New Mexico Wildlife magazine Conserving New Mexico's Wildlife for Future Generations
Two New Mexico Department of Game and Fish biologists have been honored by peers for their wildlife and fishery conservation work.
Leland Pierce, the department’s amphibian and reptile biologist, was awarded the New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s Professional Award at the organization’s annual meeting Feb. 5 in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Bryan Bakevich, the department’s Rio Grande cutthroat biologist, was named the Arizona-New Mexico Chapter of the American Fisheries Society’s Professional of the Year award.
Leland helped develop and implement recovery plans for numerous wildlife species and was instrumental in coordinating a revision of the department’s biennial review of New Mexico’s threatened and endangered species. He also helped bridge the gap between wildlife and geospatial communities for use in wildlife management arena.
Bakevick worked on the Rio Costilla Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Restoration Project, one of the largest inland native trout restoration efforts in North America. The project’s record of success helped keep the native trout off the federal list of endangered species.
