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.
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. (Mark Watson) 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 [...]
Tons of Diversity in the Bootheel
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Tons of Diversity in the Bootheel Allison radio tracks a nestling. (Ginny Seamster) Have you ever driven through southwestern New Mexico, along I-10 west of Lordsburg, and wondered how species lived in this part of the state? In particular, where do they go? What features on the landscape are important to them? Using funding from the Share with Wildlife program, Dr. Martha Desmond and her graduate student, Allison Salas, from New Mexico State University are helping biologists at New Mexico Department of Game and Fish answer these questions for one inhabitant of the bootheel region of New Mexico; the Bendire’s thrasher. Allison and her team of field technicians have been searching for Bendire’s thrashers in areas where pairs were detected in previous years, as [...]
Engaging Students in Studying Wildlife Along New Mexico Rivers
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Engaging Students in Studying Wildlife Along New Mexico Rivers Santa Fe Indian School students and teacher on field visit. (Rich Schrader) How many different animals can you find on the river near where you live? What is the quality of the habitat that these animals use? What can you find out about the biology and relationships to their environment of particular species found in riparian areas (i.e., habitat next to rivers) in New Mexico? Riparian habitat quality datasheet. (Ginny Seamster) Testing river water phosphorous content. (Ginny Seamster) River Source is using Share with Wildlife funds to work with students at three schools in northern New Mexico to answer these questions and [...]
Department cautions public 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, JUNE 3, 2019: Department cautions public to leave young wildlife alone SANTA FE – As we head into summer, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish again reminds the public to leave alone any deer or antelope fawns, elk calves, bear cubs or other wild animals they may find. Please remember – young 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 and pronghorn biologist, warned. “You might think it has been abandoned, but in reality, the mother is typically a few hundred yards away,” Duvuvuei said. “In most cases, the best thing to do is just leave it alone and quietly leave the area.” [...]
Protecting Springsnails
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Protecting Springsnails Captive habitat at BioPark. (Ginny Seamster) What can you do to help an animal that is found in only one spring that is smaller than the size of a three car garage? This is a question that a biologist at Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) and staff at the Albuquerque BioPark Aquatic Conservation Facility are working to answer using Share with Wildlife funds. The Chupadera springsnail is a mollusk that is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This species is found in only one spring in central New Mexico. The ultimate goal for TESF, the Albuquerque BioPark, and the aquatic invertebrate biologist at NM Department of Game and Fish is to provide a refuge for this species in the event [...]