Rio Grande Sierran News of the Rio GRaNde ChapteR of the sierra Club May/JuNe 2006 When Will NM Recognize Wildlife As More Than “Furbearers”? urbearers” is the word the New Mex- a wildlife sink, draining away ico Department of Game and Fish animals from a much larger area (NMDG&F) uses for the 17 species of than that occupied by the trap “Fwildlife that are legal to trap, as if all of these diverse line itself. Trappers even have a animals serve only to provide their skins for human word for this. They say the place use. There is no suggestion in the word “furbearer” is “trapped out.” This isn’t “man- of how essential small predators like bobcats, bad- agement” at all – it is destructive gers, weasels, foxes, and coyotes are to the health of chaos. the biotic communities of which they are a part. In Because pelt prices have risen many places, they are the only predators left after sharply in the past few years, decades of persecution have exterminated their larger trapping activity is escalating. counterparts. Without them, prey species like rab- No other wildlife may be killed for commercial sale in New by Mary Katherine Ray Mexico – not deer, not elk, not quail, not fish. We don’t decon- bits, ground squirrels, and rats multiply and, in turn, struct these by calling them impact vegetation, which, in turn, impacts species “fleshbearers.” Yet we still allow like songbirds and the spread of disease. Aquatic trappers to exploit trapped spe- mammals like beavers and muskrats alter ecosystems, cies – the public’s wildlife – for affecting water cycles and patterns of wildfire dis- their own financial gain. A dif- turbance and benefiting many other animals. But to ferent standard is applied – one trappers they are a “valuable resource” only after they that suggests a lack of regard and have been “harvested,” as though, in being brutally respect for these creatures and trapped and bludgeoned or strangled to death, they one that fosters the notion that were being picked like so many peaches – these ripe they have no purpose while alive little bearers of fur. in the wild. Uncontrolled Trapping Unintended Victims Some call trapping a form of wildlife management. Another word that trappers But in New Mexico, there are no limits to how many can’t avoid using is “non-target.” A bobcat awaiting “harvest.” The price on a bobcat’s pelt is averaging $300 and traps a trapper may set or how many animals he may Coatis, javelina, deer, squirrels, some can bring as much as $500. There is no limit to how many a trapper may kill (photo by HSUS). “Furbearers” need you! The NM Department of Game and Fish is kill. Unbelievably, even with rules like this, no one is and birds like quail, hawks, owls, accepting comments on trapping now. Briefly let them know your thoughts about this monitoring the populations of these animals to see and ravens are vulnerable to virtually unregulated activity on our public lands. Contact Rick Winslow at frederic how they are doing. There is no allowance for per- traps, as are endangered species [email protected] or write him at P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, NM 87504. nicious drought or for the relentless rise in human like Mexican wolves, jaguars, population, which fragments wildlife habitat and lynx, and otters. If the trap presses these animals further to the edges. We do is large and the animal small, the injuries may be Traps may be placed on public land. For unsus- know that, as animals are destroyed by traps, more immediately fatal. When trappers release the non- pecting hikers and campers, a trap can ruin what will drift in from surrounding areas to fill the vacant target victims that are still alive, there is no way to should be a peaceful day in the outdoors. The fam- territories. Then these will be trapped and removed know if their survival is compromised by damage ily dog is very vulnerable. The sound a dog makes as the five-month season progresses. Trapping is that might not be readily apparent, like bone frac- when a trap slams on him is universally described by tures, broken teeth, and frostbite. Other things can owners as “screaming.” In incidents that have been go wrong, too. Animals in traps are easy pickings for reported from all over the state, the pain makes dogs other predators. Sometimes in fighting the trap, a bite in a frenzy at the trap, themselves, and the per- State and Local victim can pull it out from its mooring, thus escap- son trying desperately to free it. This may be difficult ing only to die later, unable to get food with a trap or impossible, requiring people to endure waiting Election Endorsements clamped on the useless limb. (continued on page 14) on Page 3! Explore, enjoy and protect the planet Group News Rio Grande Chapter Non-Profit Org. Pajarito Group 7 Sierra Club P.O. Box 25342 U.S. Postage PAID Albuquerque, NM 87125-5342 Northern Group 8-9 Albuquerque, NM Taos Branch 14 Permit No. 612 Four Corners Branch 14 Central Group 10-11 Southern Group 12 El Paso Group 13 MARCH/APRIL 2006 Please direct correspondence to Susan Martin • Sierra Club • 1472 South St.R Francis,IO GRANDE Santa Fe,SIERRAN NM 87505 Rio GRaNde ChapteR diReCtoRy e x e C u t i v e C o mm i t t e e C o N s e R v a t i o N i s s u e C h a i R s Susan Martin, Chair & Council Delegate Conservation Chair Ken Hughes 474-0550 [email protected] [email protected] 988-5206 Agriculture/CAFO John Buchser 820-0201 [email protected] Norma McCallan, Vice-Chair Air Quality Doug Fraser 474-7615 [email protected] [email protected] 471-0005 Energy Gail Ryba 955-9578 [email protected] Laurence Gibson, Secretary Margot Wilson 744-5860 [email protected] [email protected] 915/594-7342 Forests Margot Wilson 744-5860 [email protected] Tom Robey, Treasurer Genetic Engineering Jim Hannan 988-5760 [email protected] [email protected] 955-9578 Global Warming Eva Thaddeus 266-9646 [email protected] Richard Barish Mining, Sand & Gravel Cliff Larsen 466-2128 [email protected] [email protected] 232-3013 Rangelands OPEN Ilse Bleck, Pajarito Group Rep. State Lands OPEN [email protected] 662-2368 Trade Richard Barish 232-3013 [email protected] Blair Brown Transportation Ken Hughes 474-0550 [email protected] [email protected] 259-7190 Urban Issues Susan Gorman 259-7190 [email protected] Valles Caldera Ilse Bleck 662-2368 [email protected] John Buchser Water John Buchser 820-0201 [email protected] [email protected] 820-0201 Wilderness Mary Katherine Ray [email protected] Dexter Coolidge, Northern Group Rep. Wildlife Liz Walsh 915/747-5421 [email protected] [email protected] 988-1197 Mary Katherine Ray [email protected] Robert Grey, Southern Group Rep. 894-6774 Cliff Larsen [email protected] 466-2128 C t i v i s M o mm i t t e e h a i R s Michal Mudd, Central Group Rep. a C C [email protected] 884-3315 Elections Jim Hannan 988-5760 [email protected] Bill Addington, El Paso Group Rep. Environmental Justice OPEN [email protected] 915/369-2541 Finance Committee Blair Brown 259-7190 [email protected] Margot Wilson Fundraising Susan Martin 988-5206 [email protected] [email protected] 744-5860 Dexter Coolidge 988-1197 [email protected] Legal Richard Barish 232-3013 [email protected] Membership Dexter Coolidge 988-1197 [email protected] C h a p t e R o f f i C e Nominating Ken Hughes 474-0550 [email protected] Personnel Blair Brown 259-7190 [email protected] Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club Political Committee Tom Robey 955-9578 [email protected] 110 2nd Street, SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3337 Legislative John Buchser 820-0201 [email protected] 243-7767 • fax 243-7771 Political Compliance Officer Richard Barish 232-3013 [email protected] http://riogrande.sierraclub.org Sierra Student Coalition OPEN Dan Lorimier, Chapter Conservation Coordinator Standing Rules Richard Barish 232-3013 [email protected] [email protected] 243-7767 or 740-2927 Webmaster/Listserver Blair Brown 259-7190 [email protected] Building Environmental Communities Geoffrey Brown 983-7349 [email protected] Sarah Lundstrum [email protected] 243-7767 o u t i ng s C h a i R s s i e rr a C l u b s t R u C t u R e Outings Ilse Bleck 662-2368 [email protected] The Club has three structural levels. The National Board Norma McCallan 471-0005 [email protected] Inner City Outings of Directors determines the overall direction of the Club. Ted Mertig 915/852-3011 [email protected] The National Organization is subdivided into Chapters, and each Chapter is further divided into Groups. One representative from each Chapter reports to the National C o a l i t i o N s / w o R k i ng G R o u p s i N w h i C h t h e C h a p t e R p a R t i C i p a t e s Board through the Council of Club Leaders. Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy Gail Ryba 955-9578 [email protected] Central Group P.O. Box 25342, Albuquerque, NM 87125 New Mexico Wilderness Coalition OPEN El Paso Group P.O.