| San Andres NWR | |
| Status: | Identified | Area: | 56750 acres (22970 hectares) |
| County: | Doña Ana | Elevation: | 4800-8900 feet (1465-2500 meters) |
| Town: | Las Cruces | Location: | 32°41’N, 106°32’W |
| Ownership | US Fish and Wildlife Service, San Andres NWR, 5686 Santa Gertrudes Dr., Las Cruces NM 88012, 505-382-5047 |
| Habitats | Forest (temperate coniferous, riparian), Shrubland (arid), Grassland |
| Land-use | Nature conservation |
| Threats | Non-native plants/animals (salt cedar, Oryx) |
| Site Criteria | State conservation species (D1), State species in rare/unique habitat (D3) |
| Site Description | The San Andres
National Wildlife Refuge is within the boundaries of the 2.2 million acre
White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) established in 1952. The Refuge is also bordered by the
Jornada Experimental Range established in 1912. The land has virtually reverted to its
pre-grazing vegetation stands since grazing by domestic stock ended in 1952. The Refuge is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico, encompasses 57,215 acres of the southern portion of the San Andres Mountain range. The Refuge is not open to the public due to security restrictions established for the military defense weapons testing conducted on WSMR. The Refuge extends over 21 miles along the southern portion of the San Andres Mountains. This area is the northern most extension of the Chihuahuan Desert and one of the largest contiguous, relatively undisturbed Chihuahuan Desert land masses in the United States. The precipitous east escarpment rises from 5,000 feet above sea level to an elevation of 8,900 feet. The Refuge was established by Executive Order 8646 on January 22, 1941. Primary emphasis in resource management has been focused on restoring a remnant population of desert bighorn sheep. In addition to bighorn sheep management, numerous other programs are carried out by Refuge staff for habitat improvement and wildlife. Some of the most recent projects on the Refuge are the removal of exotic salt cedar from riparian habitats. Refuge staff have been banding birds since 1995, and documented several new species for the Refuge and White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) as a result. Other refuge projects include a mountain lion study using radio telemetry and a large scale study of desert mule deer and chronic wasting disease. |
| Birds | For about 50 years, the area has been completely undisturbed by human activity except for a few researchers. It has the largest riparian habitat between Sacramento Mountains and the Rio Grande. |
| Conservation Issues | Salt cedar and Oryx control |
| Conservation Plan | |
| Monitor(s) | None assigned |
| Nominator | Mara Weisenberger, San Andres NWR, 5686 Santa Gertrudes Dr., Las Cruces NM 88012, 505-382-5047 |
| Sources | San Andres NWR BBSs (SABBS) M. Weisenberger personal observations (PO) |
| Links |
San Andres NWR White Sands Missile Range Jornada Experimental Range |
| Directions | Located on the White Sands Missile Range and closed to the public. |
| Species | Year | Status | Population | Sources | Criteria |
| Black-chinned Sparrow | 94-96 | Breeding | common | D1 | |
| Crissal Thrasher | 94-96 | Breeding | 50 individuals average | D1 | |
| Gambel's Quail | 94-96 | Resident | 15 coveys average | D1 | |
| Gray Vireo | 94-96 | Breeding | 10 singing males average | D1 | |
| Rufous-crowned Sparrow | 94-96 | Breeding | very common | D1 | |
| Scott's Oriole | 94-96 | Breeding | very common | D1 |
