SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Wildlife will review its State List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species, pursuant to the New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Act (Section 17-2-40 NMSA 1978), with public comments on the previous Biennial Review document issued in 2024 accepted from April 6-July 6.
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 2024 Biennial Review determination. 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 its 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 2024 Biennial Review document can be viewed on the Department's website; obtained by mail: New Mexico Department of Wildlife, Attn: John Bulger, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507; or by email:
