Here at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens we make supporting our conservation education partners a high priority.  

One of those partners in the Frontera Land Alliance, a nationally accredited land-conservation group.  Recently we learned that one of the nature areas managed by the non-profit organization on the west side of the Franklin Mountains is being severely impacted by a few people cutting their own trails, setting fires, and throwing trash straight into the nature preserve. The Wakeem/Teschner Nature Preserve of Resler Canyon is inhabited by coyotes, foxes, quail and other Chihuahuan Desert species.

Frontera greatly appreciates that visitors stay on the marked trails, that they keep their dogs on a leash, pick up after them, and carry all waste bags to the bins at the entrance. Such visitors are the superheroes, and everyone is happy to have them use the land Frontera owns.  

The problem is this:

People who don’t stay on the trails have encouraged erosion that is negatively impacting trail and the sides of the canyon. Plants can’t grow in these damaged areas which in turn affects the beauty of the land and the habitat for the Canyon’s animals. Due to increased misuse, Frontera is installing more cameras to monitor the land. In addition, more Frontera representatives will monitor the trails in person. But we still need your help. We need the neighbors to report any misuse to info@FronteraLandAlliance.org

Please remember that Resler Canyon is private land; The Frontera Land Alliance is delighted to have the public enjoy all that it offers, but if misuse continues to increase then they will have to consider closing it to the public.

Thanks so much to those of you who care about the Wakeem/Teschner Nature Preserve which is your own back yard and in your neighborhood.