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Press Conference Announcing Citizen Forum:
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Press Conference Announcing Citizen Forum:
The People’s Forum on Public Lands Trapping
Contact: Wendy Keefover (505) 988-9162 x1162
The press conference announced the People’s Forum and willbe held at 11 am:
Albuquerque Peace & Justice Center
202 Harvard SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Photos and B-roll available.
The People’s Forum on Trapping, which follows the Tuesdaypress conference on Wednesday, provides a unique opportunity for the entire NewMexican public to add their voice to the debate over public lands trapping inNew Mexico. Sponsored by non-profits, the TrapFreeNM.org coalition, the hearingis not from a governmental agency.
The New Mexico Game Commission held its trapping hearing onJuly 21st in a remote corner of the state. It purposely precludedpublic process, and then in it voted to increase trapping in New Mexico andeven in wolf country, despite 12,000 voices that had asked it to ban traps onpublic lands. To remedy thisconduct, citizens will hold a more democratic hearing in a central location formost New Mexicans. The broadpublic is encouraged to attend.
The People’s Forum features a citizen panel, which willlisten to the broad public, and educational materials from TrapFreeNM.org.
People’s Forum onPublic Lands Trapping
Wednesday, September14, 2011
5:30 to 8:30
The Wool Warehouse
516 First Street, NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
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
Helga Schimkat, Attorney
This summer, New Mexicans generated over 12,000 comments tothe Department of Game and Fish and that requested a trap ban on publiclands. Yet, the New Mexico GameCommission ignored this appeal. OnJuly 21 it expanded trapping acrossNew Mexico, and even lifted the trapping closure in the range of the Mexicanwolf. Other problems:
- Since 2002, 15 Mexican wolves have been caughtin non-governmental traps. Twodied. Five more sustainedinjuries, while three required amputation surgeries (two wolves had entirelimbs removed). In the wild, lobos number less than 60 individuals;yet, over 20% of that number have been trapped.
- Traps can be placed as close as 25 yards fromany trail with no warnings in New Mexico. As a result, many people and pets have had negative injuriousencounters. Dogs have lost limbs from trap injuries. People have been injured while helping their dogs.
People, pets, and wildlife were shut out from GameCommission’s recent decision to expand trapping . . . and so were you. Now it’s the people’s turn to be heard
The press conferenceannouncing the People’s Forum and will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, September13th at:
Albuquerque Peace& Justice Center
202 Harvard SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
People’s Forum onPublic Lands Trapping will be held on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 5:30 to8:30, at:
The Wool Warehouse
516 First Street, NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
