…But Needed
Arizona isn’t alone in putting water out for wildlife. Other states, including Nevada, also maintain catchments—referred to a variety of names, including guzzlers, water developments, trick tanks, and drinkers. The tradition started with hunters hoping to provide some water for the quail they were hunting. (Nevada’s website emphasizes the history behind the guzzlers and the benefit they provide to “target animals” like bighorn sheep.)
But as humans changed the landscape of the desert and changed wildlife’s access to water, the catchments have become increasingly important. Fragmentation of landscapes has made it more difficult for wildlife to access watering holes, with roads and subdivisions bisecting their territory. The wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has further bifurcated some species’ range, making artificial watering holes that much more important.
“Most of the desert animals have evolved to be able to drink very, very little free water, but when the free water is available, they’ll use it,” Currie told a local news outlet.
