Daily Postcard: Frozen Fog Transforms Valles Caldera
Daily Postcard: When supercooled fog meets freezing temperatures, ice can slowly build up on trees, rocks, and other surfaces, transforming the landscape into something magical. This enchanting phenomenon, known as rime ice, forms as tiny droplets of fog freeze on contact, often creating a delicate, sugar-coated appearance like this scene on Jan. 26, 2026 at Valles Caldera National Preserve. Photo by Andrew Gordon/U.S. Dept. of the Interior Read More
PEEC: Discovering Wildlife In Winter Field Program Feb. 7
Ann Hunkins identifying track. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) invites the community to step into the quiet beauty of winter and uncover the secrets written across the snow during Discovering Wildlife in Winter, a hands-on field program led by Certified Wildlife Tracker Ann Hunkins.
The program takes place 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 7.
Winter landscapes hold an entire world of clues: tracks, trails, patterns, and subtle signs that reveal how animals move, forage, rest, and survive. This immersive outing goes far beyond identifying footprints. Read More
Scenes From Recent Visit To Costa Rica
Richard and Sophia Skolnik of White Rock recently returned from an 8-day visit with Natural Habitat Adventures to three eco-lodges in Costa Rica. A small sample of the many photos taken during the visit includes this red-headed barbet. Photo by Richard Skolnik
A howler monkey and its baby are spotted in a tree during a recent visit to Costa Rica. Howler monkeys are the loudest of all monkeys, according to National Geographic. Photo by Richard Skolnik
A red-eyed tree frog on a leaf viewed during a recent visit to Costa Rica. Photo by Richard Skolnik
A volcano hummingbird is photographed during Read More
Unsafe Ice Conditions Close Monastery Lake To Fishing
NMDGF News:
PECOS — The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) announces that Monastery Lake has been closed to fishing until further notice due to unsafe ice conditions.
Ice fishing is not allowed at Monastery Lake. The lake, which is leased through the Department’s Open Gate program, is located at the Benedictine Monastery just north of Pecos. A layer of ice has formed on the lake, prompting the closure.
The closure will be lifted when there are sufficient open areas of water available to allow fishing from the bank.
Anglers can find good winter trout fishing in the Albuquerque area drains, Read More
Daily Postcard: Elephant Head Sculpture In Barranca Canyon
Daily Postcard: The natural sculpture of an elephant head viewed recently on the cliff in Barranca Canyon. Photo by Selvi Viswanathan Read More
Bobcat With Cub Spotted At Residence On North Mesa
A bobcat with its cub was spotted at a residence Thursday on North Mesa. Photo by Anthony Belletete Read More
Community Seed Swap At Unitarian Church Feb. 7
Senate Conservation Committee Unanimously Advances $2 Million Mosquito Monitoring Plan That Would Be ‘Early Warning System’ For New Mexico
Егор Камелев/Pixabay via Public DomainBy LILY ALEXANDER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
For Albuquerque Republican Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, the fight against mosquitoes is personal now.
In September, Tobiassen’s husband contracted West Nile virus and spent four and a half months in the intensive care unit “fighting for his life”, she said Thursday during a committee hearing for Senate Bill 79.
The measure would appropriate $2 million to the New Mexico Department of Health for mosquito surveillance, prevention and mitigation in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
“He survived — against the odds, might I Read More
Leopold Writing Program & Santa Fe International Literary Festival Celebrate Ongoing Partnership For 2026 Festival
Aldo Leopold. Courtesy/Aldo Leopold Foundation
SFILF News:
SANTA FE — The Leopold Writing Program and the Santa Fe International Literary Festival (SFILF) has announced their continued partnership for the 2026 Festival. The upcoming event will feature award-winning writers, including Ada Limón, George Saunders, and James McBride.
The Festival will also feature a new iteration of the collaborative Write Your Story activity, an ongoing partnership with the Santa Fe International Literary Festival that reflects a shared commitment to uplifting and strengthening New Mexico’s vibrant Read More
Daily Postcard: Friendly Deer Dappled In Sunlight
Daily Postcard: Friendly deer dappled in sunlight near Quemazon home. Photo by DW Decker Read More
USDA Forest Service Issues Revised Oil & Gas Leasing Rule
USDA News:
WASHINGTON. D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service finalized revisions to its regulation governing federal oil and gas resources on National Forest System lands. The revision modernizes and streamlines the process for managing energy development across millions of acres.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the updated rule today, emphasizing the Trump Administration’s joint commitment to eliminating outdated and burdensome processes and advancing President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Orders Read More
Lawmakers Introduce Clear Horizons Act ‘To Protect New Mexico Families From Rising Costs’
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Lawmakers have formally introduced the Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 18), a plan to provide long-term planning, stability, and accountability from the harmful effects of polluting industries.
As New Mexican families continue to face rising costs associated with the waste and byproducts of polluting industries, leaders in Santa Fe are responding with actionable legislation.
The Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 18) responds to the real and growing costs New Mexicans are already paying as extreme weather becomes more frequent and severe. New data presented to legislators Read More
Daily Postcard: Elk Visits Gold Street Apartments
Daily Postcard: An elk recently visited the Gold Street Apartments and stopped to pose for the camera. Photo by John Halladay
A profile view of the elk recently visiting the Gold Street Apartments. Photo by John Halladay Read More
Transforming Trash Into Something Valuable … Electricity
A rendering of what Mozart Devco’s waste to energy plant in Ohkay Owingeh would look like. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net
Trash is usually a despised thing. People don’t want to think about it or see it. But can be trash transformed from something unwanted into something valuable?
For Mozart Devco, LLC, the answer is yes. They elaborated on this during the Jan. 13 Los Alamos County Council work session.
County Public Works Director Eric Martinez explained that Mozart, an energy infrastructure development firm advancing scalable, Read More
Ice Fishing Season Opens At Eagle Nest Lake State Park
Photo by Jordan Mitchell, Eagle Nest Lake State Park Superintendent
EMNRD News:
SANTA FE — Eagle Nest Lake State Park opened for ice fishing this week after recent cold temperatures thickened the ice to safe levels, but state officials are reminding anglers that venturing onto frozen water always carries risk.
“We once again welcome outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the winter fishing season. However, we advise them to take precautions to ensure that their outings are safe,” said Toby Velásquez, director of New Mexico State Parks.
State Park officials recommend the following safety precautions: Read More
Daily Postcard: Tangerine Sunrise Decorates Sky
Daily Postcard: A tangerine sunrise decorates the sky this morning over White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net Read More
Los Alamos National Laboratory: FY 2025 Economic Impact
Evening view of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
- $2 billion in employee salaries across 6 northern New Mexico counties; $752 Million spent with local businesses
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) released its annual Economic Impact Report detailing spending during fiscal year 2025, which ended Sept. 30. With an annual budget of $5.28 billion, the Laboratory is a major economic driver in the state.
“For more than 80 years, Los Alamos National Laboratory has played a critical role in New Mexico’s economy and its communities,” Laboratory Director Thom Mason said. Read More
Traveling Exhibition At New Mexico Museum Of Natural History & Science Showcases Armor In Animal Kingdom
The ancient mammal Doedicurus, with Smilodon on top attacking. This specimen on view in the traveling exhibition Animal Armor: The Evolution of Armor in Dinosaurs. Courtesy/NMMNHS
NMMNHS News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) welcomes a new traveling exhibition exploring the natural defenses that animals have evolved over millions of years. Animal Armor: The Evolution of Armor in Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals will be on view when the museum reopens this spring.
“From Ankylosaurus to armadillos, animals have been evolving new ways to Read More
Mountain Lion Prints Spotted In Walnut Canyon
Mountain Lion prints spotted in the snow on Sunday in Walnut Canyon. Photo by Michael Smith
Mountain Lion and cub prints spotted in the snow on Sunday in Walnut Canyon. Photo by Michael Smith Read More
Daily Postcard: Beaver Dam At Bandelier National Monument
Daily Postcard: A beaver dam and recent snowfall Sunday at Bandelier National Monument. Visitors are advised to watch for snow or ice on the roads and trails in the park and be aware of wildlife. Courtesy/BNM Read More