County wildlife planner urges wildlife-friendly fencing, corridor protection in development reviews

Jessica Simmons, the county's wildlife planner, gave a technical briefing to the Planning and Zoning Commission on wildlife corridors, connectivity and wildlife-friendly fencing.

Simmons explained why connectivity matters: animals require movement for daily foraging, seasonal migration, dispersal and to escape disturbances. She presented Arizona Game and Fish's Environmental Review Tool and corridor mapping for the Flagstaff area, showed collaring data illustrating how highways limit pronghorn movements, and described ecological consequences of fragmentation including reduced gene flow and increased nest parasitism for some bird species.

Simmons described fencing standards that reduce wildlife entanglement and allow movement: fences no taller than 42 inches, a larger clearance under the bottom wire to allow pronghorn and young animals to pass, and at least 12 inches between the first and second wires so deer legs do not get caught. She said wildlife-friendly fences can still exclude livestock and are often a practical mitigation for new projects in corridors.

Commissioners asked how to find the mapping (Simmons directed them to the Arizona Game and Fish Environmental Review Tool), and several commissioners said they planned to consult Simmons when reviewing future subdivision and CUP applications. Commissioner Best said he would raise the need to include plant expertise in future planning conversations.

Simmons said corridor protection can include considering disturbance as well as physical barriers, and noted large infrastructure solutions such as wildlife overpasses/underpasses where highways create barriers. Commissioners thanked Simmons; no formal action was required.