Carlos Martinez del Rio, a board member of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, is set to deliver a talk titled "The Bat, The Bee, the Pinyon Jay and the Hunter" at the federation’s "Wildlife Wednesday" event on September 11. The focus of his presentation will be on the conservation of non-game wildlife and its importance for outdoors enthusiasts.
Martinez del Rio plans to discuss how bats, bees, and pinyon jays interact with iconic plants in New Mexico. He aims to emphasize the ecological significance of these animals. “I will use bats, bees, and pinyon jays to highlight why outdoorswomen and outdoorsmen should care about the conservation of non-game wildlife,” he stated.
A retired professor who has settled near Silver City after leaving Wyoming, Martinez del Rio expressed his affection for his new home in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness. “I like this place because it’s one of the few places where I think we can call it the real multicultural West,” he said.
During his talk, Martinez del Rio will explain how agave cacti rely on bats for pollination. He highlighted that one bat species involved is endangered: “First I’m going to talk about bats, and how we have two species – one of which is endangered, which is the Mexican long-nosed bat, in New Mexico.” He also mentioned their role in pollinating agaves essential for mezcal production: “People who like tequila, mezcal, they ought to thank a bat.”
Additionally, he will address bee-prickly pear relationships and their ecological roles. “I will talk about how important prickly pears are ecologically and how many animals they feed,” he explained.
Lastly, Martinez del Rio intends to cover the relationship between pinyon jays and pinon trees. His discussion will extend beyond game wildlife conservation efforts by highlighting broader activities undertaken by the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
The free event will begin at 5:30 p.m., September 11 at Marble Brewery’s Northeast Heights Taproom in Albuquerque.