Vol 59 #1 – Spring 2016

Pinyon jays and New Mexico go together like peanut butter and jelly. Or, in this particular case, more like piñon pines and their seeds. These long-billed, sky-blue jays are found in piñon-juniper habitats throughout the west, including New Mexico. In fact, it is estimated nearly one-third of the world’s pinyon …

It really doesn’t matter if it’s Yogi the Bear, Wile E., Bugs, or Alvin the Chipmunk, feeding wildlife can have dire consequences. The majority of wildlife conflicts involve a feeding issue, whether it be intentional or not. “When the Department of Game and Fish needs to respond to a call …

The sirens are sounding because a mother’s child has gone missing. The wildlife Amber Alert has been activated and word is spreading throughout social media as mom searches in vain for her missing offspring. “Every year, around this time, well-intentioned individuals try to save wildlife newborns that appear to have …

Everyone’s heard of the famed “lions and tigers and bears, oh my” line in the movie The Wizard of Oz as they walked gingerly down the Yellow Brick Road. But what about “spiders and scorpions and snakes?” Could the movie have had it all wrong? Well, not to diminish the …

So, your basic working knowledge of a rattlesnake is: They bite, they’re venomous, and poking them with a finger is a really, really bad idea. But there’s a lot more to these fascinating reptiles. There are two different genera of rattlesnakes: Crotalus and Sistrurus, of the subfamily Crotalinae, which includes …

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is actively seeking the cooperation of private landowners willing to allow access to public hunters, anglers and trappers. This cooperation comes with a financial incentive and other benefits through the department’s Open Gate program. Darr said landowners may participate in two ways: …

The consistency, diligence, and professionalism displayed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Corporal Curtis Coburn resulted in his being named the 2015 Shikar Safari Club Officer of the Year. “I am grateful that I was nominated and selected,” Coburn said. “It is special. Nearly 12 years ago, as …

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, …

Quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species can create a host of problems, not just for boaters and anglers but for all the residents of New Mexico. Quagga mussels can damage critical infrastructures and can have adverse impacts on wildlife. Not yet detected in New Mexico, rules have been put …