Share with Wildlife | BISON-M

Protecting Springsnails

Captive habitat at BioPark. (Ginny Seamster)

What can you do to help an animal that is found in only one spring that is smaller than the size of a three car garage? This is a question that a biologist at Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) and staff at the Albuquerque BioPark Aquatic Conservation Facility are working to answer using Share with Wildlife funds.

The Chupadera springsnail is a mollusk that is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This species is found in only one spring in central New Mexico. The ultimate goal for TESF, the Albuquerque BioPark, and the aquatic invertebrate biologist at NM Department of Game and Fish is to provide a refuge for this species in the event that something happens to its natural habitat. Given the prospect of drying climatic conditions and potential for increased groundwater use in the area near the spring, it is quite possible this species’ habitat will shrink and eventually completely dry up.

View of the Gila River. (Ginny Seamster)

Springsnail natural spring habitat near the Gila River. (Ginny Seamster)

To protect the future of this species, TESF is working towards having multiple captive, reproductively active populations housed at the BioPark’s Aquatic Conservation Facility. Before they obtain the necessary permits to work with the Chupadera springsnail in a captive setting, TESF and the BioPark are refining the techniques of housing springsnails in captivity by working with two other, slightly less imperiled species, the Gila springsnail and the New Mexico hot springsnail. Both of these species are state-listed as threatened and required a permit from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to collect some of them from the wild. The first step is designing a tank that, as best as possible, mimics that natural environment where these springsnails are found. The second step is to recreate similar chemical properties in the water. Then it’s time to bring springsnails from the wild into captivity.

Gila springsnails on a rock. (Ginny Seamster)

In March, 2019, TESF and BioPark staff travelled to southwestern New Mexico to collect Gila and New Mexico hot springsnails and water from the springsnails’ natural habitat, thus ensuring that the water in the captive facility is an exact match. The spring is at the base of a steep canyon, making for a challenging trek, especially on the way back with 80 pounds of water! Over the next several months, BioPark staff will be able to monitor the newly collected springsnails and determine how to best tweak their captive surroundings to ensure survival and, optimally, reproduction.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Share with Wildlife program announces the release of the Call For Project Information (CFPI) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 projects as of April 1st, 2019. The call for project proposals is available here.

Additional files for use by individuals submitting proposals to the Share with Wildlife program include:

• Share with Wildlife Proposal Cover Sheet (.docx | .doc)
• Timeline Template (.docx | .doc)
• Budget Template (.docx | .doc)

A reference for two of the bird research project topics of interest is available here.

The Share with Wildlife program funds projects up to $50,000 that pertain to one of the following four categories: habitat enhancement, biological and ecological research studies, wildlife rehabilitation, and wildlife education. Project topics of particular interest to the Department for FY20 and details regarding proposal format are listed in the CFPI.  Please note that changes have been made to the cover sheet. Please download the new cover sheet above. All questions regarding the application process and final project proposals should be submitted to the Share with Wildlife Coordinator, Ginny Seamster (virginia.seamster@state.nm.us).

All proposals must be submitted electronically in a single .pdf or Microsoft Word file (.doc and .docx both acceptable) by 5PM Mountain Time on Friday, May 31st, 2019.

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.