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Bear and cub captured near downtown Santa Fe

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Lance Cherry, (505) 476-8003 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 lance.cherry@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG 22, 2014 BEAR AND CUB CAPTURED NEAR DOWNTOWN SANTA FE SANTA FE – Conservation officers captured a bear and her cub Friday morning about a half-mile from the State Capitol near downtown Santa Fe. The healthy bear and her cub were not harmed during the capture and were on their way to be released in the Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico later Friday. It was the third time officers captured and relocated the female bear and cub. This spring, the bear had two cubs when they were captured near downtown Santa Fe and relocated to the Jemez Mountains. In July, the same female and one cub were captured in San Isidro and relocated to the Cibola National Forest near Mount Taylor, approximately 100 miles from where [...]

Mimbres River Ranch purchase benefits wildlife, habitat

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Rachel Shockley, (505) 476-8071; cell: (505) 470-6832 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 rachel.shockley@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG 8, 2014 MIMBRES RIVER RANCH PURCHASE BENEFITS WILDLIFE, HABITAT SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Game Commission recently purchased more than 1,000 acres of riparian habitat along the Mimbres River in southwestern New Mexico. The $585,000 purchase will allow the Department of Game and Fish to manage the property and its diverse wildlife habitat. “The River Ranch is an opportunity for the department to conserve valuable habitat for many wildlife species,” Department Director Alexa Sandoval said. Approximately half the purchase price came from the department’s Share With Wildlife tax-refund check-off donations, money targeted for nongame wildlife conservation. Part riparian area and part Chihuahuan desert grasslands, the River Ranch and adjoining 2,920 acres of state and federal leased lands supports a high diversity of native [...]

New bighorn sheep herd to be established in the Santa Fe National Forest

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Rachel Shockley, (505) 476-8071; cell: (505) 470-6832 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 rachel.shockley@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG 7, 2014 NEW BIGHORN SHEEP HERD TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST TAOS SKI VALLEY – The Department of Game and Fish plans to reintroduce Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep into historic bighorn sheep habitat near Cochiti Canyon in the Jemez Mountains of the Santa Fe National Forest. Several dozen department staff and volunteers will conduct a capture operation Aug. 11-14 near Wheeler Peak in the Carson National Forest. The sheep will be released in the treeless burned area created by the Las Conchas Fire in 2011, which has become ideal bighorn sheep habitat. The department hopes to capture 30 to 40 adult sheep and their lambs using drop nets and then transport the sheep via helicopter to a staging area where they [...]

Learn more about the Responsible Hunter Program

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Jessica Fisher, (505-476-8100 Public contact: (888)-248-6866 jessica.fisher@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG 6, 2014 LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RESPONSIBLE HUNTER PROGRAM SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish scheduled meetings across New Mexico to explain changes in the shooting program to youth shooting club leaders. “In the past, youth clubs benefited from the agency purchasing ammunition and other shooting equipment,” said Jessica Fisher, shooting program coordinator. “In the future, we intend to offer financial assistance for the clubs to purchase equipment and other products they need. We also will be emphasizing ‘responsible hunting’ through better marksmanship.” Learn more about these changes at the following meetings: Aug. 25, 1912 West Second Street in Roswell; Aug. 26, 2715 Northrise Drive in Las Cruces; Sept. 2, 3841 Midway Place NE, Albuquerque; Sept. 3, 215 York Canyon Road, Raton. All meetings are scheduled for [...]

Fish for big cats at Villanueva State Park

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Rachel Shockley, (505) 476-8071; cell: (505) 470-6832 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 rachel.shockley@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG 1, 2014 FISH FOR BIG CATS AT VILLANUEVA STATE PARK LAS VEGAS – The department stocked a section of the Pecos River flowing through Villanueva State Park south of Las Vegas with 200 catfish for the first time earlier this week. The large channel catfish range in size from 18 to 20 inches, and larger. “We are always looking to expand public fishing opportunities,” Department Fisheries Chief Mike Sloane said. “When anglers in the Villanueva area reached out to us to request more opportunities to fish, we were happy to be able to help.” Villanueva has long been a trout-fishing destination. The department regularly stocks the stretch of river flowing into the park with rainbow trout during the winter. Trout prefer cooler water temperatures, so [...]

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