Protecting Wildlife

Arizona ranks among the top five states in the nation for the number of native wildlife species and among the top ten for overall diversity of vertebrates. With over 900 species of wildlife, OHV users are bound to interact with wildlife while riding. Arizona’s growing population presents significant challenges to Arizona’s natural resources and habitats. Responsible OHV use includes protecting the wildlife, their habitats, and other native resources whenever encountered.

Arizona’s fragile ecosystem, including native wildlife, can be adversely affected by irresponsible OHV trail use.

• Stay in the middle of trails to avoid widening them. Stay on designated roads and trails. Do not create new trails into sensitive wildlife feeding, resting, or nursery areas.
  • Summer is a critical time for wildlife to gain fat reserves for the approaching winter. Destruction of forage (wildlife food) and erosion of soils in feeding areas may lead to wildlife struggling to gain sufficient nutrition in time for winter.
  • Destroying vegetation causes wildlife to move out of traditional foraging and reproduction areas and creates a greater opportunity for erosion and further land degradation.
  • Turning a field into a mud bog or riding in riparian areas destroys sensitive habitats and severely alters summer wildlife feeding and reproduction behaviors.
• Repair noisy or faulty exhaust systems.
  • Wildlife require “solitude” (or lack of disturbance) and have negative (flight or fight) reactions to approaching noises, including OHVs.
  • A loud exhaust system pollutes the environment and stresses and displaces wildlife.
• Don’t chase wildlife. It is both illegal and extremely stressful to wildlife and also could lead to personal injury and property damage.
• Always view wildlife from a respectable distance. The survival of animals is often precarious, and disturbances by humans can result in their death. Therefore, when you see wildlife:
  • Stop at a respectable distance and enjoy their presence.
  • Go around them.
  • Wait for them to move.
  • Never chase them.