Mathers Wilderness Study Area

The Mathers WSA is located in eastern New Mexico, about 40 miles east of Roswell. The area is on the edge of the southern part of the Great Plains and at the northern end of a 6-10 mile wide belt of sand dunes stabilized by shinnery oak, a low growing shrub. The area provides critical habitat for the dunes sagebrush lizard and lesser prairie chicken; the latter can be observed displaying in leks during mating season.