A legislative committee is set to consider a bill on Tuesday that would ban trapping on public lands in New Mexico with few exceptions. The New Mexico Wildlife Federation strongly opposes the bill.
The Senate Conservation Committee is set to hear SB0032, the “Wildlife Safety and Conservation Act,” at an online meeting starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales, D-Ranchos de Taos.
To listen to Tuesday’s committee meeting, go to this SITE and follow the link marked “Webcast.”
In order comment on the bill at the committee hearing, a request to comment must be submitted to the committee by 3 p.m. Monday. The address to register by email is SCONC@nmlegis.gov. People should provide their name, entity of any group they’re representing, the bill number, whether they’re for or against the bill and their email address.
Jesse Deubel, executive director of the NMWF, wrote to committee members on Monday. He emphasized that trapping is an important wildlife conservation tool and a legitimate use of a renewable wildlife resource.
Deubel noted that the New Mexico State Game Commission enacted new trapping regulations last year that limit equipment and methods. The game commission last year specified that trappers must undergo mandatory classes. In addition, the commission prohibited trapping on several popular recreation areas near the state’s population centers and near trailheads.
Deubel urged the committee to give these new trapping restrictions time to have an effect before considering additional changes.
Deubel noted that animal rights activists working to ban trapping commonly present highly emotional reports about the inadvertent trapping of pets. However, he said nearly all these incidents have involved illegal, unregistered traps. He said the NMWF believes it’s fundamentally unfair to hold the state’s responsible trappers accountable for the actions of a few scofflaws. Outlawing trapping in response to these incidents would be equivalent to outlawing hunting statewide in response to a few poachers, he said.
Trapping is an important economic resource for many rural New Mexicans, Deubel said. The opposition to trapping, meanwhile, is centered in our state’s cities where most residents are far removed from the very real economic effects that predators have on livestock and other food animals.