Across the American West, a conflict has been quietly escalating for decades, leaving thousands of people injured and millions of animals dead. But the parties in this engagement aren’t out to harm each other; they’re mostly just trying to get where they’re going.
The conflict is between motorists and wildlife, especially big game such as elk, deer, moose, and pronghorn, and it’s playing out primarily on highways and the outskirts of suburban developments—places where the animals’ centuries-old migration routes have been obstructed or cut off by roads, buildings, fences, and other structures.
Now, however, a movement is afoot to preserve—and in some cases restore—wildlife migration corridors without sacrificing development, and to do so in ways that make travel safer for people and animals alike.
Learn MoreOne year ago, the New Mexico legislature did something that no other state in the country has done. Lawmakers passed the first-of-its-kind wildlife migration corridors protection act and they did so with bipartisan support. The Wildlife Corridors Act directs the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico Department of Transportation to create an action plan using the best available science to identify wildlife-vehicle collision hot spots on New Mexico roadways. It also calls for gathering more information about wildlife habitat and migration routes for such species as Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer and pronghorn, to name a few.
Learn MoreA diverse coalition of New Mexico conservation
organizations, sportsmen and women and public land advocates, today called for stronger protection of critical wildlife habitat, clean water and wildlife migration corridors in the Upper Rio Grande Watershed and delivered more than 23,000 public comments to the U.S. Forest Service calling for improvements to the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests’ land
management plans.
Learn MoreTime is running out for public comment on plans that will be used to manage our national forests for years to come. In New Mexico, national forests make up millions of acres — that’s a chunk of land, important to every resident of our state.
Learn MoreOur Upper Río Grande watershed – which stretches from southern Colorado down through Northern New Mexico – is considered one of the best-connected wildlife migration landscapes in the country. In this region, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, bighorn sheep, migratory birds and even fish move across federal, state, tribal and private lands and waters. Such movement is necessary for the survival of many species so they can mate, find food, adapt to changing climates and maintain genetic diversity.
Learn MoreNew Mexico’s Upper Rio Grande Watershed is home to one of the best-connected wildlife landscapes in the country. But development is fragmenting the landscape and reducing habitat – creating challenges for migrating wildlife.
Learn MoreA compilation of the county resolutions passed in the Upper Rio Grande region of Colorado and New Mexico supporting the protection of wildlife corridors.
Learn MoreAcross the country, as development continues to encroach on natural areas, wildlife-vehicle collisions are taking a massive toll. More than 1.9 million animal-collision insurance claims were filed in fiscal 2019, a State Farm report found, with some researchers estimating the annual price tag of the resulting human fatalities, wildlife mortality, injuries, vehicle damage and other costs at almost $10 billion.
Learn MoreThe National Wildlife Federation, along with its Colorado and New Mexico affiliates, Conejos Clean Water and nearly 5,000 concerned citizens, filed a formal objection to the final Rio Grande National Forest plan yesterday. The plan, which will guide land management decisions for the next two decades, fails to protect important wildlife corridors from oil and gas development and new road construction.
Learn MoreThe Forest Service has the difficult task of balancing its management plan for a host of diverse uses, ranging from resource management, recreational use, wildlife conservation and wildfire management.
There has been a recent push by conservation groups to protect wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity by designating more portions of the National Forest as wilderness. But the discussion on how best to protect habitat has shone a light on another important component of forest management — one that’s a bit more controversial among residents: wildfire.
Learn MoreWhether you’re passionate about pursuing Río Grande cutthroat trout, an annual deer or elk hunt with family and friends, or you just care about the health of our forests and watersheds, you have a lot at stake in the rewriting of the Carson National Forest’s management plan.
Learn MoreBig-game animals in the American West today are increasingly squeezed by growing suburban areas, energy development, climate change, and an expanding road network—factors that are threatening the landscape connections that wildlife need to move to and from their seasonal feeding and breeding grounds. Sportsmen, biologists, scientists, and local communities are warning that unless policymakers identify and conserve migration corridors, certain wildlife will be at serious risk.
Learn MoreLast month, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order that directs state agencies to prioritize protections for big game migratory corridors and winter ranges. I thank him for this much-needed action. It is sure to prove beneficial to wildlife, to motorists, and to our outdoor recreation economy. It also has important implications for how Colorado moves forward with oil and gas leasing.
Learn MoreWildlife migration corridors and riparian areas are under threat from growing human populations. Colorado residents are fortunate to live in a state with spectacular outdoor opportunities, but we need to protect our special places and the species who live there.
Learn MoreColorado’s sportsmen and women owe a big thank you to Gov. Jared Polis for prioritizing one of our state’s most valuable assets — our wildlife. By signing Executive Order 2019-011, the governor has acknowledged that animals like elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn need room to roam as our state continues to grow. The order directs the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation to prioritize management of big game migration corridors and seasonal habitats — informed by the best available science.
Learn MoreGov. Jared Polis recently took an important step to ensure that Colorado’s gorgeous landscapes, robust wildlife populations and thriving outdoor recreation economy will continue for generations to come. By issuing an executive order that directs state agencies to work together to protect critical migration corridors, Polis is helping to protect our Colorado outdoor heritage.
Learn More“My deep connection and cultural tie to the land is what strongly impacts my drive to protect it, and the wildlife that migrate to continue to thrive. However, their migration is often impeded by the urbanization of our state, and their routes have become segmented by roadways, or fences that can also jeopardize drivers.”
Learn MoreAs conservation efforts around the state and the country have swelled in recent years, there’s a growing need for indigenous communities to be included in discussions around wildlife management.
Learn MoreThe landscape is just a slice of an interconnected habitat stretching from central New Mexico to central Colorado. It’s home to migrating elk, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, mountain lions, lynx and black bears, as well as a wide range of bird and fish species.
Managing the checkered corridors of federal, state and private land that wildlife uses to migrate is a complicated endeavor, and the flight over Rio Grande del Norte last week showed just how many people must be involved.
Learn MoreSmiling broadly and gesturing overhead, Assistant U.S. House Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) told the audience about the flight he’d taken over the Río Grande del Norte National Monument: “I got a bird’s eye view from above and could easily see how all the communities are connected. We’re family.”
It turned out that his opening remarks would set the theme for the third annual Upper Río Grande Wildlife Corridors Summit, which took place Tuesday (Aug. 20), at Sagebrush Inn and Suites in Taos.
Learn MoreWe were glad to see the San Miguel County Commission show its support for wildlife corridors at last week’s meeting. More so than many other places, this part of the country really cares about protecting wildlife and making sure every animal is safe. By having effective wildlife corridors that connect these populations without fear of human disturbances, all of the animals are more likely to be protected.
Learn More“I’m here to recommit not only myself, but the state land office, to being a partner in ensuring that wildlife corridors, wildlife crossings, are part of all of our infrastructure plans, our land management plans, our animal management plans,” State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard said at the summit.
Learn MoreA poll conducted for the National Wildlife Federation shows overwhelming support for the protection of wildlife migration routes. More than 84% of respondents in Colorado and New Mexico said they would like to see increased efforts to safeguard wildlife corridors. When asked about specific proposals to provide those protections, over 73% supported every potential solution, from building overpasses on highways to preventing oil and gas development in known wildlife corridors.
Learn MoreScores of people including tribal officials, federal land managers, state wildlife biologists, conservationists and ranchers gathered in Taos on Tuesday for a day-long discussion of how to identify and protect wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande watershed. The National Wildlife Federation organized the Upper Rio Grande Wildlife Corridors Summit event on behalf of the Upper Rio Grande Wildlife Initiative.
Learn MoreAs Colorado fills up with people and our forests evolve in response to a changing climate, what happens to our renowned wildlife? Can we make space for migrating game herds and dispersing species?
Learn MoreAs Colorado’s population booms, Gov. Jared Polis announced an executive order directing wildlife and transportation agencies to work together to protect critical big game migration corridors.
Learn MoreDecades of research have shown wildlife corridors are an important part of species survival. But large contiguous plots of land are becoming increasingly rare as development pushes into new areas. There’s a need to protect those corridors if we want to limit impacts to those species.
Learn MoreThe experience of the outdoors can bring a sense of healing and peace. A place of quiet and calm where veterans can relax and destress.
Learn MoreProtecting wildlife requires both managing the wildlife, which is the role of state fish and wildlife agencies and some federal agencies, and managing the habitat of the wildlife. Whil much important habitat is on national forest, bears and bighorn sheep don’t read signs.
Learn MoreGovernor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed this law, which directs the New Mexico Department of Transportation and Game and Fish agency to work collaboratively with Native Tribes to create a state wildlife corridors action plan.
Learn MorePlanners at the Rio Grande National Forest have worked with various agencies and the public to draft a new forest management plan. The plan will guide how these lands are managed for the next twenty years. You can help make sure that the natural balance of this system holds for decades to come. Please take a moment to speak up for wildlife and the protection of wildlife corridors in the Rio Grande National Forest.
Learn MorePlanners at the Santa Fe National Forest have worked with various agencies and the public to draft a new forest management plan. The plan will guide how these lands are managed for the next twenty years. You can help make sure that the natural balance of this system holds for decades to come. Please take a moment to speak up for wildlife and the protection of wildlife corridors in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Learn MorePlanners at the Carson National Forest have worked with various agencies and the public to draft a new forest management plan. The plan will guide how these lands are managed for the next twenty years. You can help make sure that the natural balance of this system holds for decades to come. Please take a moment to speak up for wildlife and the protection of wildlife corridors in the Carson National Forest.
Learn MoreA poll commissioned by the National Wildlife Federation showed overwhelming public support for protecting wildlife migration corridors in Colorado and New Mexico.
Learn MoreI can do my best to try to protect the wildlife that lives in New Mexico. Protecting wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande is an important first step.
Learn MoreTribal leaders shouldn’t have to look to the states for consideration of their wildlife conservation and corridor work. They should be full partners at the table—along with state and federal land managers, elected officials, private land owners and conservation groups—in making sure our wildlife heritage is protected for generations to come.
Learn MoreNew Mexico’s wildlife is not just an integral part of who we are. Our wildlife is fundamental to our state’s history, culture and identity.
Learn MoreSen. Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced a federal wildlife corridors bill which would establish a national program to improve data collection and enhance inter-agency collaboration to ensure that wildlife corridors are protected and species are able to move between habitats.
Learn MoreThis two-day workshop was devoted to presentations on the science, planning and management activities relevant to wildlife movement and connectivity in the Upper Rio Grande. This report helped identify and compile key wildlife movement data and stressed the importance of cross jurisdictional collaboration.
Learn MoreAs part of a collaboration between the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the University of Montana and the Center for Landscape Science at the Rocky Mountain Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service, this project assesses wildlife habitat linkage across New Mexico for 4 key species: elk, black bear, bighorn sheep and lesser prairie chicken.
Learn MoreNationSwell, June 10, 2019
Wildlife crossings are more than custom-made ways to prevent roadkill: they can play a key part in stopping the biodiversity decline worldwide.
Learn MoreThis plan identifies priority areas that are crucial for big game wintering range and migration corridors in Colorado.
Learn MoreThis plan identifies priority areas that are crucial for big game wintering range and migration corridors in New Mexico.
Learn MoreFeb 9, 2018 Secretarial Order 3362 was issued by the Secretary of the Interior in 2018 to improve the quality of big-game winter range and migration corridor habitat on western federal lands. It directs appropriate bureaus within the Department of the Interior to work in close partnership with the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming to enhance and improve the quality of big-game winter range and migration corridor habitat on federal lands under the management jurisdiction of Interior in a way that both recognizes state authority to conserve and manage big-game species and respects private property rights. Each state created a state action plan in response to the secretarial order.
Learn More