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.
State Supreme Court upholds $74,000 restitution owed in poaching case
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: 888-248-6866Media contact, Ryan Darr: 505-476-8027ryan.darr@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 15, 2022: State Supreme Court upholds $74,000 restitution owed in poaching case SANTA FE – Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico upheld a Court of Appeals judgement, which ordered Cody W. Davis of Arnegard, North Dakota. to pay $74,000 in restitution to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (department) for poaching a trophy mule deer buck in December 2015. This civil restitution included $20,000 for the trophy mule deer that was killed out of season, without a license and resulted in the waste of game. An additional $54,000 was assessed as reimbursement to the department for the extensive investigation required for this case. An Operation Game Thief (OGT) hotline tip originally initiated the investigation when a headless deer carcass was found near [...]
NMDGF conservation officers continue search for missing tiger
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: 888-248-6866Media contact, Ryan Darr: 505-476-8027ryan.darr@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 10, 2022: NMDGF conservation officers continue search for missing tiger ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officers discover all manner of criminal activity while investigating wildlife crimes. On Aug. 12, 2022, conservation officers obtained search warrants for two residences and, with assistance from federal, state and local law enforcement, served both warrants in Albuquerque’s south valley. NMDGF investigators had probable cause to believe a tiger was illegally being held as a pet at one of the residences. The search subsequently resulted in the seizure of an illegally possessed, 3-foot alligator along with illicit drugs, large quantities of cash and numerous, illegal firearms; details are available from Albuquerque Police Department. The tiger was not located however. The alligator was transported to a wildlife facility for veterinary care. Exotic [...]
Exploring Piñon-Juniper Woodlands with Students
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Exploring Piñon-Juniper Woodlands with Students Pollinator-friendly garden at Randall Davey Audubon Center. (Ginny Seamster) What are the key elements of an animal’s “habitat” and how can you make your own backyard more appealing to wildlife? What is an ideal habitat for different animals that live in New Mexico? In spring 2022, Audubon Southwest used Share with Wildlife funds to implement environmental education programs, that address these questions and more, with 3rd and 4th grade students in Santa Fe Public Schools. Audubon Southwest transitioned from needing to do virtual programming in 2021 back to delivering their multi-lesson Outdoor Field Science curriculum both in person at schools and over the course of two field trips to the Randall Davey Audubon Center (RDAC) and associated wildlife sanctuary [...]
State agencies join forces to make New Mexico’s roads safer
Department of Transportation media contact, Marisa Maez: (505) 269-8243, Marisa.Maez@dgf.nm.gov Department of Game and Fish media contact, Ryan Darr: (505) 476-8027, Ryan.Darr@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG. 9, 2022: State agencies join forces to make New Mexico’s roads safer Wildlife Corridors Action Plan now available SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) has released the final Wildlife Corridors Action Plan (Plan). The Plan has been prepared to minimize wildlife-vehicle collisions and increase motorist safety in accordance with New Mexico Senate Bill 228, the Wildlife Corridors Act (Act). The Act, signed into law by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2019, directed the NMDOT and the NMDGF to develop the Plan for NMDOT roads statewide. The Plan identifies wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots that pose a high risk to the traveling public; see map in the Plan linked [...]
Cutthroat Trout Restoration Projects Continue
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Ryan Darr: (505) 476-8027 ryan.darr@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 2, 2022: Cutthroat Trout Restoration Projects Continue The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) will continue native fish restoration projects in Middle Ponil Creek and Willow Creek. Middle Ponil Creek is within the Valle Vidal unit of the Carson National Forest and project activities will occur from Aug. 8-14, 2022. Willow Creek is on the Pecos District of the Santa Fe National Forest and project activities will occur from Aug. 15-21. These projects will remove non-native fish to create suitable habitat for stocking native Rio Grande cutthroat trout, some of which were rescued from the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire. Public access to the project areas will be restricted during the project periods. This will include a 300-foot buffer around Middle Ponil Creek from the [...]