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.
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@state.nm.us Department of Game and Fish media contact, Ryan Darr: (505) 476-8027, Ryan.Darr@state.nm.us 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@state.nm.us 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 [...]
Partners Sign Letter of Intent to Forward Collaborative Binational Approach to Mexican Wolf Recovery
Media Contacts: Tom Cadden, AZGFD, (602) 377-1632, tcadden@azgfd.gov Aislinn Maestas, USFWS, (505) 331-9280, Aislinn_maestas@fws.gov Ryan Darr, NMDGF, (505) 476-8027, ryan.darr@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 13, 2022: Partners Sign Letter of Intent to Forward Collaborative Binational Approach to Mexican Wolf Recovery A male Mexican gray wolf tries to elude capture inside an enclosure at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, Wednesday, November 8, 2017. The wolf was to be transported to the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri, for breeding purposes. NEW MEXICO – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) through its National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and the Directorate General for Wildlife, have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) establishing the intentions of all parties to collaboratively continue to conserve, manage, and [...]
Native Fish Restoration Planned for Middle Ponil Creek
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Ryan Darr: (505) 476-8027 ryan.darr@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 7, 2022: Native Fish Restoration Planned for Middle Ponil Creek Colfax County – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) will be conducting a native fish restoration project in Middle Ponil Creek within the Valle Vidal unit of the Carson National Forest from July 11-17, 2022. This project will remove non-native, hybrid fish to create suitable habitat for stocking native Rio Grande cutthroat trout rescued from the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire. Public access to the project area will be restricted during the project period. This will include a 300-foot buffer around Middle Ponil Creek from the headwaters to the FR 1910 road crossing. Signs indicating the restricted areas will be posted at trailheads, along roadways and in parking areas. All public roads will remain [...]