Contact:
Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, csmith@wildearthguardians.org 

New law represents a monumental victory for native wildlife and public lands

SANTA FE—Today, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law a bill banning traps, snares, and poisons on public lands across New Mexico.

Called “Roxy’s Law” in honor of a cattle dog who was strangled to death in a neck snare on public lands in 2018, this new law will go into effect in 2022 and will save untold numbers of native wildlife—as well as recreationists and companion animals—from cruel and indiscriminate traps, snares, and poisons on public lands across the Land of Enchantment.

Since 2008, private trappers in New Mexico have killed nearly 150,000 native wildlife species such as bobcats, swift foxes, badgers, beavers, ermine, and coyotes. Critically endangered species, such as the Mexican gray wolf, have also been killed and injured in traps, including two wolves caught in traps in New Mexico in the past six months.

“This is a monumental victory and a tremendous day for native wildlife in New Mexico and for the public lands that they call home. It’s also a day on which the Governor has signaled that outdoor recreation and public safety are critical to New Mexico’s economic future,” said Chris Smith, southern Rockies wildlife advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “Getting this bill signed into law has been a priority for WildEarth Guardians for a decade. We applaud every citizen advocate and elected official who made this possible over the last decade. It is wonderful to catch up to our neighbors in Colorado and Arizona and show other western states the way forward in terms of respecting wildlife and protecting public lands.”

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The post Governor Lujan Grisham signs bill banning traps, snares, and poisons on New Mexico public lands appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

Contacts:
Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, csmith@wildearthguardians.org
Jessica Johnson, Animal Protection Voters, 505-220-6656, jessica@apvnm.org

Senate Bill 32, AKA “Roxy’s Law,” advances to the House

SANTA FE, N.M.—Today by a vote of 23 to 16, the New Mexico State Senate passed Senate Bill 32, the Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act, aka “Roxy’s Law.”

Senate Bill 32 makes critical strides towards protecting all those who enjoy the outdoors, humans and animals, by prohibiting traps, snares, and poisons on public lands (with a few important exemptions). The bipartisan vote demonstrated strong legislative backing for a bill that is supported by the majority of New Mexicans, from hunters and nature enthusiasts to dog walkers and park visitors.

Bill sponsor Senator Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales (D—Ranchos de Taos) said, “With the passage of SB 32, New Mexico is helping to protect outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife, companion animals, and all New Mexicans who use public lands. Economic growth and stability come from increased, safe outdoor recreation and other activities on public lands. The dangerous methods of trapping, snaring, and poisoning on public lands have kept us from moving forward like we should and now we are at a point that our neighboring states have enacted similar bills, making them more likely to benefit from outdoor dollars. I am proud to sponsor Senate Bill 32 so that we can move forward in prosperity and in protecting our animals and people.”

Senator Brenda McKenna (D-Corrales) said, “I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 32—alongside Senator Bobby Gonzales, Representative Matthew McQueen, and Representative Christine Chandler and thank my colleagues for their votes in support of the bill. We as a society can no longer condone the barbaric practice of using traps, snares, and poisons on public lands. I have, for years, supported outlawing usage of these cruel methods, especially since I myself once purchased a leghold trap for under $20 and could not open it without carefully using my feet. Imagine trying to free a pet or yourself under highly stressful and incredibly painful circumstances! I look forward to stewarding this bill through to the Governor’s desk, to protect the animals of the state and so we can all enjoy the outdoors in New Mexico.”

Traps, snares, and poisons are not just archaic and cruel, they are also indiscriminate, killing any creature unlucky enough to get too close to them. These victims include not just the fur-bearing or destructive wildlife the devices are nominally set to ensnare but also companion animals like Roxy, the beloved dog who in 2018 was strangled to death in front of her human. Since the 2020-2021 trapping season began, at least 9 dogs been caught in privately set traps and snares on public land. The most recent incidents occurred near Abeyta, Pecos, Rowe Mesa, Cloudcroft, and Dixon and don’t include the unknown numbers who are not reported or tragically never found.

SB 32 will also save untold numbers of endangered wildlife. Nearly 150,000 native creatures have been killed by private trappers since 2008 including the endangered Mexican gray wolf called Mia Tuk who was caught in a trap and bludgeoned to death by a trapper in 2015. Two wolves have been injured in traps in New Mexico in the past 6 months.

“It’s past time this archaic mass killing ended,” said Chris Smith, southern Rockies wildlife advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “Public lands should be safe, wildlife should be respected, people should not be afraid to take their dogs or children on a hike. The solution is simple—the House now needs to follow the Senate’s example.”

“Traps are like landmines, catching and harming any creature unlucky enough to step on them,” said Kevin Bixby, executive director of the Southwest Environmental Center. “It’s time to get them off our public lands.”

“As a wildlife biologist, I can say definitely that trapping is not a legitimate form of wildlife management,” said Michelle Lute, PhD, national carnivore conservation manager for Project Coyote. “Our public lands and the wildlife that live on them must be protected from such cruel and wanton waste.”

“No one who visits our public lands should be subjected to finding suffering wildlife in traps or the trauma of their own beloved dog being harmed,” said Mary Katherine Ray, Wildlife Chair of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, who has experienced the anguish of both.

“New Mexico Wild Action Fund believes that wildlife is held in public trust for the protection and continued enjoyment of all New Mexicans and should not be commercialized. We applaud Senators Gonzales and McKenna and Representatives McQueen and Chandler for their efforts to end the practice of trapping on our public lands,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild Action Fund.

Animal Protection Voters’ Chief Government Affairs Officer, Jessica Johnson, noted, “New Mexicans overwhelmingly agree that it is past time for New Mexico to join our neighboring states of Colorado and Arizona and say goodbye to traps, snares, and poisons on the public lands we share. Let’s not wait for more or bigger tragedies to happen before taking action.”

“Mexican gray wolves are the most endangered subspecies of gray wolf in the world. Despite steady population growth over the past 20 years, trapping continues to hinder our ability to recover this important species,” says Michael Dax, New Mexico representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “The time has come to get traps off our public lands.”

“Trapping on public lands is indiscriminate and an ineffective tool for wildlife management, killing thousands of unintended animals instead of targeted predators; it’s primary motive is private profit from a public trust resource,” said Greg Peters, Public Lands & Wildlife Advocate for Conservation Voters New Mexico. “By ending trapping on our public lands, we will make them safer for NM residents and NM wildlife – creating more equitable access to nature while benefiting our local outdoor economy.”

“Today’s vote gives us hope that very soon, rare and beautiful animals will no longer fall victim to cruel and indiscriminate leghold traps and strangulation snares,” said Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity in Silver City. “These killing devices should never have been allowed on public lands.”

Senate Bill 32 will now cross over to the House of Representatives, where it will be championed by co-sponsors Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo) and Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos).

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The post Majority of NM Senate agrees with majority of New Mexicans, says no more traps, snares, and poisons on public lands appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

Contacts:
Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, csmith@wildearthguardians.org
Jessica Johnson, Animal Protection Voters, 505-220-6656, jessica@apvnm.org

SANTA FE, N.M.—Today Senate Bill 32, the Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act a.k.a. “Roxy’s Law,” passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 5 to 1. Senate Bill 32 makes important strides towards protecting all those who enjoy the outdoors, human and animals, by prohibiting traps, snares, and poisons on public lands (with a few important exemptions).

The vote demonstrated strong legislative backing for a bill that is supported by the majority of New Mexicans, from hunters and nature enthusiasts to dog walkers and park visitors.

Senator Brenda McKenna (D-Corrales) said, “I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 32—alongside Senator Bobby Gonzales, Representative Matthew McQueen, and Representative Christine Chandler—and thank my colleagues for their votes in support of the bill. We as a society can no longer condone the barbaric practice of using traps, snares, and poisons on public lands. I have, for years, supported outlawing usage of these cruel methods, especially since I myself once purchased a leghold trap for under $20 and could not open it without carefully using my feet. Imagine trying to free a pet or yourself under highly stressful and incredibly painful circumstances! I look forward to stewarding this bill through to the Governor’s desk, to protect the animals of the state and so we can all enjoy the outdoors in New Mexico.”

The bill will save unsuspecting companion animals and their human families from prolonged suffering. Since the 2020-2021 trapping season began, at least 9 dogs are known to have been caught in privately set traps and snares on public land across the state. The most recent incidents occurred near Abeyta, Pecos, Rowe Mesa, Cloudcroft, and Dixon.

Senate Bill 32 would also spare untold numbers of New Mexican wildlife from being killed via outdated and inhumane methods on public lands—nearly 150,000 native creatures have been killed by private trappers since 2008.

“It’s past time this madness ended,” said Chris Smith, southern Rockies wildlife advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “Public lands should be safe, wildlife should be respected, people should not be afraid to take their dogs or children on a hike. The solution is simple—the legislature needs to act.”

“Traps are like landmines, catching and harming any creature unlucky enough to step on them,” said Kevin Bixby, executive director of the Southwest Environmental Center. “It’s time to get them off our public lands.”

“As a wildlife biologist, I can say definitely that trapping is not a legitimate form of wildlife management,” said Michelle Lute, PhD, national carnivore conservation manager for Project Coyote. “Our public lands and the wildlife that live on them must be protected from such cruel and wanton waste.”

“No one who visits our public lands should be subjected to finding suffering wildlife in traps or the trauma of their own beloved dog being harmed,” said Mary Katherine Ray, Wildlife Chair of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, who has experienced the anguish of both.

“New Mexico Wild Action Fund believes that wildlife is held in public trust for the protection and continued enjoyment of all New Mexicans, and should not be commercialized. We applaud Senators Gonzales and McKenna and Representatives McQueen and Chandler for their efforts to end the practice of trapping on our public lands,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild Action Fund.

Animal Protection Voters’ Chief Government Affairs Officer, Jessica Johnson, noted, “New Mexicans overwhelmingly agree that it is past time for New Mexico to join our neighboring states of Colorado and Arizona and say goodbye to traps, snares, and poisons on the public lands we share. Let’s not wait for more or bigger tragedies to happen before taking action.”

“Mexican gray wolves are the most endangered subspecies of gray wolf in the world. Despite steady population growth over the past 20 years, trapping continues to hinder our ability to recover this important species,” says Michael Dax, New Mexico representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “The time has come to get traps off our public lands.”

“Trapping on public lands is indiscriminate and an ineffective tool for wildlife management, killing thousands of unintended animals instead of targeted predators; it’s primary motive is private profit from a public trust resource,” said Greg Peters, Public Lands & Wildlife Advocate for Conservation Voters New Mexico. “By ending trapping on our public lands, we will make them safer for NM residents and NM wildlife – creating more equitable access to nature while benefiting our local outdoor economy.”

“Today’s vote gives us hope that very soon, rare and beautiful animals will no longer fall victim to cruel and indiscriminate leghold traps and strangulation snares,” said Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity in Silver City. “These killing devices should never have been allowed on public lands.”

Senate Bill 32 will next be voted on by the full Senate before it can cross over to the House of Representatives.

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The post “Roxy’s Law” bill to outlaw traps, snares, and wildlife poisons on public land passes Senate Judiciary Committee appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

The post Recent incidents highlight trapping as a statewide problem appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

Contacts:
Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, csmith@wildearthguardians.org

The economics of trapping, the number of species killed by trappers, and environmental harms are among topics covered by report

SANTA FE, NM—Today, WildEarth Guardians and members of the TrapFree New Mexico coalition released a detailed report that makes an in-depth case for banning traps on public lands. Touching on a wide array of topics, the report goes into detail on the economics of trapping versus other uses of public lands, common trap types and the injuries they cause, and the environmental impacts trapping may have on New Mexico. The report relies on data from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, fur auctions, and other scientific sources.

Download the Trapping in New Mexico Report [4.8 MB PDF]

Trapping is touted by some as a rural economic engine in New Mexico. However, data from local and regional fur auctions makes clear that for the vast majority of trappers, the activity likely generates little to no net income. The average New Mexico trapper who attempted to sell every pelt from the 2018-2019 trapping season grossed between $264 and $440. After the cost of traps, baits and lures, licenses, chains, stakes, catchpoles, knives, and fuel, net income is likely substantially lower, and possibly a loss.

It is not clear, in fact, that trapping is an activity undertaken more by rural New Mexicans compared to urban residents. Trapping license purchases are concentrated among buyers in urban areas, according to data provided by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

“Our hope is that this information lays bare some of the misleading arguments that trappers and their allies use to perpetuate this cruel hobby,” said Chris Smith, southern Rockies wildlife advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “There is a common refrain from trappers that their tools are humane, that they are doing ‘wildlife management,’ and that trapping is lucrative. After examination, those claims don’t really carry water.”

A section titled “Interfering with Nature” highlights some of the impacts that widescale killing of native wildlife can have on desert ecosystems. Another section of the report shares just a few stories from the many New Mexicans who have seen their dogs injured and killed in traps on public lands.

“Whether archaic traps ensnare, maim and kill domestic dogs or wild coyotes, the ultimate result is the same: injustice and unjustified cruelty,” said Michelle L. Lute, national carnivore conservation manager for Project Coyote, and who holds a PhD in wildlife management. “Trapping is not legitimate management. It’s a sad form of recreation that robs ecosystems of native wildlife and families of their companion animals and needs to be outlawed as are other forms of animal cruelty.”

“Roxy’s Law,” named after a dog who died in a neck snare on public lands, would ban recreational and commercial trapping on public lands across New Mexico. The bill passed through two state House committees in 2019 and is set to be introduced again in the 2021 legislative session.

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The post New report details the many problems of traps on public lands appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

The post Outdoor recreationists encounter horrors during the first three weeks of the ‘20-‘21 trapping season appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

Contacts:
Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, csmith@wildearthguardians.org
Jessica Johnson, Animal Protection Voters, 505-220-6656, jessica@apvnm.org

Private, commercial traps will be hidden across BLM, Forest Service, and State lands until mid-March

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Sunday, November 1^st marks the beginning of the 2020-2021 commercial trapping season in New Mexico. Every year, November 1^st through March 15^th is when “protected furbearers”—species for which at least some regulation on manner or method of trapping exists—can be trapped and killed for pelts and fur, although some “unprotected” species can also be legally trapped year-round. During trapping season, an exponential increase of leghold traps, body-crushing traps, and strangulation snares will be placed on public lands across the state, maiming and killing domestic pets and native wildlife, including endangered species.

Last year, the New Mexico Game Commission made minor changes to the trapping regulations, but left most New Mexicans—especially rural residents—at risk. Trappers are not required to mark or indicate where dangerous traps are located. Further, no changes were made that would mitigate the cruelty experienced by trapped animals, nor stop the unlimited looting and commercial sale of public wildlife parts for private profit.

Every year, the start of trapping season brings up horrible memories for the unfortunate New Mexicans who have experienced the damage caused by traps firsthand.

“It’s almost that time of the year again, when any juniper or cedar on public lands may be used to rig a wire snare that kills pets and wildlife indiscriminately,” said Dave Clark, whose dog Roxy died in a strangulation snare on public lands. “It’s also the time of year when everyone can do something about that. Please consider the values of those for whom you vote.”

“By its very nature, trapping is indiscriminate. Wild species already under pressure suffer, and domestic animals for whom traps are not meant suffer, and sometimes die. Their owners also suffer their untimely and needless loss,” said Carolyn Fletcher, a New Mexico veterinarian. “To what end do we find this worthwhile, New Mexico? The profit of a few doesn’t compensate for the misery endured by many.”

“While there are special cases in which wildlife professionals should be able to use certain types of trapping to protect life, property or threatened or endangered species, recreational trapping, with its potential for mis-management of wildlife populations and mishaps with pet owners, should come to an end,” said Garrett VeneKlasen, northern conservation director with new Mexico Wild and political director of New Mexico Wild Action Fund. “As an avid hunter and conservationist, trapping gives a black eye to sportsmen’s/women’s reputation. I want the court of public opinion to view us as ethical, humane and responsible. Trapping doesn’t fit into this 21st century picture.”

“I’m forever haunted by my dog’s anguished yelps and cries with his paw clamped shut in a tight steel trap. I could not free him because my hands were disabled by freezing cold and bleeding knuckles from trying,” said Kathleen McDonald, whose dog was trapped in the Lincoln National Forest. “The sun was going down and I only had a weak cell signal making it hard to call for the help I needed. Traps are dangerous for animals and people.”

Along with many cases of family pets being injured and even killed in traps, non-target animals like black bears, ravens, and endangered Mexican gray wolves have also been caught and suffered in indiscriminate and cruel traps. Trappers rarely face any consequences for injuring or killing non-target animals. The trapper that killed Roxy, Mr. Clark’s dog, escaped conviction for his illegally set traps.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has no scientific population estimates for furbearers, and sets no limits on how many animals such as foxes, bobcats, beavers, badgers, coyotes, and ringtails a trapper can trap and kill. They are slaughtered freely without limit for private profit even as wildlife populations suffer through drought, climate change, and mass extinction.

Conservation and animal advocacy groups plan to introduce “Roxy’s Law” in the 2021 legislative session. The bill would prohibit private and commercial trapping on public lands across the state with important exemptions for human safety, scientific research, and trapping for tribal ceremonial purposes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made safe access to public lands exceptionally important to New Mexicans. Hidden, indiscriminate traps jeopardize safety and peace-of-mind for outdoor recreators. Trapped wildlife are often skinned on site, with carcasses left to rot in ditches. Arizona and Colorado both largely banned trapping on public lands in the mid 1990s.

Background:

Trapping on public lands is legal in New Mexico. There are no bag limits for furbearer species. The law does not require trap locations to be marked or signed, or for any warnings to be present. No gross receipts tax is levied on fur and pelts sold by trappers. No penalties exist for trappers who unintentionally trap non-target species including endangered species, protected species, domestic animals, pets, humans, or livestock.

No database or official record is kept by any public entity and no requirement exists that trappers report when they have captured a dog in their traps. TrapFree New Mexico has compiled known incidents on an interactive map in the absence of an official catalogue. The pattern these incidents follow is usually similar: dogs screaming and frantically biting at the person desperately trying to rescue them. Veterinary and even human medical treatment along with associated expenses are common, as are long-lasting psychological trauma to both human and animal victims.

The true toll that trapping takes on native wildlife is difficult to assess. Reporting requirements exist for some species, but not for often-trapped so-called “unprotected furbearers” like coyotes and skunks. Reporting accuracy is unverifiable and numbers do not adequately articulate the suffering and carnage that traps wreak on bobcats, foxes, imperiled Mexican gray wolves, coyotes, and other animals.

The almost singular excuse for the above-mentioned incidents is that trapping is necessary to control carnivore populations, but scientific studies do not support this assertion. In fact, scientific studies show that trapping and lethally removing carnivore species, like coyotes, often exacerbate conflicts such as those with livestock (see Using Coyotes to Protect Livestock. Wait. What?, Randy Comeleo, Oregon Small Farm News, Vol. XIII No. 2, p. 2, http://ow.ly/Pj8k30k3wTF (Spring 2018)).

Allowing trapping by a minuscule subset of the population using New Mexico’s public lands directly conflicts with one of the state’s most valuable economic strengths: outdoor recreation. As demonstrated by the recent New Mexico Outdoor Economics Conference in Las Cruces, the outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico is a current and future boon—diversifying and stabilizing the state’s economy while creating 99,000 direct jobs in the process. Outdoor recreation includes hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, hunting, horseback riding, angling, trail running, and bicycling. One study found that the benefits to local economies of a single bobcat alive are approximately 1000 times greater than all combined values from trapping.

Piles of dead animals discarded by public roadways—vividly demonstrating the thousands of wild animals taken from New Mexico’s diverse public landscapes for personal profit—do not bolster the economy or present the state in a beneficial light.

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The post New Mexico public lands at risk as trapping season begins appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

ROSWELL, NM—At their November meeting, the New Mexico Game Commission made zero amendments to a set of proposed changes to the trapping rules. Department staff said that approximately 2400 public comments had been submitted on the rule changes. Four public hearings were held across the state. The Albuquerque hearing had roughly 100 participants, almost all of whom requested a ban on commercial trapping across New Mexico’s public lands.

“The Game Commission made the right decision to stop recreational cougar trapping in New Mexico,” stated Laura Bonar, chief program and policy officer for Animal Protection of New Mexico. “Now they need to take the next logical step to prohibit all traps and snares on public lands. Trapping and public lands are incompatible.”

“It’s disappointing that the Game Commission appears to have ignored the voices of New Mexicans who participated in public hearings and submitted comments” said Chris Smith, southern Rockies wildlife advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “New Mexicans overwhelmingly oppose trapping and want traps off of public lands, but this Game Commission only feigned interest in what the public wants. This is the same stance as the Governor Martinez regime, just with more lip service to process.”

In the last two months, the state’s two largest papers editorialized against trapping. Polling shows that nearly 70% of New Mexico voters oppose the use of traps altogether.

“It’s sickening that instead of helping to keep the balance by hunting mice and rabbits, more bobcats, foxes and ringtail cats will struggle in traps and end up as skinless carcasses,” said Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity. “The game commission missed a big opportunity to do the right thing and ban trapping.”

The Game Commission will reconvene in January for a simple yes or no vote on the rule changes. The proposal includes closure of 0.5% of public lands to traps, but three of the four closure areas have not seen pet dogs trapped. Many areas across the state where dogs have been trapped, maimed, and even killed remain unprotected. Already this Fall, TrapFree New Mexico has received reports of two dogs who were trapped. The new rules would have had no impact on those two incidents.

TrapFree New Mexico members submitted a letter to Game Commissioners articulating the reasons to end commercial trapping on public lands. The letter received no response and appears to have been ignored by the Game Commissioners.

Background:

Trapping on public lands is legal in New Mexico. There are no bag limits for furbearer species. The law does not require trap locations to be marked or signed, or for any warnings to be present. No gross receipts tax is levied on fur and pelts sold by trappers. No penalties exist for trappers who unintentionally trap non-target species including endangered species, protected species, domestic animals, pets, humans, or livestock.

No database or official record is kept by any public entity and no requirement exists that trappers report when they have captured a dog in their traps. The pattern these incidents follow is usually similar: dogs screaming and frantically biting at the person desperately trying to rescue them. Veterinary and even human medical treatment along with associated expenses can result, as can long-lasting psychological trauma to both human and animal victims.

The true toll that trapping takes on native wildlife is difficult to know. Reporting requirements exist for some species, but not for often-trapped so-called “unprotected furbearers” like coyotes and skunks. The accuracy of reporting is unverifiable and numbers do not adequately articulate the suffering and carnage that traps wreak on bobcats, foxes, imperiled Mexican gray wolves, coyotes, and other animals.

The almost singular excuse for the above-mentioned incidents is that trapping is necessary to control carnivore populations, but scientific studies do not support this assertion. In fact, scientific studies show that trapping and lethally removing carnivore species, like coyotes, often exacerbate conflicts such as those with livestock (see Using Coyotes to Protect Livestock. Wait. What?, Randy Comeleo, Oregon Small Farm News, Vol. XIII No. 2, p. 2, http://ow.ly/Pj8k30k3wTF (Spring 2018)).

Allowing trapping by a minuscule subset of the population using New Mexico’s public lands is in direct conflict with one of the state’s most valuable economic strengths: outdoor recreation. Highlighted by the recent New Mexico Outdoor Economics Conference in Las Cruces, the outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico is a current and future boon—diversifying and stabilizing the state’s economy while creating 99,000 direct jobs in the process. Outdoor recreation includes hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, hunting, horseback riding, angling, trail running, and bicycling. Piles of dead animals discarded by public roadways or by the thousands of wild animals taken from New Mexico’s diverse public landscapes for personal profit do not bolster the economy

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The post Game Commission ignores public, pushes inadequate trapping rule appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.

Contacts:
Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, csmith@wildearthguardians.org
Mary Katherine Ray, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, 575-772-5655, mkrscrim@gmail.com
Laura Bonar, Animal Protection of New Mexico & Animal Protection Voters, 505-401-8936, laura@apnm.org

Map shows that trapping incidents involving companion animals and endangered species occur across the state

SANTA FE, NM—Today conservation and animal protection groups as part of the TrapFree New Mexico coalition released a map detailing trapping incidents around the state. The map shows trapping’s toll all across New Mexico, demonstrating that trapping is an ongoing problem for companion animals, endangered species, and law enforcement alike. The trapping incident map includes detailed descriptions, locations, dates, and photos of events involving family dogs, Mexican gray wolves, and illegally set traps. Other incidents include outdoor recreationists finding dead, dying, or injured animals suffering in traps.

The map shows that trapping incidents have occurred in 22 counties in New Mexico. At least 78 companion animals have been reported trapped. There were at least 23 documented illegal trapping incidents in the 2015-2018 trapping seasons. On January 5, 2017, an endangered Mexican gray wolf was caught in a commercial trap and released. The wolf was recaptured 19 days later and was euthanized due to extensive damage and necrosis on the trapped foot. In November, 2018, a dog named Roxy was caught in a snare while out on a walk with her owner. Unable to free her in time, Roxy’s owner watched as she strangled to death in his arms. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is currently considering trivial changes to the state’s trapping regulations, but these changes would do nothing to address the majority of the incidents documented on the map.

“This map highlights the reality of trapping: it is indiscriminate, cruel, and has a major, negative impact on people and animals throughout New Mexico,” said Mikaila Wireman, who created the map for WildEarth Guardians. “The negligible changes proposed by the Department of Game and Fish do nothing to address the real problems that trapping imposes. Until traps and snares are banned on all public lands, devastating confrontations with traps will carry on and this map will only continue to grow.”

“The New Mexico Game and Fish Department must do more to prevent the state’s animal life – companion and wild animals alike – from falling victim to horrific traps,” said Joe Newman, Santa Fe resident and creative associate for Project Coyote. “Holding our public lands hostage to a cruel and brutal historical reenactment hobby by indulging a miniscule fringe element is unacceptable. Primitive, indiscriminate traps on our public lands must go.”

“These incidents are just the tip of an iceberg,” said Mary Katherine Ray, wildlife chair for the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club. “No official agency collects this information or requires reporting when a trap inadvertently catches the family dog or any of the many non-target species that are vulnerable to them. No one records the extent of the injuries that animals suffer when they are trapped. To see so many incidents should be a wake-up call about how pervasive this problem is.”

The trapping incident map serves as a resource for New Mexicans who have had negative encounters with traps as well as individuals wanting to learn more about the reality of trapping in New Mexico. TrapFree New Mexico will continue working to end the types of incidents catalogued in this map.

The map will be updated as new information becomes available.

Background:

Trapping on public lands is legal in New Mexico. There are no bag limits for furbearer species. The law does not require trap locations to be marked, signed, or for any warnings to be present. No gross receipts tax is levied on fur and pelts sold by trappers. No penalties exist for trappers who unintentionally trap non-target species including endangered species, protected species, domestic animals, pets, humans, or livestock.

No database or official record is kept by any public entity and no requirement exists that trappers report when they have captured a dog in their traps. The pattern these incidents follow are usually similar; dogs screaming and frantically biting at the person desperately trying to rescue them. Veterinary and even human medical treatment along with associated expenses can result, as can long-lasting psychological trauma.

The true toll that trapping takes on native wildlife is difficult to know. Reporting requirements exist for some species, but not for often-trapped so-called “unprotected furbearers” like coyotes and skunks. The accuracy of reporting is unverifiable and numbers do not adequately articulate the suffering and carnage that traps wreak on bobcats, foxes, imperiled Mexican gray wolves, coyotes, and other animals.

The almost singular excuse for the above-mentioned incidents is that trapping is necessary to control carnivore populations, but scientific studies do not support this assertion. In fact, scientific studies show that trapping and lethally removing carnivore species, like coyotes, often exacerbate conflicts such as those with livestock (see Using Coyotes to Protect Livestock. Wait. What?, Randy Comeleo, Oregon Small Farm News, Vol. XIII No. 2, p. 2, http://ow.ly/Pj8k30k3wTF (Spring 2018)).

The existence of trapping by a minuscule subset of the population using New Mexico’s public lands is in direct conflict with one of the state’s most valuable economic strengths: outdoor recreation. Highlighted by the recent New Mexico Outdoor Economics Conference in Las Cruces, the outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico is a current and future boon—diversifying and stabilizing the state’s economy while creating 99,000 direct jobs in the process. Outdoor recreation includes hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, hunting, horseback riding, angling, trail running, and bicycling. This economy is not bolstered by piles of dead animals discarded by public roadways or by the thousands of wild animals taken from New Mexico’s diverse public landscapes for personal profit.

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The post TrapFree New Mexico releases map cataloguing trapping incidents in New Mexico appeared first on TrapFree New Mexico.