Think you can tell the difference between the Sky Islands’ four kinds of skunks? Or between its different species of deer and hares? SIA's Meagan Bethel created a new set of quizzes so you can test your knowledge. Check ‘em out, along with an ID guide: https://ow.ly/t59R50Z4R7e

This June, we’re supporting another Spring Seeker campaign along the San Pedro River and are in need of volunteers to head out in the field independently and help make it a success. See the full list of springs needing surveyed and sign up: https://ow.ly/NbU850Z4Pgg

Want to camp with us on Mt. Lemmon over the solstice weekend, June 19-21? We’re hosting a volunteer trip. It’s been six years since the Bighorn Fire swept Mt. Lemmon. But signs of renewal are all around, and you can be part of efforts to heal the mountain: https://ow.ly/vX4850Z3in9

FotoFauna highlights are in from this past month, and here’s your chance to see a Gila monster swimming, a near-record high jump in the furball division, and another spotted kitty in Sonora. Check out this video and consider joining our community science project: ​​https://ow.ly/5C3o50TTLT7

Next weekend, May 29-30, join us in Cananea for a community weekend celebrating the grassland ecosystem of northeastern Sonora. Cananea lies in the heart of the Sky Islands — a place where rivers are born, and where biodiversity and culture abound. https://ow.ly/jHqH50Z2XB5

Border wall construction in the San Rafael Valley continues, with at least 12 of 27 miles completed and new wall going up each day. Thanks to SmallWheel Films' Leslie Ann Epperson for this video interview with SIA's Eamon Harrity, showing what’s at stake: https://youtu.be/GXGN8tXuw7U

New items are in at the Sky Island Market, including 35th anniversary designs and a “Making Tracks” T-shirt in honor of the ocelot Himdam and his trek across four ranges. So have a look today, and see if you find something for yourself and/or loved ones: https://ow.ly/2g7B50RphSr

Are you passionate about the Sky Islands and looking for a new work opportunity? We're looking for a development director — someone with a passion for engaging with people and building strong relationships that positively impact our revenue generation: https://ow.ly/MFe150YZ8Ws

DarkSky International is hosting their annual photography contest through June 30, so take a look and help protect the night. Dark skies are an essential feature of our Sky Islands. Through your photos, you can help others see their value and worth: https://ow.ly/r0eG50YYsK8

ICYMI: Our allies at CBD, San Carlos Apache Tribe & Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance filed an intent to sue the feds for ESA violations in the Copper Creek Mine exploration area. Among the claims: Agencies ignored photo evidence that Mexican spotted owls live in the area. https://ow.ly/CwHN50YWlWq

This spring, we’re highlighting our work in Sonora and how it’s building climate resilience for the entire region. Thanks to a grant, all gifts to support this work will be matched up to $20,000: https://ow.ly/sHwK50YOg2V. Poco a poco, ranch by ranch, our collective actions make a difference.

Quick update on our trail building work in the Sierra San José near Naco, Sonora, just south of Bisbee. Thanks to our amazing volunteers, we made great progress in April and are approaching the top! To learn more about the project and see photos, visit: https://ow.ly/O6aw50YVQp9

A couple weeks ago, in the San Bernardino Valley, volunteers from Arizona and Sonora joined the annual Border BioBlitz to document as many species as possible using the iNaturalist app. Always fun to see which animals show up and what flowers are blooming! To learn more: https://ow.ly/cKP750YVPRU

The last two days we shared posts on the Sky Islands’ network of 8,000 springs. Curious to see some? On May 26 we have a free workshop for surveying/navigating to springs, and on May 27 we have a volunteer day at one site in the Catalinas. To learn more: https://ow.ly/wbbF50YVikQ

Yesterday, we shared an overview of the Sky Islands’ 8,000 springs. Today, let’s zoom in and see what’s happening in these individual worlds. A lot, it turns out. Check out this Rewilding Institute podcast “The Hidden Universe of Springs” to learn more: https://ow.ly/FWrA50YTzjM

Over the next few days, we’d like to highlight our Sky Island springs, which often go underappreciated. Just as individual sky islands help form corridors for wildlife, our region's springs form a vast network of refuges, helping wildlife move and thrive: https://ow.ly/vSMR50YTxkf

Over the coming weeks, “queen of the night” cacti should be developing buds and eventually blooms in gardens and out in the wild. So keep your eye out for these desert beauties! To learn more, check out this article in The Desert Leaf by SIA's Emily Burns: https://ow.ly/UeYk50YRRhT

Looking for something fun to do over Memorial Day Weekend (May 22-25)? We still have four spots left for our volunteer camping trip in the Galiuros' Aravaipa Canyon. Join us! https://ow.ly/rCqh50YRjRp. We'll be continuing our efforts to remove invasive vinca along the creek banks.

FotoFauna highlights are in from this past month, and we’re always looking for new folks to join our community science project. Do you know someone who lives where the wild things are? If so, then consider sharing this opportunity: ​​https://ow.ly/5C3o50TTLT7

Want to see the Sky Islands thrive well into the future? This spring, we’re highlighting our work on Ranchos Regenerativos in Sonora and how it’s building climate resilience for the entire region. To learn more and give, visit: https://ow.ly/sHwK50YOg2V

Today is Earth Day, and what better way to give back than to get involved in our Sky Islands! Check out our calendar of events for opportunities: https://ow.ly/PgxW50YNKeZ. We have a new Aravaipa trip, Border BioBlitz outings, volunteer camping near Bisbee and Cananea, and more.

If you're looking for some fun this weekend, this Saturday, April 25, is the annual "Celebrate the San Pedro" festival just east of Sierra Vista. To see the full schedule of events/speakers/activities and learn more about the birding challenge, visit: ow.ly/la0B50YNuQG

Exciting news in the world of rare Sky Island kitties. Recently, SIA and Phoenix Zoo published a study describing the remarkable journey of a male ocelot across four mountain ranges in the Sky Islands of Arizona, the longest-known trek by the species: ow.ly/Zyae50YJ6lo

Your voice is needed to protect our public lands. On March 31, the Trump admin announced the closure of all U.S. Forest Service regional offices, the gutting of 57 research stations, and relocation of headquarters from D.C. to Utah. Learn more and take action: ow.ly/UnC950YLlFN

We’re looking for volunteers April 24-26 for a wildlife-friendly fencing project in the Mule Mountains near Bisbee. Join us! As you can see in last weekend's pics, Abbot Spring is on the rebound after cattle overuse and, with your help, will continue to recover and flourish: ow.ly/X9Lv50YsChY

ICYMI: Our allies at Aravaipa Canyon and Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve each have a job opening, looking for stewards to protect these special places well into the future. Check ‘em out and share. Aravaipa: ow.ly/fkVW50YImKx Sonoita Creek: ow.ly/ZbCp50YImJx

Another opportunity inspired by San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge: There's a youth art contest this spring, for kids 7-12, with submissions due May 1. It can be anything nature-themed, but you’ve got lots of muses with 1,600 species calling the area home. To learn more: ow.ly/kcnT50YFNNl

Calling birders, botanists, and naturalists of all sorts! It's that time of year again. You're invited to join us for the binational Border BioBlitz. On April 25, you can join us in Arizona at San Bernardino NWR or at Cuenca Los Ojos Ranch in Sonora: ow.ly/cScE50YFLF3

Want to help us get to the top of the Sierra San José? We started trail building last weekend in this beloved sky island south of Bisbee in Naco, Sonora, and we’ll be back this Saturday (April 11) and next (April 18) for volunteer day trips. Join us! ow.ly/sAqy50YsCuI

Today is Arizona Gives Day, and this year you can help wildlife, plants, and communities adapt to climate change in the Sky Islands. Learn more about our Ranchos Regenerativos program in Sonora and how it ties into our vision for the region: ow.ly/HTz450Vq8fz

With our first 100-degree day coming a month ahead of the previous record, concerns about climate disruption have flared. What does this mean for wildlife and people in our region? And how can we respond? Learn more in this blog from SIA's Louise Misztal: ow.ly/KpqL50YCCS0

Ready to explore the surprising world of rattlesnake families? Join us for our next virtual Coffee Break on Thursday, April 16, at 9:30 a.m. Our guest speaker is Melissa Amarello, co-founder and executive director of Advocates for Snake Preservation: ow.ly/U1IP50YAYat

Have you ever been up in the Mule Mountains near Bisbee? We have two volunteer trips coming up, April 10-12 and April 24-26, where we'll be building a new wildlife-friendly fence around Abbot Spring to help it recover from overuse by cattle. Join us! skyislandalliance.org/calendar/

If you haven’t yet come across invasive stinknet, count yourself lucky. Now is the time to stop the spread of this highly flammable weed and make sure it doesn’t become the next buffelgrass. To learn more about how to ID and report sightings, visit stinknet.org

On March 31, at 6pm, the Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance is hosting a public meeting in Mammoth, AZ, to discuss that most precious resource in our region: water. Join to learn from experts about efforts to address threats and improve watershed health: ow.ly/ZAyb50YyM5k

Want to go camping with us on one of our partner ranches in Sonora? Or help build a trail in the Sierra San José, just south of Bisbee? We have several volunteer opportunities coming up, a great chance to see a new corner of the Sky Islands: ow.ly/3YTt50YuYgO

On April 11 and May 2, we're leading a two-part class at Tucson Botanical Gardens for folks interested in joining FotoFauna and learning how to set up a wildlife camera in their yard as part of our community science project. To learn more and register, visit: ow.ly/MCeR50YuPkt

Back by popular demand: On April 23 at 6:30pm, we're hosting another free workshop at our Tucson office for folks who want to learn how to find and survey off-trail springs in the Sky Islands. SIA's Sarah Truebe will lead the workshop: ow.ly/2CIE50Yt93s

Have you ever been up in the Mule Mountains near Bisbee? We have two volunteer trips coming up, April 10-12 and April 24-26, where we'll be building a new wildlife-friendly fence around Abbot Spring to help it recover from overuse by cattle. Join us! ow.ly/sAqy50YsCuI

It’s been almost six years since the Bighorn Fire swept Mt. Lemmon, and signs of regrowth are all around. Bushes and grasses are returning, and we’re back this spring with more volunteer trips to restore priority areas — starting next weekend. Join us! ow.ly/rLHy50YmaqL

Did you know that SIA Executive Director Louise Misztal started out as a volunteer? As part of our 35th anniversary celebrations/retrospectives, Louise has shared a reflection on how she first got involved with the organization more than 20 years ago: ow.ly/4AHA50YolJ1

Join us March 24 at 9:30am for our next virtual Coffee Break to learn more about the Rincon Mountains’ rich and dynamic plant diversity. Our speaker is SIA Botanist Dan Beckman, who recently joined us after 12 years with Saguaro National Park: ow.ly/M3jB50Ye5js

Good news from our campaign to rescue nine Tucson desert springs: Over 18 months, SIA volunteers and staff hauled out 300+ tons of invasive arundo from Rock Ledge Spring. Thanks to our volunteers, it’s gone now and the ecosystem is on the mend: ow.ly/vSjG50Yne7f

Who’s ready for some camping in the Catalinas? We have two volunteer weekends coming up. On March 13-15, we’ll be surveying several springs we haven't been to before. And on March 20-22, we'll be continuing our erosion control work post Bighorn Fire: ow.ly/Sx4h50Ymbtn

FotoFauna highlights are in from this past month, and we have a few favorites. But what are yours? Let us know in the comments! — and if you live where the wild things are, consider joining our community science project: ow.ly/5C3o50TTLT7

Want to help restore desert springs for wildlife? We have several volunteer opportunities coming up in the Tucson area. Come out for a single day or make it a thing and get to know each of these unique oases. We’ll be removing invasive plants at each site: ow.ly/p9ZY50Ykm1V

This winter, Sky Island Alliance and allies have been back out in the field monitoring migratory birds in northern Sonora’s grasslands. As a group, these birds are some of the most threatened in the world.

Do you know the story of how the Arizona Trail got started? A new film called “Trailblazers” tracks the 1982 adventure of two brothers who set out from Mexico with two mules and a mission to reach Utah, 800 miles away. The movie premiers in Tucson on March 10: ow.ly/9WOQ50Yj4Je

We just put the final touches on our winter newsletter: ow.ly/71mr50Y5Im9. Inside, you’ll find highlights from our recent work, as well as a feature on our springs rescue efforts over the years. Big thanks to all who contributed your time and energy to make this possible.

More tough news from the Trump administration: 5 of 27 miles of steel border wall are now up in the San Rafael Valley, blocking this wildlife corridor, as you can see in this before/after. Just awful. To learn more about our study and how we're responding, visit: ow.ly/Cz0c50YfseN