Come to the People's Forum on Public Lands Trapping
Dear Guardian,
Please join us:
Wednesday,
September 14, 2011
5:30 to 8:30pm
The Wool Warehouse
516 First Street, NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
The People’s Forum on Public Lands Trapping is an opportunity for the
entire New Mexican public to add their voice to the debate over public lands
trapping in New Mexico. The event will feature a citizen panel, who will
listen to the broad public, and educational materials from TrapFreeNM.org. Film crews will record this public
hearing.
The panel features:
- The Hon. Judge Peggy Nelson, Chairwoman of the Panel
- Peggy Weigle, Executive Director, Animal Humane | New Mexico
- Nathan Cote, Former State Representative
- Oscar Simpson, former Game Commissioner and hunter
- Kathleen Holian, Santa Fe County Commissioner
- Martha Marks, Republicans for Environmental Protection
- Kathy Sedlacek, New Mexico Mountain Club
This summer, New Mexicans generated over 12,000 comments to
the Department of Game and Fish that requested a trap ban on public
lands. Yet, the New Mexico Game
Commission ignored this appeal. On
July 21 it expanded trapping across
New Mexico, and even lifted the trapping closure in the range of the Mexican
wolf.
Other wildlife trapping issues include:
- Since 2002, 15 Mexican wolves have been caught
in non-governmental traps. Two
died. Five more sustained
injuries, while three required amputation surgeries (two wolves had entire
limbs removed). In the wild, lobos number less than 60 individuals;
yet, over 20% of that number have been trapped.
-
In the last decade, New Mexico supplied over
23,000 bobcat pelts to the world’s fur markets and unknown numbers of foxes,
weasels, and other species because they go uncounted by Game and Fish.
- Traps can be placed as close as 25 yards from
any trail with no warning signs in New Mexico. As a result, many people and pets have had negative injurious
encounters. Dogs have lost limbs from trap injuries. People have been injured while helping their dogs.
People, pets, and wildlife were shut out from Game
Commission’s recent decision to expand trapping . . . and so were you. It’s now your turn to be heard. Please come out and express your views
on trapping before a panel of New Mexico community leaders.
The People’s Forum on Public Lands Trapping: because it’s your turn to be heard.
_________________________________________
For the wild,
|
photo credit: Elroy Limmer
Visit our Carnivore Protection campaign page to learn more about WildEarth Guardians' efforts to protect native carnivores.
WildEarth Guardians would like to thank the Sierra Club, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Born Free USA, and TrapFreeNM.org for cosponsoring this important event.
If you can't join us, donate
to the cause. |
