Sunfish Removal for Native Aquatic Species Conservation in McGee Wash, Arizona

Since 2017, biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) have been working to remove non-native Green Sunfish from McGee Wash on Fort Rock Ranch and restore the native fish populations. A “blitz” approach was employed, using various netting mechanisms (hoop nets, seines, and minnow traps), angling, and backpack electroshocking. In total, 26 surveys have been conducted, and over 10,000 sunfish were removed in the first year alone. The homogeneous habitat in McGee Wash makes mechanical removal more feasible than in complex habitats. While eradication has yet to be achieved, efforts now focus on dealing with “problem pools” where sunfish are difficult to detect visually.