x
Breaking News
More () »

Arizona officials fill tanks to ensure wildlife have water during drought

Because almost all of Arizona is in severe drought, officials are filling water tanks to keep wildlife hydrated.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Arizona Game and Fish Department is boosting efforts to refill water tanks for wildlife in the midst of drought.

The Arizona Daily Sun reports the agency typically hauls about 400,000 gallons of water to tanks statewide in a normal year. But this year is exceptionally dry, and department officials say that figure will rise to 1.5 million gallons.

Drought has covered the entire state for all of 2018, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. More than 95 percent of the state is in severe drought, and more than 63 percent is in extreme drought.

The water hauling also started much earlier than normal. The agency says it began supplementing the catchments in November, which hasn't happened in at least 20 years.

The department monitors and maintains about 3,000 state and federally owned water catchments across the state.

RELATED: Grand Canyon park rangers: Don't feed wildlife, no matter how cute

Before You Leave, Check This Out