By Charles Pekow — Keep an eye out for chipmunks if you’re cycling in New Mexico. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has designated approximately 4,386 acres in New Mexico as a protected habitat for the endangered Peñasco Least Chipmunk (Tamias minimus). This area includes parts of the Lincoln National Forest and the Mescalero Apache Tribe Reservation.
While the FWS hasn’t yet decided if or how it will restrict mountain biking and other activities to safeguard the chipmunk, the new designation may lead to some limitations. These could affect mountain biking in specific areas, particularly at the Ski Apache Resort on Lookout Mountain, which offers mountain biking among other recreational pursuits.
Organized mountain bike races are likely to face restrictions or bans. For more details, visit the official document at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-12-10/html/2024-28338.htm
