acting injured. When the threat is gone, the mother returns.

“It’s also important to remember that quail are a ground-based bird,” Riddering said. “They do not fall from nests.”

Quail, however, are not the only wildlife to be left alone. Pronghorn antelope fawns should be left in the wild. Removal is a liability. And baby rabbits, often thought to be in distress when seen alone, will most certainly die if removed from the wild.

Avian parents will continue to care for a hatchling that has fallen from a nest. However, if the bird is in immediate danger, it is okay to place them back in the nest or in a nearby tree. Contrary to popular belief, human scent will not concern the parents.

“It’s nice to have people so concerned about the welfare of wildlife,” Riddering said. “We just ask that people do what is best for the animals, and the best thing is to leave them alone.

There are other methods to help: watch your pets and your vehicle speed. Pet dogs and cats negatively impact wildlife, especially in the spring when young are born and hatched, while vehicles remain the top killer of wildlife in the nation.

“Young animals have plenty to worry about in the wild,” Riddering said. “Toss in domestic animals and the problem is compounded. Many of the young received at the office are the result of an attack by a pet.”

As for human intervention, it’s simply best to let nature run its course.

“You wouldn’t want someone picking up your child in the front yard and dropping them off at the police station when you simply stepped into the house for a moment,” Riddering said. “There’s no reason to remove wildlife, either.”

For just $15, get one year (six issues) of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine, plus your very own 240-page “Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide” for observing Arizona’s diverse wildlife!

With maps and descriptions of more than 128 sites across the Grand Canyon state, the viewing guide is an essential resource for wildlife photographers and all those who love to watch wildlife. And Arizona Wildlife Views magazine keeps readers informed about all things wild in Arizona, with special features for wildlife enthusiasts of all types.

This special offer won’t last forever, so get in on it now. Visit www.azgfd.gov/magazine for details.

It is amazing what a great teacher Mother Nature is. Before long, the kids were enjoying unstructured play in the open desert. They were playing in the dirt, collecting rocks, smashing rocks (looking for crystals), finding bugs, and all sorts of fun kid stuff not dependent on electricity, remote controls or television.

It was kind of like Discovery Channel – but in real life.

“Lessons learned at events like this set the foundation for good citizens, respect for wildlife and the environment,” said Kellie Tharp, environmental education program manager with Game and Fish.

To provide other activities for the kids during the cleanup, the Game and Fish Department brought out a number of wildlife educational materials, including animal bone boxes, live wildlife and a BB-gun trailer. The bone boxes contain the hides, skulls, rubber tracks, and pictures from a variety of Arizona animals. The live animals on hand from the department’s Wildlife Center included hawks, owls, raptors, a Gila monster, snakes, and one jumpy antelope squirrel.

“I have kids, too, and I know they need lots of distractions,” said Craig Heath, Game and Fish wildlife manager. “Both the animal boxes and live wildlife are always a big hit. And the older kids love our BB-gun trailer, where they learn how to shoot safely from our instructors.”

During these times of economic uncertainty, there is one core thing that never comes off the budget list, and that’s spending quality time with your family.

Tharp adds, “These outings are a chance for some quality family time, as well as some good old-fashioned ‘getting dirty’ exercise.”

To learn more about the department’s environmental education program, visit www.azgfd.gov/focuswild.

This annual festival in the Town of Willcox tucked into the fascinating Sulphur Springs Valley of southern Arizona has become one of the state’s preeminent nature festivals.

The Sulphur Springs Valley, which includes two major wildlife areas operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, attracts one of the largest wintering populations of sandhill cranes in the nation.

This year, Game and Fish biologists recently surveyed 28,814 winter sandhill cranes in the valley, including about 8,000 at Crane Lake in the Willcox Playa Wildlife Area, 5,000 at the Apache Generating Station viewing area, and 10,000 at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.

There are also new tours for this year’s festival covering astronomy, wildlife of the Chiricahua Mountains, and the inner workings of the Apache Power Station. The seminar speaker topics include such topics as rainwater harvesting, jaguars, wildlife tracking and Siberian cranes.

Come visit the Willcox Community Center to see what Wings Over Willcox is all about. During the Nature Expo portion of the festival there will be live animal displays, educational exhibits, and vendors showing a wide variety of nature-related items for purchase.

Liberty Wildlife and the Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center will share the center stage at the Nature Expo with live hawks, raptors, and other amazing birds.  Wildlife experts from the Game and Fish Department will also bring along creepy, crawly critters to interest and thrill kids of all ages.

For the younger kids, there are also special activities, such as nest box building, face painting, nature art, and more.

For more information on this festival, visit www.wingsoverwillcox.com.

If you would like more information about where to view wintering sandhill cranes, be sure to pick up the January-February edition of “Arizona Wildlife Views” magazine that features an article about the Triple Crown of Wintering Sandhill Cranes.