On September 23rd, 2016, the endangered desert pupfish will return to the pond at the International Wildlife Museum (IWM). Desert pupfish were listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and State of Arizona in 1986.
The International Wildlife Museum has been used as a safe haven and holding facility in the past by Arizona Game and Fish Department for desert pupfish, gila topminnow, gila chub, Sonoran mud turtles, and Tarahumara frogs. In late 2015, an Arizona Game and Fish biologist was sampling at IWM when it was discovered someone had dumped mosquito fish, a non-native, invasive species, into the pond. All the fish species, as well as the turtles and frogs had to be removed from the pond, because of this unauthorized non-native introduction. The pond was drained and while empty IWM completely refurbished the pond in anticipation of continuing as a safe haven for native endangered species. Despite their once broad distribution, habitat loss and degradation, have rapidly decreased pupfish populations.
Ross Timmons, Arizona Game and Fish Topminnow-Pupfish Coordinator, is overseeing the reintroduction of hundreds of desert pupfish to the IWM pond. The IWM, is proud to provide its facility as a safe haven for such important species.
The Museum is located at 4800 W. Gates Pass Road, five miles west of I-10 on Speedway Boulevard. For more information, please call 520-629-0100, or visit TheWildlifeMuseum.org.