The candidates were asked where they stood regarding the controversial issue of commercial wildlife trapping on public lands.
Lujan-Grisham said the state needs a 21st century, science-driven management program that promotes and protects animal welfare and reduces the indiscriminate capture, maiming or killing of wildlife and domestic pets except in those cases involving individual animals that are causing serious and possibly life or property-threatening damage or depredation.
Pearce said he supports regulated commercial trapping on public lands for wildlife management purposes and added that a balance must be maintained between protecting the environment and wildlife and a citizen’s ability to hunt and trap.