A beaver can gnaw down hundreds of trees each year. One family of beavers may consume as much as a ton of inner bark in a single winter. A beaver can hold its breath under water for up to 15 minutes. They are the largest native rodent in the United States. Beavers were once found along the Gila River riparian zone from Phoenix to Yuma.

Desert bighorn sheep mate during the hottest time of year, which is July and August. Bighorns have blood capillary beds close to the surface in their chests to dissipate heat. They breed during summer so that the lambs are born during a more favorable time of year in the desert: the spring.

Elk activity on Old Highway 66 east of Seligman and on Highway 89 south of Ash Fork has picked up recently, say Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists.

Biologists caution that drivers should be attentive in those areas, especially during the morning, evening and at night, which are prime elk activity times.

Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists recently built two nest platforms for ospreys atop live ponderosa pine trees at Scott's Reservoir and Fools Hollow Lake in the White Mountains.

The purpose of the project is to encourage two pairs of osprey to move their nesting activity to the platforms, which will provide more secure and undisturbed nest sites in the future. This project was accomplished using Heritage funds, which are generated from lottery sales.

The start of the summer monsoon season is good news for Arizona's amphibians but wildlife officials say there can be bad news for pets that have toad encounters.

The monsoon moisture triggers the breeding activity for amphibians, especially frogs and toads. "The danger depends on factors like the size and species of amphibian — toads are the biggest hazard — and the size of the pet. Some animals may suffer heart attacks, slip into comas or even die from toad toxin," says Mike Sredl, herpetologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department and U.S. Forest Service have announced the results of the spring 2003 Mount Graham red squirrel survey. Biologists estimate that approximately 224, plus or minus 11, Mount Graham red squirrels currently occupy the Pinaleno Mountain range, also known as Mount Graham. The results are slightly lower than the spring 2002 survey results of 288 (plus or minus 12) red squirrels.

Dove hunters can help wildlife biologists collect information to help ensure sufficient numbers of these migratory birds in the future.

Arizona and 25 other states are participating in a nationwide mourning dove banding study. More than 85,000 doves are being banded during the next three years in these 26 states. Birds are marked with metal leg bands containing a unique identification number and a toll-free telephone number that hunters can call to report the band.

Approximately 30 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep from New Mexico have arrived at their new home in eastern Arizona. In return, Arizona will provide an equal number of desert bighorn sheep for New Mexico.

Game and Fish biologists worked with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish personnel in mid-August to capture Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in a remote area near Taos.