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.
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 [...]
At Least Seven Mexican Wolf Pups Successfully Cross-Fostered into Wild Packs
Arizona Game and Fish Department Media contact, Tom Cadden: (623) 236-7392 tcadden@azgfd.gov New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact, Tristanna Bickford: (505) 476-8027 tristanna.bickford@state.nm.us U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Media contact, Aislinn Maestas: (505) 331-8027 aislinn_maestas@fws.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, DEC. 17, 2020: At Least Seven Mexican Wolf Pups Successfully Cross-Fostered into Wild Packs Record number of cross-fostered pups captured and collared by field team The Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) has successfully captured and radio-collared seven of this year’s cross-fostered pups, documenting record success for the program. Last spring, members of the IFT and the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan cross-fostered a total of 20 genetically diverse wolf pups from captive facilities into litters of wild wolf packs. As part of ongoing efforts to record survival of cross-fostered pups, the IFT reports the following:• One of two pups cross-fostered from the Phoenix Zoo to the Iron Creek [...]