The Inaugural New Mexico Wildlife Conference will take place at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on November 6 & 7, 2026.
Hawks Aloft, Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation, New Mexico Wildlife Center, and the New Mexico Department of Wildlife are partnering to host the New Mexico Wildlife Conference. More than 30 wildlife professionals will present research on wildlife populations and lecture on rehabilitation techniques. A full day of concurrent workshops will be followed by a day of scientific presentations, featuring speakers from New Mexico and Colorado universities, tribal nations, and governmental agencies.
New Mexico wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians will have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits. Full participation in the conference will yield two years of continuing education credits for wildlife rehabilitators, a new requirement of the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.
Dr. Brian Millsap, the keynote speaker, will present data on the population status of North American raptors, including new data on the Prairie Falcon. Previously, Dr. Millsap served as Chief of the Division of Migratory Bird Management, Deputy Director of the Southwest Region, and National Raptor Coordinator. Dr. Millsap is currently a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and a Senior Editor for the journal Ornithological Applications as well as President of the Raptor Research Foundation and the North American Falconers Association.
Preliminary Schedule
All times are currently tentative.
Friday, November 6, 2026 // WORKSHOPS – Room 1
| 8:00–8:05 | Introduction & Welcome | Linda Contos, DVM |
| 8:05–8:30 | Regulations/Continuing Education Requirements | Maggie Curtis |
| 8:30–9:00 | Ambassador Animal Acquisition | Anna Tobin |
| 9:00–9:30 | Ethics/Euthanasia/Compassion Fatigue | Linda Contos, DVM |
| 9:30–10:00 | Bat Rehabilitation | Justin Stevenson & Kariana Atkinson, DVM |
| 10:00–10:15 | Coffee break | |
| 10:15–10:45 | Pain & Stress Management | Christine Fiorello, DVM |
| 10:15–10:45 | Triage & Fluid Tx | Ashley Kramer, DVM |
| 11:30–12:00 | IV Regional Perfusion Therapy | Christine Fiorello, DVM |
| 12:00–1:30 | Lunch break | |
| 1:30–2:00 | Fracture Management | Kariana Atkinson, DVM |
| 2:00–2:30 | Ocular Injuries | Candace Auten, DVM |
| 2:30–3:00 | Management of the Anorexic Patient | Amelia Thompson, John Heidrich, DVM |
| 3:00–3:15 | Coffee break | |
| 3:15–4:00 | Wound Management | Ashley Kramer, DVM |
| 4:00–5:00 | Wound Management Cadaver Lab | Ashley Kramer, DVM, John Heidrich, DVM |
Friday, November 6, 2026 // WORKSHOPS – Room 2
8:00–8:05 | Introduction & Welcome | Christine Fiorello, DVM |
8:05–8:30 | Basic Skills for Rehabilitators | Amelia Thompson |
8:30–10:00 | Basic Skills for Rehabilitators Lab | Amelia Thompson, Heather Rissi, Mikal Deese |
10:00–10:15 | Coffee break | |
10:15–10:45 | Medical Math Lecture & Lab | Barb Wolfe, DVM |
10:45–11:30 | Math Practicum | Barb Wolfe, DVM, Amelia Thompson, Heather Rissi |
11:30–12:00 | Zoonoses/Biosecurity/PPE Lecture & Lab | Samantha Holeck, DVM |
12:00–1:30 | Lunch break | |
1:30–2:00 | New World Screwworm Surveillance | Samantha Holeck, DVM, Elin Crockett, DVM |
2:00–3:00 | Avian Clinical Anatomy & Necropsy | Christine Fiorello, DVM |
3:00–3:15 | Coffee break | |
3:15 – 5:00 | Necropsy Lab | Chistine Fiorello, DVM, Barb Wolfe, DVM |
Please note: Three hands-on workshops are limited in attendance due to space constraints and require advanced registration. There is no additional charge if you are registered for Friday’s program, but you must still sign up. You can choose to attend lectures or a combination of lectures and the Basic Skills for Wildlife Rehabilitators workshop in the morning. In the afternoon, there will be lectures and your choice of Wound Management or Avian Anatomy workshops.
Wound Management: Dr. Kramer, assisted by veterinarians and experienced rehabilitators, will review the wound care techniques presented in her lecture. Attendees will practice these skills using cadavers. Limited to 25 participants.
Basic Skills for Rehabilitators: Amelia Thompson, lead rehabilitator for Hawks Aloft, Inc., will demonstrate techniques that all rehabilitators should know, including administration of subcutaneous fluids, gavage feeding, intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, and bandage application. Attendees will practice these techniques on cadavers, with the assistance of Amelia, veterinarians, and other rehabilitators. Limited to 25 participants.
Zoonoses Lab: This lecture/lab combo, presented by state veterinarian and rehabilitator, Samantha Holeck, DVM of Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation, will provide insight into the risks of zoonotic disease transmission between wildlife and people. During the lab portion, attendees will have the opportunity to practice applying personal protective equipment. No limit.
Avian Clinical Anatomy: Christine Fiorello, DVM, along with other veterinarians and rehabilitators, will guide attendees through a raptor necropsy. Attendees will have access to cadavers and can work alone or in small groups to explore avian anatomy. Clinically relevant anatomy will be emphasized. Limited to 25 participants.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
| 8:00–8:10 | Introduction | Gail Garber |
Wildlife Management and Species Status
8:10–9:00 | Keynote: N.A. Raptor Populations National Raptor Center | Dr. Brian Millsap |
9:00–9:20 | Mexican Wolf Recovery Program | Melissa Kreutzian |
9:20–9:40 | Prairie Falcon Integrated Population Management | Dr. Brian Millsap |
9:40–10:00 | Coffee break | |
10:00–10:10 | Update from Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center | Samantha Holeck, DVM |
Wildlife Epidemiology and Health
10:10–10:30 | Allostatic load in Wildlife | Barb Wolfe, DVM |
10:30–10:50 | WildAlert Disease Surveillance | Rachel Avilla, DVM |
10:50–11:20 | Emerging Wildlife Diseases in New Mexico | Elin Crockett, DVM, Samantha Holeck, DVM |
11:20–11:40 | Polyfluoreoalkyl Exposure in New Mexico Wildlife | Dr. Christopher Witt |
11:40–11:55 | From Rescue to Readiness: Strengthening One Health Surveillance Through Wildlife Rehabilitation Partnerships | Haley Yaglom |
11:55–1:20 | Lunch break | |
1:20–1:30 | Update from New Mexico Wildlife Center |
Conservation and Research
1:30–1:50 | 14 Years of Avian Surveys in the Jemez Mountains & Valles Caldera | Dr. Trevor Fetz |
1:50–2:10 | Bighorn Sheep Management in New Mexico | Kaitlyn Piecora |
2:10–2:30 | Wildlife Corridors & Management on Santa Ana Pueblo | Dan Ginter |
2:30–2:50 | Tracking of Yellow-rumped Warblers | James Loomis |
2:50–3:10 | Mexican Spotted Owl Movements on Mescalero Apache Land | Xavier Lovato |
3:10–3:20 | Update from Hawks Aloft, Inc. | |
3:20–3:40 | Coffee break | |
3:40–3:50 | Update from Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center | |
3:50–4:10 | Big Game Research & Management on the Navajo Nation | Jessica Fort |
4:10–4:30 | Wildlife Exclosure Options | Justin Stevenson |
4:30–4:50 | Motus Tracking in New Mexico | Erin Duvuvei |
4:50–5:00 | Thank you, wrap-up, etc. | Gail Garber |
Please note: Three hands-on workshops are limited in attendance due to space constraints and require advanced registration. There is no additional charge if you are registered for Friday’s program, but you must still sign up. In the morning, you can choose to attend lectures or a combination of lectures and the Basic Skills for Wildlife Rehabilitators workshop. In the afternoon, there will be lectures and your choice of Wound Management or Avian Anatomy workshops.
Choose one for Fri morning: Lectures only OR Basic Skills for Rehabilitators
Choose one for Fri afternoon: Wound Management OR Avian Clinical Anatomy
Continuing Education credits: *Licensed veterinarians and Registered veterinary technicians can earn up to 10 CE hours, sponsored by the American College of Zoological Medicine and approved by the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine. There is a flat fee of $25 for the certificate.
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators in New Mexico can earn up to 10 CE hours. There is no additional charge, but attendees are responsible for submitting their proof of registration to Maggie Curtis at the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.
