4 Endangered Animals Fighting For Survival In New Mexico

With threats such as climate change, pollution, wildfires, human intervention through developments or overhunting, it's no wonder that there are approximately 50 endangered species in New Mexico. The list ranges from cute woodland creatures to our water-dependent amphibious friends, even including several fish and plant species. With nearly 60 additional species on the threatened list, it’s clear that action needs to be taken to preserve the populations of these precious animals properly. Below, habitat preferences, obstacles, and restoration efforts of four species in the endangered category are explored.

Bolson Tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus)

During a survey in the early 1980s, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) estimated that approximately 10,000 Bolson tortoises were alive. Today, this number has sadly dwindled to fewer than 2,500. Once found throughout the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico, these turtles are now sadly only found in a small portion of the desert‑grassland/scrub in north-central Mexico.

Both the largest and rarest of the tortoises in North America, Bolson tortoises have been listed as an endangered species by the USFWS since 1979, due to a variety of factors. Before the 1940s, these tortoises were heavily hunted for human consumption. Habitat degradation has also contributed to their population decline, with human developments, roads, and railways encroaching on their preferred environment in the grasslands of north-central Mexico.

The Turner Endangered Species Fund is working hard to bring this species back to the flourishing numbers it once was. Since this species of tortoise is most vulnerable during the first few years of life due to its small shell size prior to maturity, they produce hatchlings in predator-safe environments. They then wait until the shell size is approximately 110 millimeters in length before releasing them to a free-range population at Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico. Since 2006, this effort has successfully hatched over 400 tortoises.

Jemez Mountains Salamander (Plethodon neomexicanus)

Typically found between 7,200 feet and 9,500 feet in the Jemez Mountains, according to the USFWS, this salamander prefers mixed-conifer forests. They are often found near or decaying coniferous logs, and in areas where white fir, ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir are the predominant tree species. These logs are preferred as they provide a cover from predators and are a beacon for their primary food sources: ants, beetles, and mites, who feast on the fungi and decaying wood.

The population of these salamanders has been dropping for many years, though there are significant challenges posed when attempting to observe them. For most of the year, this species lives underground, only venturing to the surface during temperatures of 55 degrees Fahrenheit, when there is a higher soil moisture content level.

In 1992, the National Park Service recorded 350 Jemez Mountains salamanders present. In more recent surveys, this number has dwindled to an alarming nine found during the study in 2023. It is essential to consider here, though, that this does not mean the entire population consists of nine. There may have been more still hidden underground out of sight during the survey.

A significant contributor to this species' downfall has been the extensive wildfires that occurred in both 2011 and 2013 (the Las Conchas fire and Thompson Ridge fire, respectively), which ravaged their known habitat. These fires likely contributed to their mortality and destroyed a large chunk of their mating grounds. In fact, following years of population decline and habitat loss — including damage from the Thompson Ridge fire in 2013 — the Jemez Mountains salamander was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act later that same year.

Peñasco Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus atristriatus)

A more recent addition to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as of January 9th, 2025, is the Peñasco least chipmunk, a subspecies of the least chipmunk. These adorable furballs with their telltale pudgy cheeks are typically found in the remote areas of the White Mountains of Lincoln County, New Mexico, at elevations ranging from 8,000 feet to 12,000 feet.

Exact numbers of the population in previous years are unavailable in historical data; however, we do know they once roamed the entire Sacramento Mountainside, whereas now they are constricted to a small section of the White Mountains. According to a USFWS recovery outline, recent surveys in the White Mountains suggest that only about 40 to 50 individuals may remain.

Feeding on seeds and flowers in subalpine forests, these chipmunks rely on the scattered cover of the forest to shield them from nearby predators. Unfortunately, due to the combination of wildfires, drought, and human developments destroying their habitats, both the feeding and hibernation habits of these adorable creatures have been disrupted, leading to their decline.

It’s also believed that diseases such as the plague have been found in deer mice in the area, which may have led to an increased mortality rate. Overlap in habitat space with invasive species, such as the feral hog, is also believed to have contributed. Due to the population being so small to begin with, these stressors are far more severe than they would be in a larger population.

In December of 2024, the USFWS surveyed the population and found it met the criteria for endangered under the ESA. Consequently, a critical habitat of over 4,000 acres in the White Mountains was designated to aid in the conservation of the subspecies population. This does not automatically restrict public or private use of the land but does add legal protections over an area with the proper habitat for the Peñasco least chipmunk to thrive.

Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas anicia cloudcrofti)

Within the Sacramento Mountains of central New Mexico, the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly can be found flitting throughout the meadows. This species of butterfly prefers to inhabit mountain meadows between 8,000 feet and 9,000 feet high. A survey in the 1990s of this species by the USFWS found that the Checkerspot Butterfly’s range included 32 square miles; however, a more recent study in 2020 has identified that only 2 square miles of suitable space to inhabit.

About 98% of checkerspot butterfly larvae do not survive to adulthood. Even those that do have a short life span of just two weeks. This poses a true challenge for population surveys. However, in 2021, the USFS was able to estimate the population at 23 adult butterflies, with the number dropping to just 13 the following year in 2022. In 2023, the USFWS officially listed the Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot Butterfly as an endangered species.

It is suggested that a combination of climate change and invasive species has caused this. Warmer temperatures can shift the growth patterns of the butterflies' preferred plants, while extreme heat can cause plants to die and pose a threat of wildfires. In addition, many invasive plant species have popped up along the mountainside, stamping out the butterflies' preferred plant host, the New Mexico penstemon (Penstemon neomexicanus). Some examples of these include tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and musk thistle (Carduus nutans).

To restore the population of this species, several efforts are underway. Firstly, the plant populations of the New Mexico penstemon and the orange sneezeweed (Helenium hoopsii) need to be replenished so they have ample food and breeding opportunities. To address this issue, the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE), in partnership with the USFS and the Pueblo of Santa Ana Native Plant Nursery, is making constant efforts to restore these plant populations within the species' current habitat.

On the flip side, the ABQ BioPark is also supporting the renewal of the population through implementing a breeding program to produce larvae that can be reintroduced to the wild. The results of these efforts are expected to be visible in approximately 5 years to 10 years.

It's clear that in each case of these endangered animals, there are active efforts trying to help restore population numbers to what they once were. Despite the challenges each species faces, with the combined efforts of the listed bodies, we may eventually see the fruits of these labors when this list of 38 endangered species decreases instead of growing longer.