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.
Wild Population of Mexican Wolves Grows for Fifth Consecutive Year
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Media contact, Aislinn Maestas: 505-331-9280 aislinn_maestas@fws.gov Arizona Game and Fish Department Media Contact, Jackie Follmuth: 928-532-3691 jfollmuth@azgfd.gov 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: Wild Population of Mexican Wolves Grows for Fifth Consecutive Year 2020 survey shows at least 186 wolves across the Southwest SANTA FE – The wild population of Mexican wolves in the United States saw its fifth consecutive year of growth in 2020. According to the recent count, the U.S. population of Mexican wolves has increased by 14% since last year, raising the total number of wolves in the wild to a minimum of 186 animals. From Nov. 2020 through Jan. 2021, the Interagency Field Team (IFT) conducted ground counts in Ariz. and N.M. that concluded with aerial counts of Mexican wolves in [...]
Delving into a Chipmunk’s Life History
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Delving into a Chipmunk’s Life History Peñasco least chipmunk. (Jim Stuart) When are Peñasco least chipmunks actively moving aboveground, how many survive over winter, and how many are there in the most dense population of this species thus far detected? These are some of the questions that Fiona McKibben, a graduate student at New Mexico State University, and a member of her graduate committee, Dr. Fitsum Abadi Gebreselassie are trying to answer when it comes to their studies of the Peñasco least chipmunk. Peñasco least chipmunk habitat. (Fiona McKibben) Until 2016, this chipmunk species had not been documented in New Mexico since 2000. Given that it is a candidate for federal Endangered Species Act listing, it is important to have information on [...]
Remember to be aware of wild animals along the Bosque
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, FEB 24, 2021: Remember to be aware of wild animals along the Bosque SANTA FE – Due to an increase in recent sightings of coyotes by hikers along the Bosque in the Albuquerque metro area, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish reminds everyone to be mindful and prepared for potential encounters with wild animals. The Bosque along the Rio Grande is an essential corridor for wild animals moving through the Albuquerque metro area. This area provides easy food sources, water, shelter and an escape from pressures that wild animals have as they travel. There are also wild animals that will live their whole life in the Bosque. The corridor, surrounded by houses, schools, shopping centers and restaurants, also offers people and families an escape from [...]
Voles in Trouble?
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Voles in Trouble? Arizona montane vole. (Jennifer Frey) What has happened to the distribution and abundance of an already narrowly distributed species of vole found in southwestern New Mexico over the past 16 years? This is the question that Dr. Jennifer Frey was trying to answer with surveys she conducted for the Arizona montane vole in 2020. Extensive surveys have not been completed for this species in New Mexico since 2004, those surveys also having been performed by Dr. Frey as a small mammal expert. For her 2020 surveys, Dr. Frey revisited many of the sites where small mammal trapping was conducted in 2004 and also went to new locations that were not previously surveyed. She collected extensive habitat data at each site to [...]
Assessing Aquatic and Riparian Habitat Connectivity in Northern New Mexico
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Assessing Aquatic and Riparian Habitat Connectivity in Northern New Mexico Data collection using digital datasheet (Ginny Seamster). The extent to which habitat (i.e., the areas on a landscape that a given animal uses to get the food, water, and shelter it needs) is connected and animals are able to move from one area to another to get what they need to survive and reproduce is often a crucial indicator of how well individual organisms and broader populations will fare in the long term. Fragmentation of habitat is often a significant factor leading to the decline, and sometimes the total loss, of species, making connectivity of habitats important for species that live on land (i.e., terrestrial) or in the water (i.e., aquatic). Example surveyed [...]