ENMU Alumnus Educates Public on Gila Trout Recovery Efforts through ENMU Collaboration
Daniel Gallegos recently launched a collaboration between the Mora National Fish Hatchery and ENMU's Dr. Antonio "Tony" Gennaro Natural History Museum.
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Daniel Gallegos
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Daniel Gallegos with ENMU Professor Dr. Ivana Mali and the Gila Trout at ENMU's Dr. Antonio "Tony" Gennaro Natural History Museum.
PORTALES, NM (06/07/2018) Greyhound Grad Daniel Gallegos recently returned to Eastern New Mexico University to launch a collaboration between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Mora National Fish Hatchery and ENMU's Dr. Antonio "Tony" Gennaro Natural History Museum.
Daniel, who is a fish biologist for the USFWS Mora National Fish Hatchery, explained that the collaboration began with the hatchery purchasing several aquariums.
"We wanted to send these aquariums to different locations and supply them with a few fish to help educate and make the public aware about Gila Trout recovery efforts. I figured that the Gennaro Natural History Museum would be a great place to hold one of these aquariums," he said.
"After getting approval from my project leader, I contacted Dr. Ivana Mali [Gennaro Natural History Museum Curator and assistant professor of wildlife biology at ENMU], and it all unfolded from there. This collaboration [which began in April] will last as long as the museum is hosting our aquarium."
The Greyhound Grad, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in wildlife and fisheries in the fall of 2017, is dedicated to the recovery and restoration of the threatened Gila Trout, a fish found only in the Gila, Salt and Verde water drainages in Southwestern New Mexico and Southeastern Arizona.
His six years of working with Gila Trout has involved everything from spawning fish and cleaning tanks to completing various plumbing projects on station to stocking fish back out to the wild.
"My goal is to fully recover this species and to de-list them from the Endangered Species Act (1973)," said Daniel, who has worked with many other threatened and endangered species and species raised for recreational purposes.
Daniel said that there are plenty of opportunities for people to help endangered species. "You can volunteer at a fish hatchery or wildlife refuge near you to assist in conservation efforts," he explained. "Or even just letting your family and friends know about the work that the USFWS and other federal agencies are doing together to conserve, protect and enhance fish, plants and wildlife and their habitats in your local area."
The highlight of Daniel's job is "seeing these fish go back out to the wild because that's what it's all about! Every time we return fish to the wild, it is always one step closer to de-listing this species."
The fish biologist, who hopes to become the project leader at the Mora National Fish Hatchery someday, said that his goal is "to work with others to always conserve, protect and enhance fish, plants, wildlife and their habitats for the continual benefit of the American people."
Daniel was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and raised in Mora, New Mexico.
His initial plan after high school was to become a special education teacher. He was hired for a position at the Mora National Fish Hatchery through the Youth Conservation Corps program right after his high school graduation in 2012.
"The former project leader at the hatchery, Jeff Powell, was a great boss, a great mentor and he had a huge impact on helping me decide what career path I wanted to pursue," explained Daniel. "After my first week on the job working with him, I knew that was what I wanted to do the rest of my life, and I also knew that I wanted to be in his position someday."
Daniel explained that ENMU helped prepare him for his career by "teaching me all about different skills, concepts and research that has been done in wildlife and fisheries. In all of my courses, I definitely took something away and have used it in my career."
"I really enjoyed my time at ENMU! I had some of the best professors out there, and I definitely learned a lot in all of my courses," said Daniel. "As it goes for friends, I made some lifelong buddies that I don't even consider friends anymore… I consider them all family."
