July, 2021

• 23 July

  Toad-ally awesome

  

  It’s monsoon season and the onset of rain breathes life into the desert Southwest again. Plants bloom, wildlife baby season is in full gear and many animals are in their activity peaks for the year. One group of animals that might exemplify how monsoonal rains revive this harsh landscape is …
• 6 July

  How Wildlife Deals with Heat

  

  Compared to the snow-covered winter months and the resulting lack of resources brought by low temperatures, the warmer months might look easy for New Mexico wildlife species. But summer brings extreme heat to parts of our state and the struggle for animals to fulfill their daily needs is never-ending. Is …

May, 2021

• 27 May

  Living with Wildlife

  

  Warmer temperatures bring increased wildlife activity and sometimes those animals find their way to our homes or property. They may be intentionally fed, watered and welcomed there in the case of things like bird feeders and baths, but they can also be unwanted visitors. However, before you make that nuisance …
• 10 May

  Hunter Education Classes in the Time of COVID

  

  To put things lightly, this pandemic changed the way things operate. By now, you’re well-associated with social distancing, business and other organization offices being closed and all the extra safety steps put into place and the Department was certainly not – ahem – immune to those. The extra efforts from …

March, 2021

• 26 March

  Food and Water: How Much Does Wildlife Need?

  

  We all know that food and water are essential for survival, but as you’ve topped-off that glass or grabbed a snack at home, have you ever wondered just how much liquid and groceries our wildlife needs? The answer can vary greatly, based on the size of the animal. Even within …

February, 2021

• 24 February

  Wildlife Lookalikes

  

  “Grayish brown and furry” could describe a lot of different wildlife in New Mexico. Even to a trained eye, a fleeting glimpse of a species might lead to an unclear identification because many of New Mexico’s wildlife have lookalikes, a separate species for which it may be confused. However, a …

January, 2021

• 21 January

  It’s Great to Suck at Something

  

  It’s common at the beginning of a new year to set resolutions to better oneself and identify some areas in which our skills might be lacking and identify ways to strive for success. Self-improvement is rarely a bad thing, but a demand for nothing but excellence in your outdoor endeavors …

December, 2020

• 28 December

  Kid’s Tracks: Animal Verbs

  

  The other day I was reading a book (I know, “wonders never cease”) and had to stop when I noticed two animal names used on the same page, but the author wasn’t discussing or mentioning a species. These were wildlife names used as verbs, and it got me thinking (again, …

October, 2020

• 22 October

  Gila Trout Return to Whitewater Creek

  

  A trout stocking took place in Whitewater Creek in early August, but that sounds far too simple for the efforts culminating that day. For starters, the trek into Whitewater Creek is not an easy one. The team hiked for over four hours, with the wind blowing around a steep canyon …

July, 2020

• 17 July

  What’s in a Name?

  

  Mountain lion, cougar, puma… three names for the same animal. You can see how using common names can be confusing. Two scientists speaking different languages might not be able to determine what particular species they are discussing if its common names differ. To solve this, each species has its own, …