New Mexican chipmunk added to endangered species list

Ruidoso: So, there’s this tiny chipmunk in southern New Mexico that’s about to get some serious help. The Peñasco least chipmunk is being added to the endangered species list, which is a big deal for its survival.

This little guy hangs out in the White Mountains, mostly under the shade of ponderosa pines. Starting January 9, it’ll officially be recognized as endangered, and they’re setting aside over 4,000 acres of critical habitat just for it. That’s a win!

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says we need to step up our conservation game to really help these chipmunks thrive. They’ve been struggling for a while now, especially since they haven’t been seen in the Sacramento Mountains since 1966.

Back in the early 1900s, these chipmunks were everywhere. But then logging and cattle ranching changed their homes, making it tough for them to survive. Michael Robinson from the Center for Biological Diversity pointed out that most of the big trees were cut down, and the whole forest changed.

To help the chipmunks bounce back, the White Mountains Wilderness Area will stay closed to grazing. This is a smart move to give them a fighting chance.

Sadly, there aren’t many of these chipmunks left. In 2018, only about 12 to 17 were caught in a big trapping effort. Plus, they’ve got less genetic diversity compared to other chipmunk subspecies in the region.

There are some real challenges ahead, like diseases and competition from nonnative species. The Ski Apache Resort is also a concern since it’s one of the biggest activities that could impact the chipmunks.

Interestingly, the critical habitat area is actually smaller than what was proposed a couple of years ago. The Mescalero Apache Tribe asked to exclude some areas, which makes sense for their land and helps with conservation efforts.

Since 2019, the U.S. Forest Service has been working on restoring habitats that benefit these chipmunks, and they’re teaming up with the Mescalero Apache Tribe to make things better for them.

With wildfires affecting their historic range, Fish and Wildlife will be checking in to see how the chipmunks fared. The nearby village of Ruidoso was hit hard by those fires, but the chipmunk’s new status won’t get in the way of recovery efforts.

In short, this endangered listing is a step in the right direction for the Peñasco least chipmunk, and hopefully, it’ll help them bounce back!