The southern grasslands of this route are the grazing and fawning grounds of the Chihuahuan Pronghorn. Unlike deer, Pronghorns are not fence jumpers, so livestock fences can be harmful, impenetrable barriers to them, keeping the Pronghorns from food and water unless these fences are properly constructed to allow the Pronghorns to safely crawl under them. Sadly, the widespread fencing of the American west has contributed to the decline in the numbers of these native North American animals. [The Firefly Forest]

Black-tailed prairie dogs were eradicated in Arizona in 1960, but wildlife agencies and partners have since worked to reintroduce the species across their historic range. In Arizona, three colonies have been established at Las Cienegas since the species was first reintroduced in 2008. Prairie dogs are a keystone species that play a vital role in their grassland ecosystem, providing food and shelter for other species. The successful reintroduction of black-tailed prairie dogs at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is a positive step towards restoring a healthy and diverse ecosystem. [Arizona Important Bird Areas Program]

As you climb this undulating ridge of grasslands, several of the Sky Island Mountain ranges come into view, including the Whetstones (east), the Empires (north), the Santa Ritas (west) and the Mustangs (southeast – pictured). These grasslands are key to connecting landscapes that allow for the migration of animals from range to range. The Sky Islands are one of America’s hotspots for wildlife diversity, hosting more than twice as many mammal species as Yellowstone National Park.

This tall stand of Cottonwood trees is the densest in many miles, making it an Audubon Important Birding Area. A variety of neotropical migratory birds and resident birds find great nesting and perching sites among these tall trees. However, the skies of Las Cienegas belong to the raptors, including Red-Tailed hawks and Northern Harriers (pictured).

The Empire Ranch was originally established in the 1860s as a homestead ranch of 160 acres with a flat-topped four-room adobe ranch house and adjoining adobe-walled corral. Over the next 20 years, as a part of the historic expansion of ranching, railroads, and mining in the West, Walter Vail and various partners expanded the original land holdings to include over 100,000 acres. The Total Wreck silver mine was discovered and developed, adding to ranch prosperity. The Ranch House became an extended complex with more than 29 rooms and a number of outbuildings and structures. [Empire Ranch Foundation]

The Cienega Watershed is home to some of the region’s largest remaining stands of sacaton grass, an important type of grassland that provides valuable ecosystem services, such as absorbing floodwater, controlling erosion, and capturing and holding soil. These grasslands have deep, silty soils that make them highly productive, providing food and habitat for wildlife and livestock. However, some of the sacaton flats in the region are suffering from erosion caused by wind and water, which can lead to the loss of productive soil and create hazards such as silt in streams and dust storms. Efforts to improve the health of these grasslands are underway by the BLM, The Nature Conservancy, and others. [Borderlands Restoration Network]