2024 Dorothy Hoard Stewardship Award recipient James Robinson with a sedated bear that was rescued. Courtesy photo

The Friends of Bandelier News:

The Friends of Bandelier have selected James Robinson as the recipient of its 10th annual Dorothy Hoard Stewardship Award. Robinson was chosen based on his contributions to bear conservation in Los Alamos County.

Robinson is a Los Alamos native, who graduated from University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Business with a Bachelor of Business in Operations Management. Upon graduation, he returned to Los Alamos and began his career at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and is a group leader in Facility Operations.

In 2015, the Los Alamos County Council appointed Robinson to the Environmental Sustainability Board, where he served until his election to the County Council in 2018. Beginning at a young age he has looked through the lens of animal conservation in all aspects of his life, resulting in important contributions to make Los Alamos an animal friendly environment.

A childhood friendship spawned a passion in Robinson for animal conservation. His friend Ty Horak’s mother just happened to be Dr. Kathleen Ramsay, the founder of the New Mexico Wildlife Center (NMWC). At the time, the center’s large mammal operation was run out of Dr. Ramsey’s home in Española. he and Ty were often recruited to help, and one day Robinson found himself helping carry a sedated bear back to his cage. This was a pivotal moment in his life, and he became more involved in the center by helping with animal care and setting up the wildlife center in Española. It was through these activities that he saw the importance of rehabilitating injured animals and returning them to the wild. 

When Dr. Ramsay’s time became limited due to care taking of a family member, Robinson stepped in and helped co-found the non-profit Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation (LEWF) to help fill the void. To date, the organization has raised funds to rehabilitate wildlife all over New Mexico. He also led the effort to have his mentor, Dr. Ramsay, recognized as a New Mexico True Hero.

In his role on the Environmental Sustainability Board, Robinson established the introduction of bear proof garbage containers, initially on a limited basis with the help of New Mexico Game and Fish. While serving on Council, he championed a measure to provide bear proof roll carts to all Los Alamos Residents. In addition to these mitigation efforts, Robinson has made important contributions to bear awareness and education including co-founding the annual Los Alamos Bear Festival. The festival is funded by LEWF and the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) and draws around 800 participants a year. The festival offers bear safety demos, educational booths, children’s activities, and an “eat like a bear” buffet focusing on bear food sources. 

Robinson has written numerous letters to the editor and made presentations at organizations regarding bear safety and mitigation efforts. Finally, while on Council, he introduced and passed a proclamation establishing August as bear month in Los Alamos. 

Due to his educational and preservation efforts, Robinson’s name has become synonymous with bears in Los Alamos, providing the community with an important bear resource. When a 20 lb. dehydrated, emaciated juvenile bear was found on LANL property Robinson was immediately called in to help. He sprung into action with his old friend Horak and the animal was rehabilitated by Dr. Ramsay at Cottonwood Rehab and returned to the wild at over 200 lbs. He also helped release two bears from Del Rio Texas, filling a gap in that state’s wildlife rehabilitation services. Robinson’s leadership in bear conservation efforts has had a significant positive impact on the Los Alamos community, and the Friends of Bandelier are proud to award him the 2024 Dorothy Hoard Stewardship Award.

About the Dorothy Hoard Stewardship Award:

This award was established by the Friends in March 2014 as a memorial to the group’s founder and long-time president, Dorothy Hoard, and recognizes contributions to the stewardship of natural and cultural resources in Bandelier or in the Los Alamos area. Recipients demonstrate leadership roles in conservation efforts that have had a significant positive impact to the community, the Monument, the Valles Caldera National Preserve, or the Santa Fe National Forest in the Los Alamos area. A list of the past nine recipients can be found at https://www.bandelierfriends.org/dorothy-hoard-award.

In recognition of this award, the Friends will donate $1,000 in Robinson’s name to Bandelier National Monument to fund a new bear interpretation exhibit for the park.