ECOLOGY

Natural history isn’t just about what happened 100 million years ago during the age of the dinosaurs, or even 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. It also includes what happened 100 years ago—or even yesterday—in the natural world around us. At the Red Rock Natural History Museum, we are committed to exploring the full scope of natural history, including the most recent ecological changes in the Southwest.

Many people living in the greater Southwest are unaware that, over the past century, we’ve lost a number of remarkable animals—species that once played vital roles in our ecosystems. Below is a small selection of animals that were once native to this region but have since been extirpated (locally extinct) from the land.

who’s missing?

JAGUAR

Jaguars once roamed the rugged canyons, deserts, mountains and forests of the American Southwest, from California to Texas and beyond. These apex predators played a vital role in the region’s ecosystems, but their presence came into direct conflict with the expanding livestock industry. Seen as a threat to cattle and sheep, jaguars were relentlessly hunted, trapped, and poisoned throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. By the mid-1900s, they had been largely eradicated from the United States.

Today, however, a small number of jaguars have begun to return to their historic range in southern Arizona, migrating from their northern most stronghold in Reserva Jaguar del Norte in Sonora Mexico. Their quiet return is a symbol of strength for native species coming home.

Mexican Grizzly

Among the most iconic animals once found in the Southwest was the Mexican grizzly bear, a powerful subspecies of grizzly that ranged across the high deserts, open grasslands, and forested mountains of what is now the U.S.–Mexico borderlands. Though smaller than their northern relatives, they played an outsized role in maintaining ecological balance as both predator and scavenger. With the rise of the cattle industry in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Mexican grizzly came into sharp conflict with ranchers, who saw them as a danger to their herds. Targeted through government-sponsored eradication campaigns, these bears were hunted, trapped, and poisoned until none remained. By the mid-1900s, they had vanished from the U.S., and the last known individuals in northern Mexico were gone by the 1970s. Today, the Mexican grizzly is considered extinct—a sobering reminder of how human fear and industry can wipe out even the most resilient species.

Thick-billed Parrot

Once a vibrant presence in the pine forests of the American Southwest, the thick-billed parrot was one of the only parrot species native to the United States. These intelligent, social birds thrived in the high-elevation woodlands of Arizona and New Mexico, where they nested in tree cavities and foraged for seeds, especially pine nuts. But as old-growth forests were logged and widespread hunting decimated their numbers, the parrots disappeared from U.S. skies by the early 20th century. Their bright green plumage and raucous calls faded from the landscape, victims of habitat loss, persecution, and the pet trade. Although the species still survives in isolated mountain ranges of northern Mexico, efforts to reintroduce them to their historic range in Arizona have so far been unsuccessful. Their absence is a poignant example of how even charismatic, ecologically unique species can vanish when human pressures overwhelm fragile ecosystems.

Mexican Gray Wolf

The Mexican gray wolf, or lobo, once roamed widely across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, weaving through forests, deserts, and grasslands as a vital part of the region’s natural balance. As the smallest and most genetically distinct subspecies of gray wolf in North America, they played a key role in controlling prey populations and maintaining healthy ecosystems. But as euro-American settlers moved west and the livestock industry grew, wolves were cast as villains. By the mid-20th century, aggressive eradication programs—funded and encouraged by state and federal agencies—had nearly wiped them out. Thanks to conservation efforts, a small population has been reintroduced into parts of Arizona and New Mexico, but they remain critically endangered and face ongoing threats from illegal killings, political opposition, and limited genetic diversity. The story of the lobo is one of loss, but also of resilience and the difficult path toward coexistence.

Pronghorn

Pronghorn once moved in great herds across the open grasslands, valleys, and high deserts of the Southwest, their speed and endurance evolved for outpacing long-extinct predators. Often mistaken for antelope, these uniquely North American animals are the fastest land mammals on the continent and a symbol of the wide, open landscapes they call home. But with the arrival of European settlers, their numbers plummeted—fenced grazing lands disrupted ancient migration routes, and unregulated hunting pushed them to the brink. In many parts of the Southwest, including central Arizona and the Verde Valley, pronghorn were completely extirpated or reduced to sparse populations. While conservation efforts have helped some populations recover, their absence from large portions of their former range is a reminder of how quickly colonial expansion can fragment even the most iconic and wide-ranging species.

These are just a few of the many species that have vanished from the Southwest in the past century. While each story is unique, a common thread ties them together: the deep and ongoing impact of the livestock industry on native wildlife. As cattle and sheep operations spread across the region, animals seen as threats to livestock—like wolves, bears, and jaguars—, or competition for grass—like native herbivores such as pronghorn—were systematically targeted and removed. These efforts were not random; they were actively supported by government agencies, whose policies were—and often still are—shaped by the priorities of the livestock industry.

Much of this conflict has played out on so-called “public lands”—millions of acres of stolen Indigenous territory now managed by federal agencies. Instead of serving as sanctuaries for biodiversity, these lands are often leased at rock-bottom prices to graze invasive, nonnative livestock species that have no ecological place in the Southwest’s delicate desert and grassland ecosystems. The result is degraded soil, damaged waterways, destroyed native plant communities, and landscapes emptied of the species that evolved here over millennia.

So we ask:

  • Would you rather see cattle overgrazing arid lands —or see pronghorn racing across a high desert valley?

  • Would you rather see cows trampling a streambed—or a jaguar slinking through the cottonwoods?

  • Would you rather fill these lands with livestock—or let parrots return to the forests they once called home?

One of the simplest and most powerful actions you can take is to withdraw your support from industries that destroy ecosystems and push for the removal—or extinction—of native species. Advocate for a future where government subsidies no longer prop up ecologically harmful practices. Encourage your community to live more sustainably in the fragile landscapes of the Southwest. And above all, speak up—for the land, for the wildlife, and for a world where nature is allowed to return, recover, and thrive.

  • Switching to a plant-based diet is one of the simplest and most effective ways to withdraw support from industries that degrade ecosystems, displace native wildlife, and drive species toward extinction. By choosing plant-based foods, you reduce demand for livestock grazing on public lands, conserve water, protect biodiversity, and lower your carbon footprint. It’s also a powerful choice for your health. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics—the largest organization of food and nutrition professionals in the U.S.—states that well-planned plant-based diets are healthy, nutritionally adequate, and may help prevent and treat chronic diseases. Choosing plant-based is a daily action that supports both personal well-being and the long-term health of our planet.

  • Protecting ecosystems starts with everyday choices. Support conservation efforts, respect wildlife and natural spaces, and reduce your impact by using less water, avoiding single-use plastics, and choosing plant-based foods. Advocate for policies that prioritize habitat protection, Indigenous land stewardship, and science-based environmental management. One of the most powerful things you can do is to stay informed and speak up—whether it’s at a community meeting, on social media, or through your votes. Every action, no matter how small, helps build a healthier, more resilient planet for all life.

  • Yes! We encourage you to download, print, and share the missing species posters in your community. These fliers are a powerful way to raise awareness about the incredible animals that once called the Southwest home—and why their stories matter. Post them in libraries, schools, coffee shops, or anywhere people gather. The more we remember what we’ve lost, the more inspired we become to protect what remains.
    Download the posters here:
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lawvIR7pmffT9o3zpJCGEiuhGwiDcCtP?usp=share_link