Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Photo courtesy of Randall Longcore

Well, it wasn’t a real jaguar but it was the 175 foot jaguar tapestry that Defenders of Wildlife, our supporters, and volunteers from across the nation helped to create and carry up Sentinel Peak Park’s A Mountain this past weekend at the first BEYOND Tucson event. This was one of a community-wide series of events that aims to keep the message of unity alive that the city experienced after the tragic shootings of January 8, 2011 and encourages residents to get out and enjoy public lands.

The “Sewing Spot Together” tapestry, which was conceived by local artist Stephanie Bowman, was created with the aim of drawing attention to the struggles faced by the jaguar in the southwest region of the United States as it tries to regain a foothold within its historical range. The variety of intricate panels that comprise the tapestry represent the diversity of the Tucson community, but they are stitched together in a single tapestry to send a united message of tolerance and openness to the return of the America’s biggest cat to Arizona’s wild lands. The event itself was a great success with over 30 Defenders supporters coming out to help carry the tapestry up the mountain as they marched beside other Tucson residents, high school students and boy scout troops from the area who had designed sectional panels of their own.

Jaguars once roamed as far north as the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Although now rare in the United States, jaguars are still sometimes seen in the southwestern US, and there is hope that they will return to their home in the borderlands.  It is believed that the most northern viable population of these big cats is just south of the US-Mexico border in the foothills of the Sierra Madre.  Their numbers are now perilously low due to human population growth, agricultural expansion, and poaching.  The jaguar is federally listed as endangered throughout its entire range.  For the long therm health of jaguar populations, the various “spots” in which they live must have wildlife corridors connecting them.  Like much of life, the jaguar needs room to roam.

Thanks to everyone who came out and showed their support!

Time is running out in Tucson to find El Lobo silhouettes like this one for a chance to win cool prizes, including an Apache Wilderness Adventure in wolf country.

Hey Tucson, we just wanted to remind you that this will be the last two days to get out there and search for the 50 wily lobos that are currently hiding around your city!

The Tucson lobos, displayed on the outside of buildings all over the city, represent the 50 wolves now living in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico. They could also be your ticket to winning the Grand Prize—an Apache Wilderness Journey for two, a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in Apache culture and a chance to see Mexican wolves in the wild—valued at  $3,000.

There are many other prizes tied to how many wolves you find, and you can get hints and more information at www.whereslobo.org. The more you find, the better your chance of winning! You can also find daily hints for lobo locations on the Defenders Facebook page.

Find as many lobos as you can and then send in your form by email before Sept. 17, 2011, 11:59 PM Mountain Time (“MT”) or by postal mail, postmarked by Sept. 19, 2011.

Thanks for helping us welcome Mexican wolves back to Tucson and the Southwest!

Endangered lobos, or Mexican gray wolves, are descending on Tucson Saturday, September 3^rd through the 17^th as Defenders of Wildlife and local businesses host 50 wolf silhouette art pieces. The Tucson lobos, displayed on the outside of buildings all over the city, represent the 50 wolves now living in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico.

Lobos once roamed central Mexico across the Southwest. But by the mid-1970s persecution left them almost extinct. Mexican gray wolves were saved by a captive breeding program, and the first wolves were released in 1998. Defenders of Wildlife has been a leader in their recovery, working with ranchers, educators, the public, biologists, and agencies to build support for wolf recovery. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, lobos are slowly making a comeback. In 2010 the population grew for the first time in four years – lobos are back, but they still need our help.

Join Tucson businesses and organizations in celebrating the return of El Lobo and you can win cool prizes. Find at least 10 wolves in this citywide scavenger hunt and you will be entered in a drawing to win the Grand Prize – an Apache Wilderness Journey for two, a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in Apache culture and a chance to see Mexican wolves in the wild – valued at  $3,000. There are many other prizes tied to how many wolves you find, and you can get hints and more information at  www.whereslobo.org. Thanks for helping us welcome Mexican wolves back to Tucson and the Southwest.

Just as important, Tucson friends, we need your help to prepare for our upcoming “Where’s El Lobo?” scavenger hunt. We are looking for people to help us post and take down the 50 beautiful art silhouettes on Saturday, September 3^rd and on Sunday, September 18^th. All that you have to do is go to designated areas around town with your team, place the wolf silhouettes on the designated buildings, and then help remove them when the contest is over. Even if you can only make one day your help would be tremendously appreciated!

You can sign up for the event here and we’ll throw in a Defenders ball cap for your help!