News & Updates

In a win for animals, California’s ban on fur officially takes effect

In a win for animals, California’s ban on fur officially takes effect

Californians can now officially celebrate the end of fur sales in the Golden State. A statewide ban on the sale of new animal fur products went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, making California the first state in the U.S. to implement such a ban. Its citizens have waited...

Bye-Bye, Trapping on Public Land in New Mexico

Bye-Bye, Trapping on Public Land in New Mexico

Mary Katherine Ray helped outlaw traps in her state Adapted from an interview by Lindsey Botts January 1, 2023 A few years after moving to a remote area of southern New Mexico, I saw a Sierra Club ad in the local paper. I was a longtime member and thought, "That's...

Roxy’s Law now in effect on New Mexico public lands 🐕

Dear Friends of TrapFree New Mexico, Thanks to the contributions of thousands of TrapFree New Mexico supporters, November 1, 2022 marks the beginning of a very different and vastly diminished wildlife trapping season in New Mexico. For the first time ever, all public...

Roxy’s Law Banning Traps, Snares, and Poisons on New Mexico Public Lands Goes Into Effect

Roxy’s Law Banning Traps, Snares, and Poisons on New Mexico Public Lands Goes Into Effect

Dear TrapFree New Mexico Friend, Today’s the day we’ve all been waiting for: Roxy’s Law (the Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act) went into effect this morning, making the vast majority of all traps, snares, and poisons illegal on approximately 32 million...

New Mexico Teeters on Edge of a New Era of CoExistence: Trapping Ban on Public Lands Goes into Effect April 1

On April 1, Roxy’s Law—a ban on trapping on New Mexico public lands more than a decade in the making—goes into effect after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed it last year. Nearly 32 million acres of public lands, including state-owned parcels, national forests, and...

Finally, recreate safely with no harmful traps on public lands

BY JESSICA JOHNSON / CHIEF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICER, ANIMAL PROTECTION VOTERS With warmer weather, many of us are reaching for our hiking boots, backpacks, and dog leashes – and we can finally breathe a little easier. That’s because, as of April 1, 2022, we have...

Trapping ban to take effect on public lands in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – It will be illegal to use wildlife traps, snares and poison on public lands across New Mexico under a ban that takes effect Friday. New Mexico is joining less than a handful of Western states in either prohibiting or limiting trapping on public lands,...

Roxy’s Law a win, but wildlife governance needs reform

Traps, snares and poisons are lethal devices that have inflicted serious harm on people, pets and wildlife across the state for a very long time. But, fortunately, times are changing. The Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act, also known as “Roxy’s Law” – named...

Roxy’s Law makes public lands safer — now reform Game and Fish

Traps, snares and poisons are lethal devices that have inflicted serious harm on people, pets and wildlife across the state for a very long time. But fortunately, times are changing. The Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act, also known as “Roxy’s Law” — named...

Roxy’s anti-trapping legacy greater than botched trial

Roxy’s anti-trapping legacy greater than botched trial

BY JESSICA JOHNSON / CHIEF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICER, ANIMAL PROTECTION NEW MEXICO AND ANIMAL PROTECTION VOTERS | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, 2021 AT 12:02AM Roxy – the beloved dog killed by a neck snare in 2018 while hiking with her family – may not have received...

Not guilty verdict aside, Roxy’s Law still matters

The trapper accused of killing Roxy, a Northern New Mexico cattle dog who was strangled to death in a snare near Santa Cruz Lake, recently was found not guilty. The verdict was immensely disappointing. It feels like justice slipped through the cracks, alongside the...

ABQ Journal Editorial: To catch criminals, trapping ban needs real follow-through

Beginning in April, it will be illegal to use traps, snares and wildlife poison on public lands in New Mexico. That’s one positive outcome from the tragic death of an Española dog name Roxy — but it’s hard to be optimistic about the new law’s ability to be effective....

Tradition is no excuse for abuse

Traps and snares are lethal devices that pose a real threat to people, pets and wildlife on public lands. That fact was made tragically clear when a dog named Roxy was strangled to death in a snare at a popular New Mexico recreation area in 2018. Senate Bill 32,...

Man whose trapping inspired ‘Roxy’s Law’ found not guilty on all counts

Man whose trapping inspired ‘Roxy’s Law’ found not guilty on all counts

A Chimayó man accused of setting a snare trap that caused the death of a dog named Roxy, which sparked a law outlawing trapping on public lands, has been found not guilty on all charges related to the 2018 incident. “It’s a sense of relief, obviously,” Marty Cordova...

Trapper acquitted in case that inspired anti-trapping law

Chimayó trapper Marty Cordova was acquitted by a jury this week of 10 counts of illegal trapping, three years after state officials alleged that he set a snare that strangled a dog near Española, his attorney said Thursday. The death of the dog, named Roxy, attracted...

New Mexico’s last trapping season on public lands

Dear TrapFree New Mexico Friend, This Monday, November 1st marks the start of New Mexico’s last trapping season on public lands. Thanks in large part to all that you did, Roxy’s Law will take effect on April 1st 2022 and effectively end the use of traps, snares, and...

Neiman Marcus Group will ditch fur

The Neiman Marcus Group, which includes retailers Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Last Call and Horchow, has just announced it will end its use of animal fur in favor of more ethical alternatives. The luxury retailer will end its use of animal fur, and will close all...

Trap Incident Report: Farmington, NM

Trap Incident Report: Farmington, NM

We have walked this area for fifteen years. There are expensive homes nearby and it is becoming very popular. A new trail was created last summer. A female husky named Twilight was caught in a trap placed underneath a tree and baited with a cat carcass and dead bird....

Governor Lujan Grisham signs bill banning traps, snares, and poisons on New Mexico public lands

For Immediate Release April 5, 2021 Contact: Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177,   New law represents a monumental victory for native wildlife and public lands SANTA FE—Today, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed...

Guest Column: Urge the governor to sign ‘Roxy’s Law’

Guest Column: Urge the governor to sign ‘Roxy’s Law’

BY CHARLES FOX The governor of Montana recently made news by sadistically – and illegally – trapping and killing a wolf as that state gears up to slaughter more of its native wildlife. Despite protests from numerous professional wildlife managers, the Montana...

Guest Column: Ending traps on public land starts NM’s outdoor future

Guest Column: Ending traps on public land starts NM’s outdoor future

BY SEN. ROBERTO GONZALES, / TAOS DEMOCRAT SEN. BRENDA MCKENNA, / CORRALES DEMOCRAT REP. MATTHEW MCQUEEN / GALISTEO DEMOCRAT AND REP. CHRISTINE CHANDLER / LOS ALAMOS DEMOCRAT New Mexico’s public lands are a treasure trove of opportunity for our state. They are...

Senate Bill 32 AKA “ROXY’S LAW” Passes the NM House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2021 Contacts: Jessica Johnson, Animal Protection Voters, 505-220-6656, Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, MILESTONE MOMENT FOR NEW MEXICO’S ANIMALS SANTA FE, N.M.—Last night,...