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Friday, August 16, 2013
New Mexico: Land of Enchantment? More like Land of Entrapment
Conservation groups call for change in State's brand to more accurately reflect treatment of wildlife
Contact: Taylor Jones (505) 490-5141
Santa Fe, NM – Given the recent spate of wildlife abuses, including a new high-body-count contest hunt, conservation groups today stated that New Mexico’s brand name “Land of Enchantment” is inaccurate and should be changed via a poll calling for suggestions for New Mexico’s new moniker. Groups plan to pick the top three submissions and present them to the New Mexico Tourism Department and market the name through social media outlets.
“New Mexico’s current brand name doesn’t reflect the state’s abuse of wildlife and wildlands,” said Taylor Jones, Endangered Species Advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “We don’t find killing contests and leghold traps all over public lands ‘enchanting.’”
A statewide prairie dog killing contest is only the most recent in a long list of abuses endured by the State’s wildlife. Trapping is nearly unregulated on New Mexico’s public lands. The New Mexico Game Commission recently lifted a trapping ban in the recovery area of the endangered Mexican wolf, despite evidence that trapping is harming the population of 75 rare animals. Because of leghold traps, two wolves have died, two have full leg amputations, and several are missing toes. Recently a Mexican wolf mother was shot and killed by a poacher, and her dependent pups starved. The Game Commission has repeatedly rejected trapping bans – instead expanding trapping on public land - and the New Mexico legislature rejected legislation to ban trapping and poisons on public lands.
New Mexico uses the second highest number of poison-ejecting devices, called M-44s, for wildlife killing in the nation (only after Texas). M-44s are baited traps designed to lure an animal. When the animal tugs on the lure, toxic sodium cyanide is propelled into the victim’s mouth. These dangerous booby traps are indiscriminant and have imperiled non-target wildlife, killed pets, and injured people. The State also allows unsustainable levels of cougar and black bear hunting.
Cities and counties in New Mexico have recently taken up arms against prairie dogs. The Clovis City Commission is considering an ordinance that would require private landowners to poison prairie dogs on their property, whether landowners want to poison or not. Chaves County Commissioners held a hearing on an ordinance that would prohibit the importation and relocation of prairie dogs within Chaves County.
The prairie dog killing contest, organized by a gun shop in Los Lunas, will award a Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 rifle to the person who turns in the largest number of “tails.” These multiple threats to prairie dogs are particularly egregious since the Gunnison’s prairie dog is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act in the montane portion of its range, and is listed in New Mexico as a “species of concern.” Killing contests that incentivize high wildlife body counts – such as the current prairie dog killing contest and more than a dozen coyote killing contests that were held in the last year – are legal in New Mexico. The New Mexico legislature recently rejected legislation to ban killing contests.
A coalition of conservation groups are asking citizens to submit nicknames for New Mexico that more accurately reflect the states’ treatment of wildlife and wild places. Submit your creative ideas here.
“If they truly want wildlife slaughter to be part of the character of New Mexico, then they shouldn’t be shy about it,” said Jones. “‘The Thrill-kill State’ has a certain ring to it, I think.”
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