Cows roaming free, grazing on open plains – it’s an iconic image of the American West. But are there really wild cows roaming around the deserts and canyons of Arizona today? This is a question many people have as they travel through the state or learn about its history and wildlife.
In this detailed article, we’ll provide a definitive answer on whether wild or feral cattle can be found in Arizona.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: There are no truly wild cows currently living in Arizona. However, some feral cattle descended from domesticated cows roam certain parts of the state.
The Origins of Cattle in Arizona
Introduction of cattle by early Spanish settlers
Cattle first arrived in what is now Arizona in the 16th century, brought by Spanish colonial settlers as they expanded northward from Mexico. The Spanish introduced hardy breeds of cattle that were well-suited to the arid grasslands and desert terrain of the Southwest.
Sources indicate that as early as the 1530s, adventurers like Marcos de Niza were traversing southern Arizona with herds of livestock in tow.
Through the 17th and 18th centuries, Jesuit missionaries established ranches centered around missions in southern Arizona, using cattle and other livestock to sustain these remote outposts. Documents show they grazed large herds around missions in areas like Tumacácori and San Xavier del Bac.
So cattle ranching has deep roots in Arizona tied to early Spanish colonization and missionary efforts in the region.
Cattle drives to Arizona in the late 1800s
Although cattle ranching was well-established in southern Arizona by the Spanish era, the industry truly boomed following the arrival of American settlers and Arizona becoming a U.S. territory. In the late 1860s through 1880s, major cattle drives trailed millions of cattle into Arizona from drought-stricken Texas and surrounding areas.
Huge cattle corporations organized massive drives along trails like the Gila Trail, with hundreds of thousands of cattle pouring into southern and eastern Arizona each year. In 1895 alone, over 250,000 cattle entered Arizona from western trail routes.
Cattle glutted the open ranges and helped establish Arizona’s reputation as an emergent cattle kingdom.
Establishment of major cattle ranching operations
The influx of cattle in the late 1800s led pioneering ranchers to set up enormous operations throughout Arizona. Ranches developed across Arizona Territory were unprecedented in scale – sprawling over tens or hundreds of thousands of acres of open grasslands and desert.
They had large workforces to manage the vast herds.
Iconic Arizona cattle companies founded at this time included the Aztec Land and Cattle Company, operating on over a million acres, and the huge Hashknife outfit, with ranges covering 200,000 acres. These mega-ranches drove the ascendancy of the cattle industry in late 19th century Arizona economy and culture.
Later, the rise of rail lines enabled further cattle consolidation and development of Arizona’s cattle industry into a regional powerhouse.
To learn more about the deep history of cattle in Arizona, check out sites like:
https://www.library.pima.gov/content/the-cattle-industry-in-southern-arizona/
https://www.azhs.com/publications/ahsq/cattle-kings
The Difference Between Wild, Feral, and Domesticated Cattle
Wild cattle
Wild cattle, or aurochs, are the ancient ancestors of modern domesticated cattle. Aurochs originated in India over 2 million years ago and migrated across Asia, Europe, and North Africa. These massive beasts stood up to 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder and weighed over 2,000 pounds.
Their large, curved horns could reach over 3 feet long. Aurochs lived in herds and inhabited forests, wetlands, and grasslands. They were strong swimmers and could cross large rivers. As humans began domesticating aurochs around 8,000 BC, wild auroch populations declined.
The last recorded live aurochs died in Poland in 1627.
Feral cattle
Feral cattle are domesticated cattle that have escaped captivity and become wild. Unlike wild aurochs, feral cattle descended from domesticated oxen and cows. When livestock like cattle escape from ranches and farms, they revert to a wild state, living and breeding freely in the wilderness.
Feral cattle herds can be found roaming remote areas of Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and even a few secluded regions of the American West. These cattle retain domestic traits like smaller size and different color variations.
With no natural predators, feral cattle numbers can quickly multiply and even damage native ecosystems. For example, feral cattle trample vegetation, spread invasive weeds, foul water resources and compete with native wildlife in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Domesticated cattle
Domesticated cattle are livestock animals that have been tamed for human use. After countless generations of selective breeding, modern cattle are genetically adapted for traits desired by people. Cattle provide meat, milk, labor and leather.
Through the process of domestication, cattle were bred to have a gentle and compliant temperament so they could be handled safely. They also have reduced aggression compared to the aurochs. Cattle breeds now vary widely in size, horns and coloring.
But all display a genetic propensity for fast growth, high milk yields and little resistance to human management. Unlike wild or feral cattle, domesticated cattle are fully dependent on their human owners for food, shelter, veterinary care and protection from predators.
Feral Cattle Populations in Arizona Today
Small herds in remote areas
Although not as common as they once were, there are still some small groups of feral or wild cattle roaming remote parts of Arizona (azcentral.com). These cattle likely descended from domesticated herds that escaped or were released into the wilderness years ago.
Without regular human care and handling, they have adapted to survive on their own. Spotting a wild cow herd in Arizona would be an exciting and rare treat for any adventurous hiker exploring off the beaten path!
Established populations in southern Arizona
Parts of southern Arizona, like the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, host well-established groups of feral cattle that have lived there for decades or longer. As an invasive species, these cattle compete with native wildlife for food and habitat resources.
Wildlife conservation groups even hold periodic roundups to manage the cattle populations in order to protect the local ecosystems.
Occasional feral cattle sightings
Ranchers will sometimes report stray feral cattle mixed in with their herds, likely originating from hidden wild groups living in the vast surrounding landscapes. And locals occasionally capture photos or videos of the elusive beasts wandering roads or properties.
But these lone feral cattle rarely survive for long alone without the protection of a herd. Still, their presence is a reminder of Arizona’s long history of cattle ranging!
So if you find yourself face-to-face with horned bovines while out and about in Arizona’s wilderness – no need to panic! But be sure to slowly walk away and respect their space. You may have spotted some of the last remaining wild cows in Arizona!
Reasons Why Arizona Has No Truly Wild Cattle
Inhospitable climate and landscape
Arizona’s climate and landscape make it challenging for cattle to thrive in the wild. The state is mostly covered in arid deserts and rugged mountain ranges. These areas receive little rainfall and have sparse vegetation, making it difficult for large grazing animals to find sufficient food and water sources.
Arizona’s climate sees scorching hot summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F. Winters can dip below freezing at high elevations. These extreme conditions would make survival difficult for feral cattle populations.
Lack of large predators
Most of Arizona lacks large predator species that historically kept wild cattle populations in check, like wolves and grizzly bears. Without substantial predation risk, feral cattle could potentially overgraze native vegetation.
However, the harsh desert conditions limit how many cattle the landscape could actually support. There are black bears and mountain lions in the state’s forested regions, but these predators likely focus more on native prey like deer and elk.
Overall, Arizona doesn’t have enough robust predator-prey dynamics to sustain sizeable populations of wild cattle.
Fencing of grazing lands
Ranchers maintain control of their livestock in Arizona by fencing grazing allotments on public lands. Range management practices prevent cattle from roaming freely into the wild. Stray cattle are promptly retrieved to prevent loss of the rancher’s valuable assets.
Well-maintained fences help avoid incidents of cattle wandering off and potentially establishing feral herds. Arizona’s ranching industry, working closely with state and federal agencies, uses careful husbandry practices and infrastructure investments to prevent uncontrolled cattle populations on the landscape.
The Future of Feral Cattle in Arizona
Ongoing removal efforts
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been working to remove feral cattle from public lands since the 1990s. This is done through periodic roundups, where helicopters are used to herd the cattle into temporary corrals. The cattle are then shipped off to auction.
According to a 2021 report, over 11,000 feral cattle have been removed from Arizona public lands in the last 20 years.
However, the feral cattle population continues to persist and expand in certain areas like the Grand Canyon region. Environmental groups often criticize the periodic roundups as being ineffective for long-term control.
They advocate for more consistent, targeted removal efforts to completely eliminate established populations.
Potential environmental impacts
The presence of feral cattle is concerning due to their potential impacts on native plant communities and ecosystems. Feral cattle trample vegetation, cause soil erosion, compete with native wildlife for forage, and damage water resources.
According to a 2020 report by the Grand Canyon Trust, sites with feral cattle presence in Arizona had 60% less native grass cover compared to sites where cattle were removed.
In riparian areas, the cattle can increase stream bank erosion and negatively impact aquatic species. A 2021 Forest Service review found that feral cattle presence was associated with reduced densities of native fish and amphibians in Arizona waterways.
Conflict with ranchers
The presence of feral cattle also creates issues for local ranchers in Arizona. Feral cattle can transmit diseases to livestock, compromise the genetic integrity of breeds, and compete for grazing land.
This has sometimes led to contention between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and ranchers regarding how to address feral cattle.
Some solutions being discussed include increased collaboration between agencies and ranchers on developing removal plans, allowing each rancher to remove feral cattle within a designated distance from their private lands, and establishing stronger penalties against ranchers who do not contain their cattle.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while cattle played an important role in Arizona’s history and feral descendants still inhabit certain remote corners of the state, there are no remaining wild cattle herds as understood in the traditional sense.
The challenges of Arizona’s arid environment and human activities like ranching have prevented truly wild, self-sustaining cattle populations from taking root. However, the occasional sightings of feral cows hint at the frontier spirit that continues to shape the character of the American Southwest today.
