Jeremy Voeltz of the AZFRO releases Mexican stonerollers into Kidney Pool in West Turkey Creek. Photo taken by Chris Lohrengel, 3/19/2008, El Coronado Ranch, Cochise County, Arizona

Mexican stoneroller in Kidney Pool in West Turkey Creek. Photo taken by Chris Lohrengel, 3/19/2008, El Coronado Ranch, Cochise County, Arizona

Yaqui Catfish being released. Photo taken by Chris Lohrengel, 10/17/2006, El Coronado Ranch, Cochise County, Arizona

In a cooperative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Arizona Fisheries Resource Office, private landowners Josiah and Valer Austin, the U. S. Forest Service, and the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, 120 Mexican stonerollers were relocated from Rucker Canyon, in the Chiricahua Mountains, and placed in West Turkey Creek on the El Coronado Ranch, also in the Chiricahua Mountains.  This is the first supplemental stocking of these fish into West Turkey Creek.  The initial stocking took place last summer, when 200 Mexican stonerollers were moved from Rucker Canyon to West Turkey Creek.  The fish were captured using electro-fishing methods on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, and then placed in a twenty-four hour quarantine to be treated for Asian tapeworm.  After the twenty-four hour quarantine was over the Mexican stonerollers were released in West Turkey Creek at four different locations.

Because of the twenty-four hour quarantine of the Mexican stonerollers, participants used the time to survey for Yaqui catfish at Big Tank on the El Coronado Ranch.  Typically this survey takes place in October when El Coronado Ranch is monitored for its Habitat Conservation Plan, but Yaqui catfish have always been captured in very small numbers during the annual survey, so additional surveys are beneficial.  Trammel and hoop nets were placed into Big Tank on March 18 and left overnight.  Starting at 8 a.m. on March 19, the group started to pull the nets.  Seven Yaqui catfish were captured.  These fish were measured and uniquely marked with PIT tags and then released back into Big Tank.  In addition to the catfish survey, two catfish "condos" were placed into Big Tank.  These structures provide cover for catfish during breeding.