Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection joins El Tour as a nonprofit; join it on the Nov. 22

Mere days after the Ann Day Memorial Wildlife Bridge over Oracle Road finished construction in 2016, mule deer began making their way across the safe passage. When the first wildlife camera photos of these deer came in, you could feel the weight of our work – this was the beginning of a connection for thousands of animals as they finally moved safely between the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains.

Connected and protected habitats give wildlife the freedom to roam and help preserve the Sonoran Desert’s rich biodiversity. Unfortunately, habitats can become fragmented by housing and roadways, isolating wildlife populations from the land and resources they need to survive. Connecting landscapes and protecting open spaces is the heart of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection’s work. We actively advocate and plan for solutions like wildlife crossings that help both people and wildlife.

The Ann Day Memorial Wildlife Bridge is the first of its kind in the Sonoran Desert. Paired with a wildlife underpass and funnel fencing, these structures help wildlife overcome the six-lane highway that divides the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains. We advocated hard for these crossings, and now they work daily to help animals like javelina, mule deer, bobcats, and even the occasional mountain lion and black bear, traverse this corridor safely.

With the successes from this project guiding the way, we now face a new challenge: bridging the divide across the ten-lane, I-10 freeway to connect the Tucson and Tortolita Mountains. Today, only one underpass can be used to cross the freeway, making it nearly impossible for wildlife to navigate between these mountains. One day, we hope to see a new wildlife bridge spanning the I-10 freeway that will pair with the nearly completed Santa Cruz River Wildlife Ramp.

This ramp will help wildlife get up and over the river’s flood- control levees as they move east and west between the Tucson and Tortolita Mountains. In 2022, the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection and the Arizona Game and Fish Department collaborated with Pima County and Solis Engineering to ensure the Santa Cruz River Wildlife Ramp was designed to meet the specific needs of wildlife in the area. When connected to the bridge, these crossing structures will finally reconnect this landscape, reclaiming habitat and a pathway to the Santa Cruz River – a lifeline for desert wildlife.

This is where you come in! When you sign up to ride for the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection during El Tour De Tucson, you are supporting the desert’s future. Your fundraising goes directly towards protecting and connecting the landscape and safeguarding biodiversity for generations to come. Thank you for joining us for the ride!