As TravisC has said, please keep up the call and emails.

Some believe that the legislators don't read or listen to the messages. I've been trying to send an email every day and have received return messages that have shown that the representatives are indeed reading and listening to the information I've sent. I won't say they all will but it only takes a few.

Keep up the good fight!

Start calling them today

This is what I sent.

I am writing to urge you to please OPPOSE SB32.  Trapping is by far the most effective means of controlling wildlife populations.  Almost all other states utilize trapping as a means to conserve and maintain healthy populations of furbearing mammals, as well as populations of game birds and animals upon which predators prey.  Overpopulation of predators can wreak havoc on the numbers of smaller game animals, especially ground nesting birds.  Raccoons, skunks, badger, weasel, fox, ringtail, bobcat and coyotes can decimate populations of  ptarmigan, quail, turkey, prairie chickens and songbirds. 

Banning trapping by the public puts the excessive costs of predator management squarely on the backs of NM taxpayers. When populations are not being controlled through normal, regulated trapping, they will skyrocket, resulting in the need for expensive state or federal predator control.  The high cost of that can be avoided entirely by keeping trapping seasons open as they currently are.

In addition to the monetary cost and the loss of small game populations, another cost not often considered is the cost to the predators themselves.  When healthy populations are not maintained through the use of sound scientific control means such as trapping, mother nature will eventually take control and balance the populations through disease.  Mange, distemper, parvo and rabies are all diseases that will spread through the populations causing massive die offs in the most cruel manner possible.  No person with a heart would prefer to see an animal suffer for weeks on end before succumbing to a horrible disease like that.

I urge you to please vote with your head as well as your heart, and do what is best not only for the people of NM, but also for the animals themselves by OPPOSING SB32.

Thank you.

Here is one of the emails I sent. It has some good statistics that paint a different picture.



I am writing to express my opposition to SB 32, the Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act as introduced on January 19, 2021. After reviewing this bill, the history of the issues, and the available data on this subject, SB 32 is not in the best interest of all New Mexico residents nor has it's proponents used the best available science to draft the bill. I have provided a bullet list of useful data for discussing this bill. These statistics are something that should be considered carefully before voting. The proponents of this bill have supported it to provide safety to pets but as the data shows, domestic dogs are one of the leading causes of cattle and sheep depredation in New Mexico. Specifically, domestic dogs kill more sheep in New Mexico than any other state. This statistic should not be one for which New Mexican's are proud and likely leads to one of the main reasons trapping is increasingly necessary to control predatory furbearers from depredating on livestock in New Mexico to compensate for these other unnecessary losses. Please vote no on SB 32.



SB 32 By the numbers with no emotions:

0 - Number of wild animals that respect geopolitical boundaries such as private or public lands


<1 – Years since the NM Department and Fish & Game revised trapping regulations to include mandatory trapper education and trail set backs to address concerns of supporters of SB 32 (Source: NM Dept. of Game & Fish)

9 – dogs caught in foothold traps on public lands in New Mexico in the 2020-2021 trapping season (Source: Jessica Johnson, Animals Protection Voters of New Mexico)

#2 – Domestic dogs are the second leading predator of cattle in the United States

2,364 – Number of sheep and lambs killed by domestic dogs in New Mexico in 2015

12.9% - Percent predator related calf deaths in New Mexico due to domestic dogs

60.5% - Percent predator related cattle (Greater than 500 lbs.) deaths in New Mexico due to coyotes

15% - Percent of cattle operators in New Mexico that reported predator related deaths on calves in 2015 (Ranks 2nd highest of all US states)

1,290 – Number of cattle (Greater than 500 lbs.) deaths in New Mexico due to predators in 2015 (8th highest in US)

8,210 – Number of calf deaths in New Mexico due to predators in 2015 (5th highest in US)

4,813 – Number of adult sheep killed by predators in New Mexico in 2015

Values

$7.12 million – lost revenue due to death or injury of cattle and sheep in New Mexico in 2015

$5.6 million – Value of cattle (greater than 500 lbs.) and calves that died due to predation in NM

$564,000 – Cost of injuries to New Mexico cattle and calves due to predation in 2015

$833,000 – Value of adult sheep and lambs killed by predators in New Mexico in 2015

$123,000 – Cost of injuries to sheep and lambs due to predation in New Mexico in 2015

Sources of data:

Death Loss in US Cattle and Calves Due to Predator and Nonpredator Causes, 2015. US Department of Agriculture, APHIS, 2017.

Sheep and Lamb Predator and Nonpredator Death Loss in the United States, 2015. US Department of Agriculture, APHIS, 2

Nice Wiz! I just sent another round as well.

Anyone know how many injuries are reported in NM from domestic dogs to both humans and other dogs? Wondering if there have been more than 9 incidents where unleashed dogs have bitten humans or other dogs. Seems like keeping your dog on a leash might fix all of the supposed issues.

May be heard today please start blowing up there phones

Have sent a couple of rounds of e-mails. Hope the clock winds down for you guys before it makes it to the floor.

Im sorry guys we tried we lost by one vote
Im at a loss fir words

Passed 35-34

At least it wasn’t for lack of effort. Sent multiple emails. I’m sorry it wasn’t enough.

Thanks to all it's a hard fight proud to have your support!

well i got an email yesterday. bobcat i sent to be tanned should be here soon. one of the last public land nm cats i guess. got another in the freezer. should tan it too i guess.

unless there is an exemption for us natives?

Terrible news. People’s own personal opinion and emotion blur the science and facts behind this decision for sure. That makes it about impossible to sway their decisions. I too am at a loss of words, just can’t believe it. Very sorry for all NM trappers.

I'm at a loss for words.

Lost a legacy.... I’m sorry to all the guys that earn a living trapping in NM, and I’m sorry to my children who won’t get to enjoy what I loved over many years.

That sucks. Hopefully when pets start dying from uncontrolled predators and rabies cases go through the roof they will see the errors in their convoluted thinking.

Are you saying it’s over and done or that it’s going on a ballot to be voted on by the public ?

If our liberal governor signs the bill ,it will be law.

Did she sign it? Are "natives" exempt?