Wildlife Conservation

Restoration of River Otter in New Mexico

River otter historically lived in the rivers of the state of New Mexico—the last Otter was seen in 1953 near Cliff, New Mexico. The abundant waters of the upper Rio Grande River, the San Juan River, and parts of the Gila River may be good candidates for a reintroduction effort. We are currently coordinating surveys of suitable river stretches and developing an education program to increase public awareness of the river otter.

A group of organizations, including the Four Corners Institute, Amigos Bravos, the Center for Biological Diversity and others, called the New Mexico River Otter Working Group, is currently partnering with the Department of Game and Fish in conducting a formal feasibility study as a first step toward a reintroduction of this lively animals to the rivers of the State.

Pine Marten Conservation

The pine marten, at the southernmost edge of its distribution, is a rare inhabitant of the northern mountains of New Mexico. To help design a strategy for its conservation, the Institute is conducting surveys in northern New Mexico to determine its population status. The project is directed by wildlife researcher Brian Long.