Share with Wildlife | BISON-M

Can Restoration Work Spread Disease?

There are many habitat restoration and improvement projects done around New Mexico each year, including in riparian areas along our state’s rivers. These projects sometimes entail the use of plants grown in nurseries, especially in instances where naturally growing plants within reasonable transport distance of the study area aren’t sufficiently abundant to support collection of plant materials from the field. There are some river drainages that are home to rare amphibians, and other species, that would potentially be negatively impacted if a novel pathogen or pathogen variety were to be introduced to their habitat during a habitat restoration project. For example, many species of amphibian are vulnerable to the effects of chytrid fungus and many aquatic vertebrate species, including fish, reptiles, and amphibians, are affected by ranavirus. Currently, there are some parts of the state where, due to the presence of a particularly sensitive species of frog (the Chiricahua leopard frog), the use of nursery-grown plants is not allowed for riparian restoration projects that are implemented using funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, there is little to no information available on whether nursery-grown plants could potentially be a vector for introduction of either of these pathogens, or novel variations (i.e., strain) of either pathogen, into the natural environment during a restoration project.

Nursery plant stock. (Ginny Seamster)

Pond at nursery. (Ginny Seamster)

Using funds from Share with Wildlife, researchers at West Texas A&M University are collecting data to answer the following questions: 1) what strains of chytrid fungus and ranavirus are currently present in two drainages in southwestern New Mexico where this sensitive species of frog occurs; 2) is there any evidence of the presence of chytrid fungus or ranavirus in water and soil used at nurseries that grow the sorts of plants that could be used for restoration projects?

Dr. James B. Johnson and Dr. Jason Fritzler are collecting water and soil samples in the field and from several nurseries that grow plants native to New Mexico, and have provided plants for restoration projects in New Mexico. In the lab setting, they are extracting genetic material present in these samples and running tests to see whether chytrid fungus or ranavirus are present and, if they are, what particular strains of these pathogens are present.

Soil sample collection. (Ginny Seamster)

Water sample collection. (Ginny Seamster)

Thus far they have collected their first set of field samples and gathered soil and water from three nurseries in New Mexico. The data aren’t all in but they did detect chytrid fungus at two field-sampled sites and one nursery thus far. It is yet to be determined whether the detected fungi are of the same strain. The detection at a nursery was from an area in the nursery where plants are grown in standing water, otherwise referred to as a wet bed, and where amphibians are common. More information will be forthcoming later this year. Project results will be very useful in continuing the conversation about whether 1) plants from nurseries should be used in areas where more disease-sensitive amphibians are present, or 2) there are changes to plant nursery practices that could dramatically reduce the potential for these diseases to be introduced or spread via the plants grown in the nursery.

The Share with Wildlife projects selected for funding in 2020 are listed below. Please contact the Share with Wildlife Coordinator, Ginny Seamster (virginia.seamster@state.nm.us), with questions.

These forms are provided for informational purposes to individuals and organizations submitting a proposal to the Share with Wildlife program in response to an active Call For Project Information. These forms should not be submitted to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish unless an employee of the Department directly contacts you and requests that you fill them out as part of the process of implementing a professional services contract for a new Share with Wildlife project.

Campaign Contribution Disclosure Form

Compliance with Government Conduct Act

DFA Agency Certification Form

Substitute Form W-9

Applicants for a Share with Wildlife project who intend to capture and handle animals or use live animals and/or animal parts for educational purposes for their project may need to obtain a scientific collection permit or educational program permit from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Please see the Special Use Permits page for more information and contact dgf.permits@state.nm.us with questions.

New Mexico wildlife needs your help! Share with Wildlife funds numerous projects related to wildlife habitat enhancement, wildlife-related education, wildlife rehabilitation, and research on wildlife biology and ecology every year. All projects are made possible through donations made by members of the public. 

To make a donation, you may donate part of the refund on your state tax return; purchase a Share with Wildlife license plate or make any dollar amount donation online (minimum $2; see more information below); or mail in a check using this donation form. All donated funds go to supporting wildlife; none are used for administrative costs.

If you want your dollars to go even further in supporting non-game wildlife, consider donating to Share with Wildlife and purchasing a Habitat Management Access Validation simultaneously. Click here for more information about donating and here for information on our State Game Commission Lands.

Donations made to the Share with Wildlife program are tax-deductible for both federal and New Mexico state taxes. Please see U.S. Code Title 26. Internal Revenue Code – section 170c – Charitable Contribution Defined for more information. You may wish to further confirm with your tax advisor/preparer.

Thank you for your support of New Mexico’s wildlife!

Download the PDF to support wildlife by ordering the Share with Wildlife license plate. PDF made available from MVD New Mexico. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout plate is only available through the mail starting October 23rd, 2017. It may take 6-10 weeks to receive your trout plate from MVD.

On the Online Licensing System website (shown below) please enter your Username (or Customer ID or Email) and Password, and then click the Login button:

Once you are logged in, if you only wish to donate to Share with Wildlife, click on the Share with Wildlife button on the home page:

Type any dollar amount (minimum $2.00) you wish to donate in the Enter Donation Amount box (shown below) and click Review Order:

Dismiss any pop-up windows (shown below) regarding purchasing other items by clicking the OK button:

Click the Add to Cart button (shown below) at the top of the Review Order page:

On the next screen, click Checkout and continue on to complete your purchase.

OR

Once you are logged in, if you are purchasing other items through the Online Licensing System, go to License Sales | General License Sales from the Main Menu (shown below):

After you read the Terms of Agreement on the next page and click the Continue button, you will see a list of Available Products. Locate the Share with Wildlife Donation product ($10 donation only) OR the Share with Wildlife Extra Donation product ($2.00 minimum donation; type dollar amount in Enter Donation Amount box) and click the check box next to (add to order). Click the Review Order button:

Dismiss any pop-up windows (shown above) regarding purchasing other items by clicking the OK button. Click the Add to Cart button (shown above) at the top of the Review Order page. On the next screen, click Checkout and continue on to complete your purchase.