Drought and other factors cut the lesser prairie chicken population in New Mexico; other wildlife suffering too
9/30/2013 7:15:39 PM
CATEGORIES:
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
New Mexico
Start Date: 1/1/2013
- End Date: 9/27/2013
Drought and other factors cut the lesser prairie chicken population in New Mexico by 50 percent in 2013. The lead biologist with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish stated that drought was the main culprit and that the birds will likely recover next year, given all of the precipitation New Mexico received this summer. An aerial survey conducted in the spring by the Audubon New Mexico, a state environmental organization, revealed that the lesser prairie chicken population fell to 17,600 birds from 34,440.
The biologist also noted that drought has cut down the populations of quail and other wildlife because there was nothing for them to eat. Clovis News Journal (N.M.), Sept. 27, 2013
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