Along the US border with Mexico, sits a unique marsh called the San Bernardino cienaga, where wildlife migrates across the international border between Mexico and the mountains of Arizona. This remarkable desert oasis has the highest diversity of bees in the world. With more than 500 species filling the air with sound as they pollinate Chihuahuan plants. Jaguars prowl through the nearby Peloncillo Mountains and more than 300 species of birds and eight threatened and endangered animals including native fish and the Chiricahua leopard frog call the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge home. Yet today, this vital habitat is under direct threat from active border wall construction.
The Center for Biological Diversity reports from the border that bulldozed habitat next to the wildlife refuge is now cleared for concrete production and wall construction material staging, disrupting plant and animal communities—putting them further at risk as water pumped from the ground is likely to exceed 70,000 gallons a day during wall construction. In a political effort to armor the border to stop historic and natural migration of people through the region. Animals that live nowhere else but this desert oasis are paying the price.
Help us protect imperiled wildlife and native communities at the US-Mexico border by making a gift to our Wildlife at the Wall campaign. Your support will help us double our effort to document where species need open borders so that we can build public support to stop the wall. We can’t do this without your help, so please donate today.
All Photo Credits: Russ McSpadden and Center for Biological Diversity