Stop The Border Wall From Destroying America’s Last Jaguar Corridor
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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
A 27-mile border wall in Arizona’s San Rafael Valley could seal off one of North America’s last great wildlife corridors, trapping endangered species and erasing a critical lifeline for survival across generations.
In Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, one of the most important wildlife corridors in North America is under immediate threat. This gateway connects endangered jaguars, ocelots, bighorn sheep, Mexican gray wolves, and countless other species between the United States and Mexico. A planned 27-mile border wall here would close that gateway forever1. Once blocked, these animals will be unable to reach critical food, water, mates, and seasonal habitats they need to survive.
The San Rafael Valley sits within the Sky Island region — isolated mountain ranges that serve as bridges between northern temperate and southern tropical ecosystems2. This biodiversity hotspot supports more than 1,500 native species, many already facing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, and human development. Wall construction will fragment these habitats and doom vulnerable populations by cutting them off from the genetic diversity needed to adapt and thrive3.
The Cost of Blocking Nature
The border wall’s design — towering steel bollards spaced just four inches apart — prevents most animals larger than a bobcat from passing through. Only a handful of small wildlife openings exist across hundreds of miles, and they are useless for large mammals like jaguars, pronghorn, and deer4. A recent study documented an 86% drop in successful large wildlife crossings where solid wall replaced vehicle barriers, with some species’ crossings reduced to zero.
These aren’t just numbers. When a wolf spent three days pacing at the base of the wall, unable to cross, it eventually turned back — and died5. For wide-ranging species already facing shrinking habitats, each blocked passage pushes them closer to extinction in the U.S.
Why This Corridor Matters
Jaguar Number Four, the only known resident jaguar in Arizona, recently crossed the San Rafael Valley back into the United States. His return shows that the corridor is still functioning. But if the wall is built, he could become the last of his kind north of the border1. The valley also connects climate refugees — species forced north by warming temperatures — to the habitats they need to survive. Without open corridors, these animals will have nowhere to go.
A Better Way Forward
Wildlife-permeable security measures and open corridors can protect both national security and biodiversity. Technologies like remote monitoring and targeted enforcement can secure the border without sealing off ancient migration routes. Restoring environmental protections and ending blanket waivers that bypass endangered species laws are critical to preventing irreversible damage.
We have a choice: block one of North America’s most important wildlife corridors forever, or protect it for generations to come. The window to act is closing fast.
Add your name now to demand an immediate halt to destructive wall construction in the San Rafael Valley, restore environmental safeguards, and ensure safe passage for wildlife before it’s too late.
