{"id":21364,"date":"2025-09-17T13:58:47","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T20:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/?p=21364"},"modified":"2025-09-17T14:01:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T21:01:33","slug":"recovering-the-endangered-sonoyta-mud-turtle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/2025\/09\/17\/recovering-the-endangered-sonoyta-mud-turtle\/","title":{"rendered":"Recovering the endangered sonoyta turtle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PHOENIX \u2014  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has released a draft recovery plan for the endangered Sonoyta mud turtle<\/a>. The goal of the plan is to recover this subspecies so that it no longer needs protection under the Endangered Species Act. The public has until Sept. 29, 2025 to review and submit comments on the plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Far southern Arizona at Quitobaquito Springs in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is the only place in the U.S. where this small freshwater turtle lives in the wild, and the only place in the world that it currently has a confirmed stable population. The turtles can also be found in northwestern Mexico, primarily at three to five locations in the Rio Sonoyta basin in Sonora. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listed as endangered by the USFWS in 2017, the Sonoyta mud turtle faces loss of water from the aquatic and riparian habitats it calls home. There are many causes of the water loss that affects this species, but the main threats come from groundwater pumping and drought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the turtle\u2019s only U.S. population occurs within a national monument, most management falls to federal agencies, but Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) biologists still play an important role in recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe assist with the annual population survey of these mud turtles at Quitobaquito,\u201d said Chad Rubke, AZGFD\u2019s turtles project coordinator. \u201cWe help set traps, weigh and measure turtles and mark any new individuals.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubke and fellow AZGFD biologist Miguel Grageda are also part of the Sonoyta Mud Turtle Recovery Team \u2014 a diverse group of experts from universities and state, national, and international organizations that helped formulate the proposed recovery plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan<\/a> outlines actions and outcomes required before the species could be delisted under the Endangered Species Act. It also estimates the time and cost to implement these recovery actions. The strategy focuses on conserving mud turtle habitat, monitoring the turtles and improving turtle management through scientific research to help ensure that the current Sonoyta mud turtle populations continue in the wild within the U.S. and Mexico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan also includes strategies to boost wild populations through captive breeding and release, and recommends establishing refuge populations in protected sites as safeguards against natural disasters and other threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll definitely contribute to monitoring the turtles and their habitats,\u201d said Rubke. \u201cIf opportunities arise for research or for establishing refuge populations, AZGFD will likely play a key role there as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first species in Arizona to be removed from the federal Endangered Species List due to successful recovery was the Apache trout, which was delisted on Sept. 4, 2024. The incredible recovery took years of hard work by many organizations, including AZGFD, so biologists understand what they\u2019re up against when trying to get an endangered species delisted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe recovery plan is ambitious and faces big challenges like persistent drought and the fact that most of the range is in Mexico,\u201d said Rubke, \u201cbut it does provide a solid framework for the future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USFWS has invited any interested party to review the Sonoyta mud turtle draft recovery plan and provide comments. Please submit comments by mail to the Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 9828 North 31st Avenue, Suite C3, Phoenix, AZ 85051 or by email to incomingAZcorr@fws.gov<\/a>. The deadline to submit comments is Sept. 29, 2025. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

USFWS shares draft plan for recovery. 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