NMDGF Conservation News
The latest conservation news and press releases from New Mexico Game and Fish. Department-wide news can be found under Home → NMDGF News.
The Tale of (Potentially) Two Species of Bell’s Vireos
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. The Tale of (Potentially) Two Species of Bell’s Vireos Bell’s Vireo habitat on the Mimbres River. (Andy Johnson) One bird you may have heard, if not seen, if you spend time in dense thickets along the Rio Grande or the Pecos or Gila rivers is the Bell’s Vireo. There is an interesting question associated with this threatened songbird: are there one or two species of Bell’s Vireo? Previous assessments have shown that eastern and western populations are distinct genetically and morphologically, but samples from New Mexico were not included in that analysis. Andy Johnson and others at the University of New Mexico in the Museum of Southwestern Biology, using funds from the Share with Wildlife program at New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, [...]
Migratory Game Bird rule changes topic of public meetings
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Tristanna Bickford: (505) 476-8027 tristanna.bickford@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 12, 2021: Migratory Game Bird rule changes topic of public meetings SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the Migratory Game Bird rule. The proposals are available on the Department’s proposals under consideration webpage. To gather public comments, one public meeting will be conducted via Zoom. The meeting will be held April 26 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Click here to join the virtual Zoom meeting. Or enter the following in your Zoom client: Meeting ID: 824 6900 9878 Passcode: 444544 To join the meeting by phone please dial 1-346-248-7799. You will be prompted to enter the Webinar ID: 824 6900 9878 and Passcode: 444544 Presentation slides will be posted on the Department’s proposals under consideration [...]
Public Meetings to Present 2021-2022 Proposed Projects for the Habitat Stamp Program
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Tristanna Bickford: (505) 476-8027 tristanna.bickford@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 9, 2021: Public Meetings to Present 2021-2022 Proposed Projects for the Habitat Stamp Program SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has scheduled two public meetings in order to inform the Citizen Advisory Committee, as well as the members of the public, of proposed projects for the upcoming fiscal year. A short presentation providing background information about each proposal will be followed by a brief Q & A session where members of the Citizen Advisory Committee and the public are encouraged to ask questions. Members of the public are invited to attend one or both of these meetings (to be held virtually) in order to become familiar with the proposed projects. April 12 at 5:00 p.m. (Bureau of Land Management Proposals) April [...]
Gathering Data on Young Vireos
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Gathering Data on Young Vireos Juniper savanna at the Sevilleta. (Silas Fischer) Have you ever looked at the pinyon-juniper forests that grace much of northern and central New Mexico and wondered what kind of birds live in them? Have you ever thought about how biologists determine what kind of habitat features are most important to birds when they are selecting a site to build their nest or when young birds have just left the nest? Using funding from the Share with Wildlife program, Dr. Henry Streby and his graduate student, Silas Fischer, from the University of Toledo are helping biologists at New Mexico Department of Game and Fish answer these questions for one inhabitant of the sometimes underappreciated pinyon-juniper woodlands of New Mexico; the [...]
Invasive mussel found in aquarium plants in New Mexico
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Tristanna Bickford: (505) 476-8027 tristanna.bickford@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MARCH 12, 2021: Invasive mussel found in aquarium plants in New Mexico Santa Fe – Invasive zebra mussels have been found in moss balls sold as aquarium plants in pet stores and through online vendors across the state. Any moss balls purchased in New Mexico or online within the last year may pose serious risks to our state’s waterbodies, water systems and wildlife. Retailers and anyone who has recently purchased a moss ball are urged to immediately follow the steps below to protect our waters and wildlife resources. Remove moss ball and any aquarium items and place in a heat safe pot; fill pot with tap water. Bring water to a boil and boil contents for a minimum of one minute. Discard moss ball in the trash; [...]