Species gain this "lost" status when there hasn't been a trace of them in 10 years, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Also on Arizona Spotlight: Hydropower on the Navajo Nation; Preview the upcoming Oro Valley Arts Festival; Listen to a poem by Rick Wamer, and a new song from Gabrielle Pietrangelo.
Also on Arizona Spotlight: Alejandro Canelos' short stories explore secrets of the desert; How Bisbee is supporting Arizona's pollinators; and the Arizona Wildlife Federation celebrates 100 years.
The humane societies of Southern Arizona and San Diego are teaming up to hire a private investigator as they continue their investigation into the whereabouts of 250 small pets covertly given to a family with ties to a snake feeder business.
Humane Society leaders Steve Farley and Christian Gonzalez are out almost two months after they orchestrated a transfer of more than 300 rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice to a family with no non-profit or animal-rescue status.
Unvetted organization who received more than 300 small pets from Humane Society is also affiliated with an informal business that sells live and frozen snake feed.
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