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 …
July, 2021
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6 July
Dry conditions could increase bear activity this year
2020 was a year that will be hard to forget for most of us due to the pandemic. It was also a year that brought little to no moisture to many parts of New Mexico. Now, with 2021 close on last year’s heels with little to no moisture, we are …
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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
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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 …
March, 2021
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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 …
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26 March
Where Do All Those Fish Come From?
The smile on a young child holding a shimmering rainbow trout, the first fish she has ever caught, while on a summer outing with her family; the weekend fly fisherman watching the deep pools and currents for that Rio Grande Cutthroat trout to strike the fly he skillfully cast out; …
February, 2021
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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
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21 January
The “Grey Ghost”
Growing up in the outdoors from Alaska to New Mexico, I can honestly say the one animal that intrigues me the most is the Coues white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi). Better known as the “Grey Ghost,” this elusive white-tailed deer is not only photogenic, but it can walk behind the …
July, 2020
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29 July
85 years of wearing “the bear head” The origin story of the Department logo
Like many New Mexico Department of Game and Fish personnel before me, I have always been proud to wear the insignia of the Department. And while the exact style of the emblem has changed through the years, the concept has remained the same – a circle-shaped outline with the name …
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29 July
Black bear travels from northern New Mexico to Colorado Springs – and back
Rick Winslow, bear and cougar biologist with the Department of Game and Fish, shares his thoughts on the map and the possible reasons for a black bear to travel so far—and then return to the area where it’s trek began months earlier: While it’s impossible to say exactly why this …