Meet the William Shaw Wildlife Corridor

Pima County and the Town of Marana have now both officially designated the wildlife connections between the Avra Valley, Tucson Mountains, and Tortolita Mountains as the William Shaw Corridor honoring Dr. Shaw, an esteemed ecologist and longtime champion of wildlife connectivity in southern Arizona.

This map is often referred to as the “Bunny Map” and was part of Dr. William Shaw’s 1986 report, Critical and Sensitive Wildlife Habitats of Eastern Pima County. Edits by CSDP. The blue arrows indicate the segment which was renamed in March 2026 by Pima County, and the purple arrows the segment that was renamed (just yesterday!) by Marana.

Putting wildlife corridors on the map

In 1989, Shaw identified the wildlife corridor through Avra Valley as a vital area for wildlife movement. His work on the “Bunny Map” and as chair of the Science Technical Advisory Team for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan helped shape local conservation planning efforts to this day.

The CSDP team with Dr. William Shaw following the celebration of Pima County’s designation of the William Shaw Corridor in March 2026.

With Marana’s recent resolution, this corridor is now officially named from end to end. The William Shaw Corridor extends from the Tucson Mountains, through Saguaro National Park West, into Marana, up towards the Tortolita Mountains and includes the open space set aside in the new Cascada master planned community.

Protected and connected wildlife corridors make all the difference for our local wildlife. They are essential routes that help animals find new habitats, navigate urban areas, access resources, and maintain healthy populations.

William Shaw speaking at the Marana Town Council meeting on September 1, 2026. The Town of Marana passed the resolution to designate their segment of the corridor shortly after. Photo credit: Cam Juarez.

The importance of corridors

Nearly 40 years after Dr. Shaw identified this corridor, CSDP and our partners continue this work to ensure this linkage has lasting protections that will support the wildlife that depend on it.

We continue to speak up for the desert’s most sensitive areas, especially the wildlife corridors and open spaces that wildlife depend on to survive in an increasingly developed landscape.

Congratulations and a huge thank you to Dr. Shaw for his contributions to this work!

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