Latest news with #DepartmentofGameandFish
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Bees to bison' wildlife agency overhaul ripples through State Wildlife Action Plan
An undated photo of a Peñasco least chipmunk which has been considered for listing as endangered, due to the small population. (Courtesy of Department of Game and Fish / Jim Stuart) The beloved fairy bee, the Sacramento Mountain Salamander and the jaguar share one common trait: a spot on New Mexico's 2025 blueprint for animal conservation. State wildlife officials released the New Mexico State Action Wildlife Plan earlier this month, identifying more than 500 species listed requiring need for conservation — more than double from the previous plan released in 2017. Next week marks the halfway point for the public comment period on the guidance documents, which ends June 9. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is required to review and revise these plans every decade and submit them to the federal government. The plan will be considered for approval by the State Game Commission later this fall. A warming climate, environmental fragmentation from development and threats like disease all pose threats for New Mexico species, even as it remains one of the most biodiverse states in the U.S., said Ginny Seamster, the assistant chief for technical guidance at the agency. 'Realistically, helping these species is an all-hands-on-deck effort,' she said. 'We need everyone who's interested to participate.' The 2025 plan doubled the number of birds and includes pollinating insects (which help plants reproduce), which had been left off the species plan in past years, 'There are some species that are only associated with a single plant, so if you remove the pollinator from the ecosystem, you're losing the plant, too,' Seamster said. 'You're multiplying the loss of biodiversity.' Public comment on the draft plan remains open until June 9, and can be submitted via email: dgf-SWAP@ 'Since this is a statewide plan, and we really want anyone who's interested in a species of greatest conservation needs to be able to see themselves in it,' Seamster said. The increase in species signals both the threats many animals in New Mexico face and the reforms underway at the wildlife agency. The State Wildlife plan dovetails with a series of changes the agency is enacting after the passage of Senate Bill 5 in the legislative session, which dramatically increased funding and expanded the scope of the department into the New Mexico Wildlife Department. As states rethink wildlife management, New Mexico offers a new model The Legislature approved a $10 million dollar three-year pilot project funding work related to species of greatest conservation need, and the department is now receiving several million dollars in interest from the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund in addition to revenue from hunting and fishing fees. The department is currently working to hire additional biologists to carry out the work, Seamster said, noting that previously, it only assigned one biologist to non-game birds. 'There are over 500 species of birds found in the state, and nearly 150 birds are species of greatest conservation need. That is clearly too many species for one person to be able to address,' she said. 'Having more staff means we can do a lot more research, a lot more habitat work.' Advocates, who fought and succeeded in reforming the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, say they're excited about the plan, which they hope will be the 'gold standard' for wildlife agencies. 'Across the country, agencies are going to look at what New Mexico's doing and see how we manage wildlife: from the top to the bottom, from the bumble bees to the bison,' said Jesse Deubel, executive director of the nonprofit New Mexico Wildlife Federation. 'It's all necessary for an intact ecosystem.' Deubel said federal efforts to freeze and roll back conservation work exacerbate climate change impacts such as increased wildfire and shrinking wetlands. But funding for New Mexico's wildfire agency comes from the state, he noted. That means: 'We're going to be able to continue doing unbelievable conservation and habitat work in New Mexico, despite the dysfunction that's happening at the federal level,' he said. An undated photo of a Peñasco least chipmunk which has been considered for listing as endangered, due to the small population. (Courtesy of Department of Game and Fish / Jim Stuart) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Checkpoints for wildlife law violations begin in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) — The Department of Game and Fish announced the start of their wildlife law violation checkpoints for New Mexico on Friday. This could cause minor delays to the public if they find themselves in the area of one of these checkpoints. City of Albuquerque launches dashboard tracking federal funding cuts Game and Fish officers may be assisted by other agencies. Those include the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the New Mexico State Police, and county sheriff's offices. The department says these checkpoints are also for collecting biographical data, as well as detecting law violations. You can report wildlife crime to Operation Game Thief at 1-800-432-4263. Callers can remain anonymous and may earn a cash reward if the information leads to charges being filed. You can also report violations online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor's partial veto of Game Commission bill leaves advocates mulling next steps
Mar. 20—SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed into law an overhaul of New Mexico's Department of Game and Fish, but struck from the bill a provision making it harder to remove Game Commission members. The partial veto could trigger a court challenge, with some advocates questioning the governor's legal authority. Lujan Grisham, who has removed several game commissioners since taking office in 2019, said in an executive message to lawmakers that the vetoed portion of the bill would cripple the seven-member commission. "Given the many pressing matters addressed by district courts and the Supreme Court, it would take years to remove even the most blatantly incompetent or corrupt individuals — allowing those individuals to continue to hinder or corrupt the commission in the interim," the governor wrote in her message. Per the state Constitution, New Mexico governors are only able to partially veto — or line-item veto — spending bills. But Lujan Grisham argued she has the authority to do so on the wildlife bill, Senate Bill 5, since it increases hunting and fishing license fees for New Mexicans and out-of-state residents. If the governor's veto is challenged in court, she said her signature on the rest of the bill would be nullified. But backers of the legislation said they're not convinced that's true. Jesse Deubel, the executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, called the governor's veto "purely political" and questioned her authority to strike the provision. "I'm not personally convinced that this bill is an appropriation bill," Deubel told reporters. But he also pointed out the bulk of the bill is still set to take effect by the end of 2026 with the governor's signature, describing the legislation as the most sweeping overhaul of the state's Game and Fish Department in the last 100 years or so. This year's bill marks the latest attempt to restructure the seven-member Game Commission, after the governor pocket-vetoed a 2023 bill that would have changed the way commission members are appointed. This year's proposal calls for the creation of a nominating committee to help vet new game commissioners, as is currently done for judicial vacancies. It would also rebrand the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish as the state Department of Wildlife and give the agency expanded authority to regulate and protect New Mexico wildlife. Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, one of the bill's sponsors, said Thursday the governor was "thoughtful" to leave the rest of the legislation intact while targeting the commissioner removal provision with her veto pen. "I never look at anything as a full defeat," Campos told the Journal. "I look at it as an opportunity to move forward." Another bill sponsor, Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, described the governor's veto of the game commissioner removal provision as disappointing, saying backers had worked hard to try to give commissioners more independence to do their jobs. But he also said he was not itching for a court battle, saying, "I'm inclined to just move forward." Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham also signed two bills dealing with veterans on Thursday. One of those measures, House Bill 47, expands a property tax exemption for veterans, after New Mexico voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on the proposal in November. The other proposal, House Bill 161, will give New Mexico veterans free access to state parks, starting June 20.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexico Game Commission reform bill moves forward after mixed response
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – An effort to restructure the New Mexico Game and Fish Department and raise hunting license fees, is moving through the roundhouse. The lawmakers behind the 'Game Commission Reform' bill say an update is long overdue. On Thursday, SB 5 was debated with mixed opinions. Story continues below Weather: PNM to shut off power in the East Mountains due to high winds Don't Miss: KRQE becomes home for New Mexico United matches Video: Police investigate January crash that injured 6 people in Albuquerque 'What we're trying to do is expand and clarify the mission of the department to be a full-fledged wildlife agency,' said Matthew McQueen (D-Santa Fe). Making the department better, that's what Rep. Matthew McQueen said he hopes to achieve by co-sponsoring a bill to reform the state's Department of Game and Fish, as well as the Game Commission. The bipartisan bill would rename the Game Commission to the 'State Wildlife Commission' and the Department of Game and Fish would become the Department of Wildlife. It would also add new requirements for the approval and removal of commissioners as well as create a committee to appoint potential candidates. On Thursday, some voiced concerns. 'This combination of the two concepts of management is going to detract from the game that's available for hunting and fishing in New Mexico and could dilute the management for species of concern,' said Howard Hutchinson with the Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties. The bill would also update the hunting and fishing license fees, with increases ranging from $5 to more than $200. The sponsors said these fees haven't been changed in twenty years. 'License fee increase, yes it's needed. Many Outfitters like the creation of a Shed Hunting Season and there are even portions within the expanded (inaudible) session that would benefit the industry,' said Kerrie Romero with New Mexico Council of Outfitters and Guides. Some committee members said the bill didn't give enough attention to private landowners and ranchers, but lawmakers say they received input from lots of groups that could be affected. 'This is an excellent bill to continue to improve the future for wildlife here in New Mexico. It's going to take us into a new modernized system, it's going to be great for all of the people here in our great state,' said Senator Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas). The bill also allows for annual increases in licensing fees to adjust for inflation after 2027. After clearing Thursday's committee on a 6-2 vote, the bill just needs to pass on the House floor before heading to the governor's desk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Today at the Roundhouse, March 6
Mar. 6—Weather forecasts are warning of a blustery day in Santa Fe, but it's unclear what political winds might be blowing in the Roundhouse. Here's a look at which hearings and events to keep an eye out for on Thursday, March 6: Crime and drug trafficking: The Senate could take up a bill, Senate Bill 70, to expand New Mexico's Racketeering Act to include more offenses. Meanwhile, the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee is set to hear a proposal, House Bill 274, to make trafficking fentanyl a first-degree felony punishable by a life sentence. Game commission reform: An effort to overhaul the state's Department of Game and Fish, Senate Bill 5, goes before its first House committee in the morning — the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee — after passing the Senate last weekend. Hitting the hardwood: Legislators will trade in their suits for sneakers for the annual legislative charity basketball game. This year's game pitting the House Aggies against the Senate Lobos will be held at Santa Fe Indian School. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Money raised by the game benefits the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center's patient care fund. Climate Crisis Day: The Sierra Club's Rio Grande Chapter will hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda focused on various climate-related legislative proposals.
