News & Updates

Video Released Showing the Excruciating Experience of Rescuing a Coyote Caught in a Trap

Feb 2, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Coyote, Legislation, Public Lands, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trap Injuries, Trapping is Torture, Trapping on Public Lands, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Ethics

Santa Fe, NM — An anonymous good samaritan shared with Project Coyote a video showing the first-hand experience of encountering and rescuing a coyote ensnared in a leghold trap. This video comes at the same time the New Mexico legislature is considering Roxy’s Law, a...

The science and values of a trap-free New Mexico

Feb 1, 2021 | 2021 Legislative Session, Ban Traps on Public Lands, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trap Injuries, Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife Ethics

Marie Curie said, “nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.” And yet men driven by fear want to convince you that New Mexico’s wildlife should be feared and that science tells us so. In response to a proposed bill to ban traps on NM public lands,...

Rural New Mexicans oppose trapping, too

Feb 1, 2021 | 2021 Legislative Session, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trapping on Public Lands

It’s come to our attention that a few prominent voices from the trapping community feel like they can speak for all rural New Mexicans in their quest to continue their grip on safe public lands. We are rural New Mexicans from across the state and we oppose the use of...

Recent incidents highlight trapping as a statewide problem

Jan 28, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Companion Animal, Cruelty, Dog, Press Release, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trap Injuries, Trap Victim Story, Trap/Snare Incident Report, Trapping is Torture, Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife Management

For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 27, 2021 Contacts:Charlotte Medueño, Parker, 505-259-0482, Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, Johnson, Animal Protection Voters,...

Snare Incident Report: Dixon, NM – January 26, 2021

Jan 27, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, BLM Land, Dog, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Snare, Trap Victim Story, Trap/Snare Incident Report, Trapping on Public Lands

I live in Dixon surrounded by lots of BLM land. My dog’s name is Ceniza, she is extremely smart and until yesterday didn’t know exactly how strong she was. On January 25 she got out of our gated area (we live in Dixon, and as long as dogs are friendly, most people...

SUPPORT SENATE BILL 32 Wildlife Conservation & Public Safety Act – “Roxy’s Law”

Jan 27, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife Management

Co-Sponsored by Senator Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, Senator Brenda McKenna, Representative Matthew McQueen, Representative Christine Chandler DOWNLOAD THE SB32 "ROXY'S LAW" FACT SHEET [ UPDATED MARCH 12, 2021 - 188 KB PDF ] ABOUT THE BILL Prohibits all traps (leghold,...

It’s time to end trapping in New Mexico

Jan 26, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Endangered Species, Furbearers, Mexican wolf, North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Public Lands, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Ethics, Wildlife Management

My entire life, identity and work has centered around New Mexico’s incredible array of public lands and the diverse wildlife inhabiting those lands. We New Mexicans are truly blessed. It’s no surprise that so many of us, including myself, flock to the soul-nourishing...

Trap Incident Report: Caja del Rio Plateau – January 23, 2021

Jan 25, 2021 | Bobcat, Caja del Rio Plateau, Hiker, Trap/Snare Incident Report, Trapping on Public Lands, Waste, Wildlife

January 2021: I found a dead skinned bobcat when hiking on public lands. It was a horrific scene with the fur cut off at the paws, and fur removed from the face and the rest of her body. I did not see a trap in the area but knew they were nearby – hidden – as trappers...

Las Cruces Sun-News: It’s time to ban trapping on New Mexico public lands

Jan 20, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Extreme Animal Cruelty, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trap Injuries, Trapping on Public Lands, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Ethics, Wildlife Management

Senate Bill 32 “Roxy’s Law,” to outlaw traps, snares, and wildlife poisons, introduced in New Mexico Senate

Jan 20, 2021 | 2021 Legislative Session, Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2021 Contacts: Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, Jessica Johnson, Animal Protection Voters, 505-220-6656, Number of trapped dogs piles up as “Roxy’s Law” is introduced...

UPDATE: Please Support Senate Bill 32 (Roxy’s Law) – Urge your New Mexico state legislators to support Roxy’s Law

Jan 17, 2021 | 2021 Legislative Session, Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Fur Trade, Legislation, Public Lands, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law), Trap Injuries, Trap Victim Story, Trapping on Public Lands, Uncategorized

UPDATE: Please Support Senate Bill 32 (Roxy's Law) Dear TrapFree New Mexico Friends, We wanted to be sure you saw this alert from TrapFree NM partner, Animal Protection Voters. Click on the link below to send a message right now to your legislators, some of whom have...

Los Alamos Daily Post: New Report Details Problems of Traps on Public Lands

Jan 15, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Roxy's Law, Trapping on Public Lands

SANTA FE — WildEarth Guardians and members of the TrapFree New Mexico coalition released a detailed report today 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...

Trap Incident Report: Rowe Mesa – January 14, 2021

Jan 14, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Trap Victim Story, Trap/Snare Incident Report, Trapping on Public Lands

I was collecting dead and down wood for burning when my dog Nelli was caught by a spring trap. The same people who had set the trap were obviously doing illegal cutting of live wood and littering their bud lights everywhere. No serious injury to the dog luckily....

Injuries to New Mexico Wildlife Caught in Leghold Traps

Jan 13, 2021 | Bobcat, Broken Bones, Cat, Coyote, Cruelty, Dog, Fox, Groundhog, NM Department of Game and Fish, Opossum, Porcupine, Raccoon, Sheep, Showshoe Hare, Skunk, Squirrel, Trap Injuries, Trapping on Public Lands, Weasel, Wolf

Robert Harrison, Ph.D, University of New Mexico[1] December, 2020 Summary: Wildlife enthusiasts are well aware of the potential of leghold traps to severely injure wild animals. Less appreciated is how many wild animals suffer such injuries in the course of an...

Albuquerque Journal: It’s time to pass Roxy’s Law

Jan 11, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Public Lands, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Trap Injuries, Trap Victim Story, Trapping on Public Lands

On Dec. 17, I was winding up my forest walk with my two dogs, Chaco and Cruzer, when, not 10 feet away, Cruzer began wailing and bellowing at the top of his lungs. I thought perhaps something had stung or bitten him, buy it took only seconds to comprehend that he was...

New report details the many problems of traps on public lands

Jan 11, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Economic Analysis, Fur Trade, NM Department of Game and Fish, Press Release, Roxy's Law, Trap Injuries, Trapping on Public Lands, Uncategorized, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

For Immediate Release January 11, 2021 Contacts: Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, The economics of trapping, the number of species killed by trappers, and environmental harms are among topics covered by report SANTA FE,...

Trap Incident Report: Lincoln National Forest near Cloudcroft, NM – January 7, 2021

Jan 7, 2021 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Trap Victim Story, Trap/Snare Incident Report, Trapping on Public Lands

While hiking with my dogs on a Forest Service road one of my dogs was caught by a leg hold trap which had no identifying information as required by NM Dept of Game & Fish. I cut the cable to the trap in order to get her away from that location and calm her down in...

Santa Fe New Mexican: Limit on legislation won’t leave out the late Roxy

Dec 30, 2020 | Illegal Trapping, Legislation, Public Lands, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Trapping on Public Lands

Roxy died a painful death at age 8. A blue heeler mix, she was strangled in a snare near a hiking trail at Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area. The state Game and Fish Department said a man from Chimayó set an illegal trap that took Roxy’s life. What happened to Roxy led...

New Mexico in Focus: Animal Trapping in New Mexico

Dec 19, 2020 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Roxy's Law, Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

New Mexico in Focus host Gene Grant discusses public lands trapping with NM state representative Christine Chandler, Jessica Johnson of Animal Protection of New Mexico, and Chris Smith of WildEarth Guardians.

Trap Incident Report: Pecos, NM – December 17, 2020

Dec 17, 2020 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Trap Victim Story, Trap/Snare Incident Report, Trapping on Public Lands

I have hiked this same area for the last 4 years. There are no trails, just cross-country. While returning from a hike yesterday our Heeler was sniffing around a tree like he does every trip, just enjoying dog life on public lands. I was no more than 10-15 feet away...

Las Cruces Sun-News: It is time for New Mexico trapping laws to catch up

Dec 13, 2020 | Badger, Ban Traps on Public Lands, Beaver, Bobcat, Commercial Fur Sales, Coyote, Fox, NM Department of Game and Fish, Public Lands, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife

On a warm November morning, a man taking a stroll through the amazing trails south of Santa Teresa discovered a pile of some forty dumped animals. What he first thought were dead greyhounds turned out to be coyotes. They had been killed and skinned, and left with only...

TrapFree New Mexico Update and Action

Dec 9, 2020 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Public Lands, Public Safety, Trap Injuries, Trapping on Public Lands

Dear TrapFree New Mexico Ally, 2020 has been a painful year. The beginning of trapping season here in New Mexico is following the same awful theme. Already, several high profile incidents in the news have proven, once again, that traps on public lands are a serious...

Albuquerque Journal Editorial: Nothing about traps is New Mexico True

Dec 7, 2020 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Coyote, Cruelty, Dog, Editorial, Endangered Species, Legislation, Mexican wolf, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Posions, Public Lands, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Tourism Industry, Trap Injuries, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

BY ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD Monday, December 7th, 2020 at 12:02am New Mexicans have worked hard over the years to do right by the animals in our state. We have banned cockfighting, horse tripping and coyote-killing contests. We have made dog fighting a...

Sierra County Sun: New Mexico: Land of Entrapment

Dec 5, 2020 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Cruelty, Dog, Endangered Species, Fur Trade, Letter to the Editor, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Public Lands, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Trap Injuries, Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife

by Mary Katherine Ray | December 4, 2020 Many people are surprised to learn that fur trapping—the exploitative relic of the 1800s—still goes on today in our crowded, fragile world. Worse, the steel-jawed devices and wire neck-snares that trappers still use can be...

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How to release your dog from a leg-hold trap

Trap Victim Stories

New Mexico Residents Tell Their Stories of Encountering Traps on Public Lands

Audio Interviews with Trap Victims

People's Forum Panel Report on Public Lands Trapping

The New Mexico Legislature should ban trapping on public lands in New Mexico because traps harm people, animal companions, and whole populations of wildlife including rare species. Most New Mexican voters believe that trapping is cruel and unnecessary.

Read the Report »