We work with public and private partners to conserve and restore New Mexico's threatened and endangered species, migratory birds, wetlands, and other important fish and wildlife resources. To accomplish our mission, we implement the following priorities: Endangered Species, Environmental Contaminants, Conservation Project Planning and Partners for Fish and Wildlife. In addition, we are responsible for activities in New Mexico administering the Endangered Species Act. We do this by ensuring fish and wildlife and their habitats are considered by federal agencies during project planning for projects such as construction of roads, bridges, dams and other infrastructure.

Latest News

A small, yellow and brown fish in a net
Endangered Species Act
Rio Grande Chub and Sucker Not in Danger of Extinction
After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the Rio Grande chub and the Rio Grande sucker do not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act. A notice of the not warranted findings for the petitions...
A small fish swims broadside over coarse, colorful sand.
Endangered Species Act
Service Announces the Final Recovery Plan for the Arkansas River Shiner
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved a recovery plan for the Arkansas River shiner (Notropis girardi), a minnow found in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. This recovery plan serves as a roadmap for the conservation of the Arkansas River shiner and its habitat and establishes criteria for...
A monarch butterfly crawls on a small whorled milkweed amidst dried grass and shrubs.
Habitat Restoration
Ranch for At-Risk Youth Converts Farmland Back to Desert Wetland
Running down the center from north to south of the fifth largest U.S. state — New Mexico — flows its largest and most important waterway: the Rio Grande. Known as the Rio Bravo to neighboring old Mexico, one might interpret the name, (meaning great or brave) as a testament to the courage the river...
dunes sagebrush lizard crawls over sand and twigs
Endangered Species Act
The Service Lists Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing the final listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The designation of critical habitat was found to be prudent but not determinable at this time. The Service has up to one year from the time of listing to...
Photo of a male silverspot butterfly, showing orange and black upper side in vegetation with wings spread
Endangered Species Act
Silverspot butterfly receives protections under Endangered Species Act
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing a final rule to list a subspecies of silverspot butterfly (Speyeria nokomis nokomis) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This action follows a public comment period on the draft rule and the completion of a peer-reviewed Species...
A bolson tortoise moving along a sandy surface next to some dry grass.
Endangered Species Act
How Gertie the Bolson Tortoise Led Her Species to Recovery: Part One
In the arid wilds of the Chihuahuan Desert’s northern range in southern New Mexico, an icon of conservation dwells, deep in a hole in the ground, defying human standards of time. Her name is Gertie, and she is an endangered Bolson tortoise of mysterious age and endearing demeanor. Gertie's journey...
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Our Organization

A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Partners for Fish and Wildlife: Nevada Coordinator Susan Abele Meets with Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Member to Conduct a Site Visit at Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land. Since 1987, we have helped more than 30,000 landowners to complete more than 50,...
Program
A mexican wolf with a blue radio collar lays on the ground looking behind it
Once common throughout parts of the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico, the Mexican wolf was all but eliminated from the wild by the 1970s due to conflicts with livestock. In 1976, the Mexican wolf was listed as endangered and a binational captive breeding program was initiated soon after to save this...
Program
Albuquerque,NM

Our Species

The New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office has lead responsibility to conserve and protect over 50 species. These species represent many different taxa and occur across all habitat and ecosystem types in New Mexico, some of which also extend into other states or cross the border into Mexico. We also have responsibility to help conserve and protect an additional 50 species throughout the southwest. Click on the link below to learn more about these important species and their habitats.

Featured Species - Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout in hand
Image Details

The Rio Grande cutthroat trout, one of 14 subspecies of cutthroat trout, is native to the Rio Grande, Pecos River, and Canadian River basins in New Mexico and Colorado. Through hard work and collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico Department of Fish and Wildlife, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Mescalero Apache Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Taos Pueblo, and a few other partners, we have established a Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Conservation Team. This team developed a Conservation Strategy to help prevent the Rio Grande cutthroat trout from becoming listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This strategy promotes conservation  by decreasing or removing threats to the species. Our office works closely with the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Conservation Team to provide long-term success of Rio Grande cutthroat trout throughout its historical range. 

Our Library

Photo of a lesser prairie chicken
New Mexico LPC/DSL CCA and CCAA Documentation
Documentation of New Mexico Candidate Conservation Agreement (CCA)/Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA). These are voluntary conservation agreements between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and one or more public or private parties. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works...
Library Collection
5 Items
Blue and white bird sits on tree branch
Endangered Species
Browse our library for more information about the Endangered Species Act and our work to conserve endangered, threatened, and candidate species.
Library Collection
11 Items
Cover photo
New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office Plant Consultation Resources
The purpose of these documents is to provide recommendations for standardizing and streamlining Endangered Species Action (ESA) section 7 consultations for listed plant species and their designated critical habitats. These documents are not formal guidance on how to analyze and mitigate potential...
Library Collection
2 Items

Location and Contact Information