NATIVE HABITAT AND CONNECTIVITY

One of the largest concerns with the conservation of native species is habitat loss.  Vermejo provides roughly 560,000 acres, over 850 square miles, of continuous and connected ecosystems. The natural landscape at Vermejo adjoins other large properties in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Combined, these landholdings create regional corridors for wildlife.  The large mosaics of native plant communities provide interconnected habitats for not only large mammals and migrating birds, but for pollinators and decomposers that are the base of the food web for native species.

CASTLE ROCK BISON 

The Castle Rock bison herd is one of the most genetically pure bison herds in the world. Originally from Yellowstone National Park, this herd has lived on Vermejo since the 1920’s, where it is still managed as a conservation herd to preserve its unique genetics. The Castle Rock bison are one of the few herds without bovine cattle genes in their mitochondrial DNA. For most of the year, the bison are allowed to migrate freely across the Vermejo landscape and are herded when needed with low-stress livestock handling.

RIO GRANDE CUTTHROAT TROUT – COSTILLA WATERSHED 

The Rio Grande cutthroat trout (RGCT) is the state fish of New Mexico and the southernmost cutthroat species in North America.  The native RGCT’s habitat in the southern Rocky Mountains had been reduced by 90% where the trout were being hybridized and outcompeted by non-native fish.   In a 15-year project with multiple partners, non-native fish were removed from the Costilla watershed on Vermejo restoring the streams and lakes to only native trout. Additional work in streams on the neighboring Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest increased the RGCT habit to 120 miles of mountain stream.

RIO GRANDE CUTTHROAT TROUT – VERMEJO WATERSHED 

The upper Vermejo River watershed provides habitat for an aboriginal species of Rio Grande cutthroat trout (RGCT).  This population has different genetics than the RGCT of the Costilla watershed. Currently, the watershed is also populated by non-native brook trout.  Vermejo is working to protect the genetically unique RGCT population and to limit the migration of other non-native fish into the reaches.  Research is ongoing to determine effective methods to reduce the reproduction of the brook trout in the system.

Amanda Howell

RIO GRANDE SUCKER AND RIO GRANDE CHUB

Despite being identified as historic habitat, currently there are no known populations of Rio Grande sucker (RGS) and Rio Grande chub (RGC) in the Costilla watershed on Vermejo.  Before the removal of non-native trout during the Rio Grande cutthroat trout project, predation of the RGS and RGC by non-native trout may have occurred.  Turner Biodiversity and Vermejo are evaluating the restoration potential of Costilla Creek for RGS and RGC.  This effort is combined with work to protect and grow RGS and RGC populations on the Ladder in southern New Mexico.

LANDSCAPE CARRYING CAPACITY

A carrying capacity study helped Vermejo Natural Resources staff determine how many large ungulates or grazers Vermejo’s ecosystems could support.  In a two-year project, the study quantified the amount of forage the property produces during a normal-dry year. The carrying capacity guides grazing and elk population management to help keep the number of bison, elk, mule deer, pronghorn and other grazers balanced with the vegetation production in the ecosystems to prevent overgrazing and habitat degradation.  Vegetation response to the balanced bison and wildlife populations can be seen in improved grassland and riparian ecosystems on the property.

GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS

Vermejo’s Natural Resources and Bison departments work to restore and protect the grasslands of the property.  Currently, the staff monitor 27 rangeland transects annually in addition to long-term soil and plant health monitoring conducted by Ranch Advisory Partners.  The transects include photo monitoring, collecting precipitation data, as well as production clipping.  The grassland ecosystems are vital not only to bison, pronghorn, and elk, but to native grassland birds, Gunnison and black-tailed prairie dogs, other small mammals, and insects.  The annual monitoring provides a critical check on how different grassland ecosystems are responding to ungulate populations, grazing pressure and management.

RIPARIAN AND WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS

In conjunction with the Carrying Capacity study, Vermejo built riparian exclosures to allow native vegetation to recover along the Upper Vermejo River, and Ricardo and Leandro creeks.  The recovering willows, alders and narrowleaf cottonwood shade the reaches keeping temperatures cooler for Rio Grande cutthroat trout, create habitat for birds, and the leaf litter provides food for aquatic insects. The increased vegetation is reducing bank erosion and has allowed for the return of the American beaver into the watershed.  In Vermejo’s high country, Costilla and Casias Creeks, home to Rio Grande cutthroat trout, are fed from headwater sloped wetland systems that drive the hydrologic function of the watershed.

OAK SHRUBLANDS

The oak shrublands of the southern Rocky Mountains occur on steep and dry south-facing slopes and are often the first seral stage or biotic community that returns after a wildland stand-replacing fire.  There are three oak species on Vermejo with the Gambel’s oak being the most common.  The American black bear relies on acorn mast production in the fall for building fat for hibernation.  Mountain mahogany is less dominant on Vermejo but still an important browsing food source for mule deer.

PIÑON – JUNIPER WOODLAND

Vermejo conducts small-scale forest treatments in the piñon pine and juniper woodlands.  Scientists in the Great Basin and southwest United States are concerned with piñon-juniper habitat loss and also the aging of piñon pine forests.  The small-scale treatments help address meadow encroachment, replicate low-intensity wildland fire, and encourage new growth of young piñon pine.  As piñon pine age, they become less productive and produce less masts (pine nut crops) that are key food for wildlife like the piñon jay, Clark’s nutcracker, Merriam’s turkey and black bear.  Piñon jays stash the nuts in the soil and those not retrieved and eaten are left to germinate and grow new trees.

PONDEROSA PINE WOODLAND AND SAVANNA

Historic logging and wildland fire suppression resulted in ponderosa pine forest on Vermejo regenerating with a high tree density.  Vermejo began a program in 1998 to thin the ponderosa pine forests to more natural ponderosa pine savanna and woodland ecosystems.  Ponderosa savanna are typified by large, mature trees, a very open forest canopy, and a parkland setting with a productive grass understory. Ponderosa woodlands, adjacent to the savannas, have a slightly higher tree density providing shelter to wildlife.  Both ponderosa forest types are naturally dependent on frequent low-intensity wildland fire.  To date, more than 40,000 acres have been treated.

SUBALPINE FOREST

The subalpine forest of the southern Rocky Mountains contains spruce, fir, aspen, and bristlecone pine.  This high-altitude ecosystem on Vermejo is home to unique and snow-dependent wildlife like the snowshoe hare, dusky grouse, and numerous fungi.  Small-scale forest thinning in the spruce-fir helps mimic fire creating mosaics of open areas in the denser forest.  Trial exclosures have been built to encourage the regeneration of aspen clones as young aspen sprouts are a favorite food for elk.  Vermejo is also preserving the habitat of the Colorado bristlecone pine, which are typically the oldest trees in the Rocky Mountains.

ALPINE TUNDRA

Vermejo’s high altitude alpine tundra ecosystem provides habitat for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, white-tailed ptarmigan, pika and marmots, and unique plants like the Vermejo phlox.  The elevation ranges from roughly 11,000 feet at timberline to Vermejo’s highest peak at 12,931 feet.  The short growing season and harsh conditions preclude tree growth but alpine willows, flowering plants, butterflies, birds and even elk utilize the tundra in summer months. The slopes off the peaks are the uppermost reaches of the Costilla watershed and springs and snowmelt feed the hydrologic system of wetlands and creeks below that are home to the Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

BOTANY AND THE FLORISTIC INVENTORY OF VERMEJO

Ben Legler, a graduate student at the University of Wyoming, documented over 1,000 different vascular plant species on Vermejo during a three-year survey. The floristic inventory included 2 new species to science, 22 new species to New Mexico and 24 species of concern.  One previously undiscovered species was found above timberline in the alpine scree, the Vermejo phlox (Phlox vermejoensis). The inventory catalogs wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees found in the different ecosystems of Vermejo.  Following Legler’s work, botanists O’Kane and Heil found a new species of penstemon along the Vermejo boundary on State Line Peak, the Penstemon bleaklyi.

SMALL MAMMALS

Vermejo’s grasslands are habitat for small mammals including the Gunnison’s and black-tailed prairie dog.  Currently, there are no known black-footed ferrets remaining on Vermejo.  Prolonged drought and plague impacted the Gunnison’s prairie dog colonies reducing the population to the level it could no longer support the ferrets.

The recovering riparian areas of the Vermejo watershed are re-creating habitat for the American beaver, western jumping mouse, and hopefully, the New Mexico jumping mouse.   Mexican freetail bats and little brown bats make their summer home in ponderosa pine forests along with the Abert’s squirrel.  Snowshoe hares currently live year-round in Vermejo’s high-altitude subalpine forests.

LARGE UNGULATES

Vermejo is home to not only the Castle Rock bison herd, but also Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and white-tailed deer. The elk range from the shortgrass prairie to the high alpine habitat of Vermejo.  Mule deer are found in the piñon-juniper, ponderosa, and up to the subalpine forest while the white-tailed deer normally are only seen on the shortgrass prairie.  The bighorn sheep travel the alpine high peaks and steep scree on the western boundary of Vermejo.

PREDATORS

Predators are an integral part of an ecosystem, helping to keep wildlife populations in balance.  Vermejo is home to American black bear, cougar, bobcat, badger, coyote, gray fox, golden eagle, bald eagle, raptors, and owls.  There are no known populations or individual wolves on Vermejo at this time.  Although recent surveys did not detect the swift fox, Vermejo wildlife biologists hope to have populations of swift fox on the shortgrass prairie.  Vermejo’s Natural Resources Division is involved with active black bear and cougar research projects.

BIRDS

Located along the western edge of the Central Flyway, Vermejo’s variation in elevation provides habitat for a wide diversity of birds, including many conservation ‘watch-list’ species.  Burrowing owls and scaled quail live on the shortgrass prairie, piñon jay in the piñon-juniper woodlands, western tanagers, nuthatches, and Stellar’s jay in the ponderosa pine forests, belted kingfishers and flycatchers in riparian areas, and dusky grouse, Canada jay, and white-tailed ptarmigan in the higher elevations.  Numerous owls, raptors, and eagles hunt throughout the varying ecosystems while Merriam’s turkey live in all but the alpine tundra habitat. Sand Hill cranes and waterfowl travel through during spring and fall migrations.

AMPHIBIANS

Protection and rehabilitation of wetlands and riparian habitat is hopefully aiding the amphibians of Vermejo.  Northern leopard frogs are known to inhabit the wetlands of Ponil Creek on the shortgrass prairie.  Tiger salamanders can be seen in neotenic form at many elevations including the Glacier Lakes.  The high-elevation wetlands may provide habitat for the boreal chorus frog and western chorus frogs can be heard in early summer in the riparian corridors and ponds of the ponderosa forest.  The return of beavers to the Vermejo River will add critical wetland habitat for amphibians that may be declining due to chytrid fungus in North America.

REPTILES

The mid-lower elevations of Vermejo are home to snakes and lizards.  Although in decline in many areas of the west, the mountain short-horned lizard has adapted to the cooler piñon-juniper woodlands of Vermejo by giving live birth to young. The black-tailed prairie dog towns on the shortgrass prairie provide burrows for gopher (bull) snakes, hog-nosed snakes, and prairie rattlesnakes.  Smooth green snakes, prairie rattlesnakes and western fence lizards hunt in the mid-elevation ponderosa pine forests.  As with large carnivores, these predators are crucial in balancing the wildlife populations in their ecosystems.

INSECTS and SPIDERS

Each ecosystem on Vermejo has vitally important pollinators that aid in the reproduction of native plants.  Butterflies, moths, and bees are adapted to work with specific plants in symbiotic relationships.  The Glover’s silk moth utilizes riparian willows and alders to reproduce.  The yucca moth is the only pollinator for yucca plants.  Decomposers are also important members of ecosystems aiding in the cycling of nutrients. Dung beetles help with the transfer of bison manure nutrients while blue fungus beetles feed on fungus of decaying wood. And insect predators like the orb weaver spider and blue damselfly play a key role in keeping insect populations balanced.

ROAD MANAGEMENT

Water is one of the most valuable resources of the West.  Roads, if not well designed, can capture and channel water creating erosion issues while removing the water from adjacent habitat.  Vermejo works to improve road design to ‘harvest’ water caught on roads and return the water to the landscape.  Structures such as rolling water bars can quickly return the water to nearby vegetation slowing the flow, allowing the vegetation to catch sediment, and keeping the sediment from entering nearby streams.  The water, once slowed, can be absorbed into the soil and then utilized by plants.

FENCING

Traditional fencing in the western United States creates barriers to wildlife migration and movements within a landscape.  To allow bison, elk, deer, pronghorn and other large mammals to move freely across the property, Vermejo has worked to remove most interior fences.  There are no pastures on Vermejo other than on the shortgrass prairie in the winter bison grazing areas.  In places where fencing must remain, along boundaries and public roads, Vermejo staff is working to transition the existing fencing to wildlife friendly fences to allow wildlife to easily and safely cross.

INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES

Vermejo began a coordinated invasive species control program in 2005. Non-native plants can outcompete native plants, reducing biodiversity.  The loss of native plants impacts an entire ecosystem as native animals are not adapted to utilize the non-native plants.  The primary objectives are to eliminate salt cedar, Chinese elm, and Russian olive from riparian areas; to control or eradicate (if possible) leafy spurge from the Ponil Creek riparian corridor, and to control invasive species such as Canada thistle, bull thistle, musk thistle, Scotch thistle, yellow toadflax, knapweeds, hoary cress, and other non-native plants.

WILDLAND FIRE

Wildland fire from lightning ignition is a natural component of the forests of the southern Rocky Mountains.  For decades, fire suppression has resulted in overly dense forests and the accumulation of downfall. For wildland fire response, Vermejo partners with Colfax County District 7 Volunteer Fire Department comprised almost entirely by Vermejo employees. The long-term goal of the Vermejo Natural Resources Division and District 7 is to be able to conduct ‘managed fire’ response where fires under the right conditions can be allowed to benefit the forests and grasslands of the landscape.