BAN ON WOLF HUNTING

Since my research into the Texas blue dogs started in earnest about a year ago I have immersed myself in the lore, history and biology of the North American canidae. I was both interested and appalled to find, when I first read this item - which Glen Venezio posted to a Puerto Rico animal newsgroup of which I am a member...


New Mexico Governor Richardson Issues Trap Ban

Governor Bill Richardson today issued an executive order that temporarily bans leg-hold and body-crushing traps within the Mexican wolf recovery area in New Mexico. The Governor's announcement comes less than two months after WildEarth Guardians and a coalition of groups petitioned the Gila National Forest and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban traps within the Mexican wolf recovery zone.

Please send a message to Governor Richardson today thanking him for his bold leadership.

Sadly, more than a dozen Mexican wolves have been caught in steel leg-hold traps in the last few years, including members of the Middle Fork Pack in New Mexico. Today both the alpha male and the alpha female of the Middle Fork Pack have only three legs, one due to a trap injury and the other from a bullet.

The Executive Order also calls for the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish to study whether traps can be used with "minimal risk of harm or injury" and then issue a report to the New Mexico Game Commission. The order also calls on the New Mexico Department of Tourism to issue a report on the potential economic benefits due to wolf ecotourism if a healthy Mexican wolf population existed.

Governor Richardson's announcement and bold leadership come at a critical juncture in the Mexican wolf recovery effort. In the last few months four wolves have been illegally shot, including two alpha males, a female and a two-year old male.

But wolves still need your help. The New Mexico Game Commission will also take the matter up at its next meeting on August 28th in Albuquerque. Please send an email to the Game Commission urging the members to make the Governor's directive more permanent.

Thanks to all of you who have made phone calls, written letters, sent faxes, and showed up at meetings on behalf of the Mexican wolf. We'll continue to keep the pressure on and we plan to make today's good news the beginning of a positive trend for this fascinating and vital animal.

Long Live the Lobo,

John Horning
Executive Director
WildEarth Guardians

To take action on this issue, click on the link below:
http://wg.convio.net/site/Advocacy?s_oo=gUyxvRP7sovStjnwkdkCqQ..&id=375
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