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.
Game and Fish relocate sow and three cubs
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, JUNE 10, 2020: Game and Fish relocate sow and three cubs LOS ALAMOS – New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officers captured a female bear with three cubs found roaming in Los Alamos and successfully relocated them to western New Mexico. A concerned resident called the Department last week about the bears raiding neighborhood dumpsters. Seven conservation officers worked around the clock over several days to ensure the capture and safe relocation of the sow and her cubs. The bears found food in garbage cans and were in danger of becoming habituated to being fed in neighborhoods. All of the bears are healthy and have not been captured in the past. “Our officers did a great job safely catching these bears,” said Director Mike Sloane. [...]
Mexican wolf population gets genetic boost with a record 20 captive-born pups cross-fostered into wild packs
Mexican wolf population gets genetic boost with a record 20 captive-born pups cross-fostered into wild packs PHOENIX – The Mexican wolf recovery effort recently got a genetic boost when biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), and Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP), with extensive logistical support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), worked together to cross-foster 20 genetically diverse wolf pups from captive facilities across the U.S. into litters of wild wolf packs. Over a six-week period in April and May, 12 pups were fostered into four different packs in eastern Arizona and eight were fostered into three packs in western New Mexico. Cross-fostering is a proven method used by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) to increase genetic diversity in the wild Mexican wolf population. It involves placing genetically diverse pups less than 14 days [...]
Public reminded to leave young wildlife alone
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, MAY 20, 2020: Public reminded to leave young wildlife alone SANTA FE – Spring in New Mexico is an exciting time for wildlife. This is the time of year when most babies are born. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish reminds the public to leave alone any deer or antelope fawns, elk calves, bear cubs or other wild animals they may find. Most young-of-the-year wildlife that people discover are simply hiding while awaiting their parents’ return from foraging nearby. Removing these young animals can cost them their lives, Orrin Duvuvuei, Department deer biologist, warned. “For about a week after birth, young wildlife exhibit hiding behaviors to avoid detection and increase their chance for survival. You might think it has been abandoned, but in reality, the [...]
New Mexico Wildlife Rescue Inc.’s Holiday Wild Event
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. New Mexico Wildlife Rescue Inc.’s Holiday Wild Event Do you want to learn more about how wildlife rehabilitation works and about some of the raptors that migrate through New Mexico? Do you want to know what you can do if you find a bird or other animal that appears to be sick or injured? If you live in the Albuquerque area, then Wildlife Rescue Inc. of New Mexico is the place to call to get your questions about injured or orphaned wildlife answered and the place to visit in after Thanksgiving for their Holiday Wild event Holiday Wild sign. (Ginny Seamster) Wildlife Rescue is based at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and has a vast network of trained wildlife rehabbers who they [...]
Citizen Advisory Committees to meet virtually to recommend Habitat Stamp projects
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, MAY 6 2020: Citizen Advisory Committees to meet virtually to recommend Habitat Stamp projects SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has scheduled statewide Habitat Stamp Program Citizens Advisory Committee virtual meetings for 2020. Citizen advisors will prioritize proposed Habitat Stamp projects for the next fiscal year. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the following regional Citizen Advisory Committee virtual meetings: Southwest: May 20 at 10 a.m. Central: May 20 at 1 p.m. Northwest: May 21 at 2 p.m. Northeast: May 27 at 10 a.m. Southeast: May 27 at 1 p.m. Information about how to pre-register and attend these Zoom virtual meetings will be available on Friday, May 15 on the Habitat Stamp Program webpage, http://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/conservation/habitat-stamp/. Participants can utilize desktop computers [...]