Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

December, 2023

  • 20 December

    Saving our Species Youth Coloring Activity

      Zia Bear wants you to learn about some of the special wild animals we have in New Mexico with the “Saving our Species” youth coloring activity! Please print and color your favorite coloring page from the list below. Want to show off your work? You are encouraged to mail …

November, 2022

  • 2 November

    Stewart Meadows: a sanctuary for wildlife

    In the dry, arid environment of New Mexico, the sight and sound of a meandering stream is both a beautiful and quite-rare sight to behold. In 1973, the Carson National Forest acquired Stewart Meadows using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Stewart Meadows is a 600-acre parcel of …

  • 2 November

    Hybrid striped bass introduced into Caballo Lake

    After years of planning, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has successfully released over 43,000 striped bass hybrids, also known as “wipers,” as a pilot project at Caballo Lake in southern New Mexico. The introduction of these special hybrids provides a new sport fishing opportunity for anglers. Wipers …

June, 2022

  • 23 June

    Department adapts management of Eagle Nest trout fishery

    Eagle Nest Lake has long been known as an angler’s paradise, particularly when it comes to rainbow trout. However, the introduction of non-native northern pike to the lake has led the Department to seek solutions that will allow both pike and trout to thrive, preserving the fishery for generations of …

April, 2022

  • 25 April

    Living with wildlife: Mule deer in urban neighborhoods

    Mule deer are perhaps the most widely distributed and best-known large mammal found in New Mexico. The state’s mule deer population includes two subspecies. The Rocky Mountain mule deer inhabits the northern half of the state, while desert mule deer are most abundant in the state’s southern half. New Mexico’s …

  • 25 April

    Keep wildlife wild – Feeding wildlife puts you and others at risk

    Most people mean well when they feed wildlife. What many don’t realize is that feeding wildlife is bad for the animals and dangerous for people. It’s also against the law in New Mexico if it creates a nuisance for you or someone else. There are many reasons feeding wildlife is …

December, 2021

  • 21 December

    Habitat – because all wildlife depends on it

    Whether they’re a hunter, hiker or photographer, all outdoor enthusiasts love to see a lot of wildlife. Habitat improvements are made all over the world to benefit wildlife, and New Mexico is no exception. These improvements play a pivotal role in refining conditions for wildlife; they also provide additional hunting …

  • 6 December

    A Wildlife Balancing Act: Landscape Management and Wildlife Biology Go Hand-in-Hand

    Even for the everyday reader who hasn’t spent his or her time studying wildlife professionally, it’s probably no secret that wildlife species share space and compete for the same use of habitat, whether that is for food, water or shelter. It is also likely that most people would recognize that …

November, 2021

  • 12 November

    Bernardo WMA to undergo wetland improvements

    Wetlands on the Bernardo Wildlife Management Area are getting a facelift this winter as part of an effort to benefit wildlife and outdoor recreationists alike. Construction work will improve the 1,800-acre property’s water-management system, allowing for more efficient use of what is gradually becoming a more limited resource. Other improvements …

September, 2021

  • 8 September

    Department, partners work to restore riparian areas

    Salt cedar, Russian olive and Siberian elm are all common sights along New Mexico’s rivers and streams, despite none of them being native to the Land of Enchantment. While all were brought to New Mexico with the best of intentions, they have since damaged the riparian habitat that many of …