By BEN NEARY
NMWF Conservation Director
ESPANOLA — The Rio Arriba County Commission has endorsed a resolution in support of protecting wildlife corridors in the Upper RIo Grande Basin.
With the commission’s unanimous vote Tues., July 30, in Espanola, Rio Arriba becomes the third New Mexico county to endorse such a resolution.
The Santa Fe and San Miguel County commissions voted to endorse similar measures July 10. The resolutions urge Congress to support pending legislation to protect wildlife corridors nationwide.
The New Mexico Legislature passed a bill earlier this year that puts up $500,000 for the state departments of game and fish and transportation to identify places where wildlife corridors should be better protected for the safety of both motorists and animals.
At the federal level, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is pushing the pending Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act. His bill would direct federal agencies to collaborate with each other as well as with states, tribes, local governments and private landowners to recognize and protect wildlife corridors.
The federal legislation also calls for establishing a database so the various government and private entities could share information about wildlife migration.
Rio Arriba County Attorney Adan Trujillo introduced county resolution.
Trujillo said the county resolution is in support of the state effort to identify the best places to build wildlife crossings, either overpasses or underpasses, and seek funding to get that done.
“We think from a public policy standpoint it’s important to try to preserve human life as well as animal life,” Trujillo said.
Representatives from the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors) spoke in favor of the Rio Arriba County resolution.
San Miguel County resident Rock Ulibarri chairs the national advisory board of HECHO. Ulibarri said a man died recently in Las Vegas when he hit an elk. Ulibarri said addressing the corridor issue is a public safety issue.
Jesse Deubel, executive director of the NMWF, told the Rio Arriba County Commissioners that similar studies are taking place across the West.
“They have been shown to be incredibly successful in preserving our wonderful wildlife populations as well as in increasing public safety,” Deubel said.
Commissioner Danny Garcia emphasized that landowners would be compensated if the state took any of their lands to securing wildlife crossings.
