Wildlife Removal in Tucson: The Most Biodiverse Urban Wildlife Problem in the US

Tucson is surrounded by five mountain ranges — the Santa Catalinas, Rincons, Tucson Mountains, Santa Ritas, and Tortolitas — and bordered by Saguaro National Park on both the east and west sides of the city. No other major US city is as deeply embedded in its natural environment. The Sonoran Desert doesn't sit outside Tucson; it runs through the middle of it, along desert washes, riparian corridors, and undeveloped parcels that exist throughout the urban area. The wildlife that lives in that desert doesn't need to travel far to reach your backyard.

Tucson has more rattlesnake species in regular contact with residential areas than any other major US city. Six species are found throughout Pima County.

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are the most common and are found throughout the metro. Mojave rattlesnakes — considered to have more potent venom than most species — are found throughout the desert surrounding Tucson. Tiger rattlesnakes inhabit the rocky terrain of the Rincon, Santa Catalina, and Tucson Mountains. Black-tailed rattlesnakes are found in rocky mountain terrain throughout the region. Sidewinders are found in sandy desert areas. Rock rattlesnakes are found in rocky mountain terrain.

Monsoon season (July–September) drives peak rattlesnake activity. Encounters in yards, garages, and near foundations spike significantly after monsoon rains.

Javelinas (collared peccaries) are far more common in Tucson than in Phoenix, and they're a genuine management challenge. They travel in herds of 6–12, damage landscaping, overturn garbage cans, and can be aggressive when cornered or protecting young. They are protected wildlife in Arizona — harassment, capture, or killing is illegal without an Arizona Game and Fish Department permit.

Management focuses on exclusion and deterrence: securing garbage, removing attractants, and installing fencing that excludes javelinas from gardens and landscaping. We can advise on what's effective and what's legal.

Gila woodpeckers and gilded flickers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and cannot be harmed or killed. They excavate cavities in saguaro cacti — but they'll also drill into wood-frame homes, stucco siding, and foam insulation with equal enthusiasm. In Tucson's foothills neighborhoods, woodpecker damage to homes is a common and expensive problem. Legal management options include exclusion netting, visual deterrents, and habitat modification.

Tucson's climate supports abundant citrus production, and roof rats exploit it. Citrus trees in residential yards provide year-round food and harborage. Roof rats enter homes through rooflines, gaps in tile roofs, and gaps around utility penetrations. Arizona bat exclusion is prohibited from May 1 through July 31 (maternity season).

Call (800) 319-1556 for a free inspection. We serve Pima County and surrounding areas.

View our Tucson service page for more information.