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Urban environments can satisfy the habitat requirements of a variety of wildlife species. It has been shown that urban residents enjoy wildlife near their homes. The goal of this study was to determine if urban wildlife distributions could be predicted by metropolitan planning variables, so that opportunities for urban residents to enjoy wildlife near their homes could be enhanced. Three hundred one random points, stratified into seven zones, based on intensity of urbanization and vegetation type, were chosen in the Tucson metropolitan study area. Birds were censused with the variable circular plot method. Sign of selected mammal species were searched for at a subset of these points. Native bird species diversity declined steadily as housing density increased. The study area still supports a high diversity of native species because of the high levels of natural open space still found intermixed with residential development. The amount of land covered in residential development and the amount of paloverde-saguaro vegetation types with associated riparian areas were the best predictors of native bird species diversity. The data also suggest that plant cover created by man-maintained vegetation is not as attractive to native bird species as naturally occurring vegetation. Ground nesters and insectivores tended to drop out at higher housing densities while seed-eaters were retained. Three patterns of avian response to variables describing the intensity of urbanization and the amount of natural vegetation emerged: urban, suburban, and exurban. Native Sonoran desert birds appear to be highly sensitive to urbanization, as minor increases in residential housing densities lead to declines in diversity. Mammal species appear to be most sensitive to the size of open space areas and fragmentation and isolation of natural lands. Metropolitan planning processes may be limited in their ability to retain high species diversities. The impacts of urbanization on wildlife diversities may be mitigated through sensitive open space planning.

This thesis integrates wildlife management and biology, urban residential development, and the hydrology of desert watercourses. Literature is surveyed within each area and information is applied to the issue of wildlife conservation in urbanizing areas of Eastern Pima County. It is recognized that some natural wildlife habitats and wildlife species are valued by urban residents. Valuable areas of wildlife habitat are being lose due to conventional residential development strategies. This paper discusses the impact of typical residential development on native Southwestern wildlife species and habitat. Alternative development design guidelines are proposed which would provide viable wildlife habitat within developed areas. Design guidelines which are presented in this paper are applicable to low elevation arid areas in the Southwest where developers are seeking to integrate natural wildlife habitat within residential areas.

This study examines urban wildlife conservation in Arizona as a function of public opinion and agency involvement. In the fall of 1985, a questionnaire was mailed to 1000 randomly chosen households. Respondents answered questions about urban wildlife-related activities, preferred species and locations for urban wildlife conservation, wildlife-related pest problems, a public agency's responsibility for urban wildlife, and potential agency-sponsored urban wildlife programs. Analysis of the survey data indicate that Tucsonans are aware of, have favorable opinions about, and actively encourage the presence of urban wildlife. An analysis of urban wildlife conservation as a public issue yields additional information pertinent to the design and implementation of a state agency urban wildlife conservation program. The combined results of these analyses suggest that state agency involvement in urban wildlife conservation is publicly acceptable; an urban constituency can potentially benefit an agency's support base; and urban wildlife conservation's unique characteristics warrant special attention during program and policy development.