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.
Whirling disease detected at Rock Lake State Fish Hatchery
SANTA ROSA – During regular annual fish-health testing, whirling disease was unexpectedly detected in rainbow trout at Rock Lake State Fish Hatchery, a Department of Game and Fish-owned facility located two miles south of Santa Rosa. The infection was detected at a very low level; however, out of an abundance of caution, approximately 70,000 trout in the affected portions of the hatchery will be euthanized to mitigate any risk to other fisheries in the state. This will cause a temporary reduction to stocking in many locations. The department will continue to investigate the source of this infection and will continue to perform routine fish-health testing at state-owned fish hatcheries across the state. Whirling disease has not been detected in a New Mexico hatchery since 2007. The disease, caused by the parasite Myxobolus cerebralis, affects trout but is not known to infect other species, including humans. It has become widespread in wild [...]
Public Meeting: Habitat Stamp Program Citizen Advisory Committee to Meet March 23
ROSWELL – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has scheduled a public meeting with the Citizen Advisory Committee. Members of the public are invited to attend this hybrid public meeting in order to provide comments. March 23, 2023, Roswell, 5:30 p.m. Attend in person at 1615 W. College Blvd., Roswell, New Mexico Register in advance to attend virtually A meeting agenda along with information about how to attend and participate in the virtual component of this meeting will be available on the NMDGF webpage, http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/conservation/habitat-stamp. Comments can be provided by mail: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Attn: Habitat Stamp Program Manager, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507; or by email, Daniel.Lusk@dgf.nm.gov, or in person at the meeting listed above.
Monastery Lake reopens for fishing March 9
SANTA FE – After a winter closure, the Benedictine Monastery Lake, near the village of Pecos, will be freshly stocked with trout and reopen for fishing at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 9. The Benedictine Monastery Lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property. If you are planning a fishing trip this spring, the Department has several tools to help you. The Weekly Fishing Report provides up-to-date information on fishing conditions at numerous water bodies throughout the state. The Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner is full of figures depicting fishing conditions for several species and water bodies throughout the year. Additionally, the interactive Fishing Waters Map contains a wealth of information on fishing locations in New Mexico, displaying hundreds of fishing access points with information on fish species available, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps and general regulations. Anglers are reminded that their 2022-2023 fishing licenses will expire on [...]
Surveying for a Bird in Decline
Following is a selected project highlight from the Share with Wildlife mission to assist all New Mexico wildlife in need, no matter what species. Project Highlight: Surveying for a Bird in Decline Pinyon jays in ponderosa pine tree. (Christina Selby) Is the Gila National Forest (NF) an area in New Mexico where the Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is thriving? What sort of environmental conditions are associated with observations of Pinyon Jays? These are some of the questions that Dr. Kristine Johnson and others working in partnership with Lynn and John Wickersham of Animas Biological Studies are trying to answer with the support of the Share with Wildlife program. Answers will come from the team’s extensive surveys of large, 25km2 survey blocks throughout the Gila NF in southwestern New Mexico. These blocks approximate the size of a Pinyon Jay breeding season home range, or area used by [...]