New Mexico Governor Orders 6-Month Trapping Ban to Protect Mexican Gray Wolves

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has ordered a six-month trapping ban in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area beginning Nov. 1. Richardson says the ban was put in place to "protect the Mexican Gray Wolves that have been reintroduced to the New Mexico portion of the Gila and Apache National Forests."

Here's more from the press release from Richardson's office:

Governor Richardson directed the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish to initiate the temporary trapping ban, while it conducts a study on trapping to determine the level of risk to the Mexican Gray Wolf associated with the various traps and snares.

“The indiscriminate traps and snares in the Recovery Area are harming efforts to reintroduce the Mexican Gray Wolf to its native habitat,” Governor Richardson. “I am ordering this temporary ban to protect the wolves and increase the likelihood for the wolves to survive and flourish.”

The release indicates that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's goal was to have at least 100 free-roaming Mexican Gray Wolves in the Recovery Area by 2005, but there are currently only 39 surviving in the wild.

Richardson stated in the release that trapping and snaring are "negatively impacting" the Mexican Gray Wolves recovery progress:

"In the last eight years, in the Recovery Area located in New Mexico, there have been six confirmed and three probable Mexican Gray Wolves that have been trapped, five of which have sustained injuries from traps or snares, including two Mexican Gray Wolves that had injuries severe enough to result in leg amputations."

After the risks of trapping are determined through the study, Richardson said the Department "shall then pursue appropriate regulations to allow trapping within the Recovery Area only by use of traps and snares that pose minimal risk of harm or injury to the Mexican Gray Wolf."

The ban is being applauded by many conservation groups, but New Mexico trappers are understandably nervous about what the future might hold for them.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

The Gila is right where TWELCH, his daughter, and I are going on a five day packin ML mulie hunt in late October/early November.  I wonder if we will see or hear any of them while we are there.

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

If you see, shush, squeeze and shovel.  LOL!!!!!!!! Sounds to me like some of the huggers are getting their claws in there also.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

If it was up to those huggers, they would have them in every state.  I still say to turn a few loose in Central Park and see if they don't change their mind real fast, LOL!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Topgun 3006


If it was up to those huggers, they would have them in every state.  I still say to turn a few loose in Central Park and see if they don't change their mind real fast, LOL!

Now there's a thought!!!!  I like it!!

Jeff