Groups Push for Wildlife Regulation Changes in New Mexico

Bobcats, Foxes and Beavers Among Animals For Which Protection is Sought

SANTA FE, N.M. - Today, WildEarth Guardians, Animal Protection of New Mexico and Sierra Club, presented regulation changes to the New Mexico Game Commission for a group of animals known as “furbearers,” which include coyotes, skunks, bobcats, foxes, ringtails, badgers, weasels, raccoons, beavers, weasels, muskrats and nutrias. The Game Commission refers to this animal group as “furbearers” since they are trapped for their fur.

The groups are pushing for a full review of the “furbearer” management plan with a public comment period, as well as a switch to science-based management to protect “furbearer” populations, especially for gray, kit, and swift foxes and bobcats. The Game Commission is meeting on August 20th in Albuquerque to consider whether to open up “furbearer” regulations for public review.

"New Mexicans want to participate in frequent reviews of policies affecting our diverse and important wildlife. New Mexico's wildlife regulations should be based on the best information available, so populations are not put at risk from management errors. If there is no information, we must proceed with great caution," said Elisabeth Jennings, Executive Director of Animal Protection of New Mexico.

The New Mexico Game Commission reviews management plans for animals such as cougars, bears and deer every two years. The “furbearer” group has been an exception, though. A full review has not been completed for this wildlife group since 2006.

There is also concern about the lack of quotas for this wildlife group. Unlike any other state, New Mexico depends on a "sustainable kill limit" system, ostensibly to prevent over-hunting and over-trapping of “furbearers.” Using this approach, the Game Commission estimates the number of “furbearers” that can be killed, and then creates a numerical range for hunting each animal. As it turns out, these ranges are not based on any empirical data or field studies. The lower number is generally ignored and there is no plan to modify “furbearer” hunting or trapping when the higher number is exceeded.

Additionally, there are no regulations in place when trappers concentrate in one geographic area. As a result, localized populations of animals such as bobcats and foxes can be wiped out completely.

“Bobcats and gray foxes are killed in New Mexico in extraordinary numbers-some of the highest rates in the West, with very little information about their populations. We could be killing too many and not even realize it,” stated Mary Katherine Ray of Sierra Club.

For some species, such as the swift fox and the kit fox, the groups are pushing for killing to be halted completely, due to their rarity.

“Tiny and rare, kit foxes and swift foxes are imperiled. They have been exploited for decades and could be in jeopardy in New Mexico if the Game Commission does not stop seasons on them and begin to implement conservation strategies,” said Wendy Keefover-Ring of WildEarth Guardians.

“New Mexicans enjoy knowing that their beautiful wildlife thrive in complex ecosystems. Conservation must trump pelt prices and greed,” she added.

Learn more by checking out this fact sheet.

View the letter to the Game Commission here.


 

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