SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will review its State List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species under the Wildlife Conservation Act (Section 17-2-40 NMSA 1978). Public comments on the current Biennial Review document will be accepted during a 90-day review from March 25, 2024 through June 24, 2024.

The Biennial Review process determines whether a State-listed wildlife species will be “uplisted” from threatened to endangered, “downlisted” from endangered to threatened, or remain unchanged from the current Biennial Review determinations. Adding or removing species from the State List is a separate process.

Listing decisions are based only on biological and ecological factors. Social, economic, and political considerations noted during the review can be used in the implementation of conservation and recovery actions after a species is listed. The Wildlife Conservation Act contains no provisions for critical habitat, habitat regulation, or other restrictions regarding state-listed wildlife except to prevent direct taking of the species.

The Department will create a repository at the Headquarters in Santa Fe, and all public comments regarding species listing received during the review will be kept in the repository file. Public comments will be presented at a State Game Commission Meeting scheduled at least 30 days after the close of the review period. A second, 14-day comment period will follow the meeting and precede the final draft recommendations to be presented to the State Game Commission.

The current Biennial Review document can be viewed on the Department’s website, http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/conservation/wildlife-species-information/threatened-and-endangered-species/ or obtained by mail at New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Attn: John Bulger, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507, or by emailing john.bulger@dgf.nm.gov. Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on June 24, 2024, by email or regular mail at the addresses listed above.