Guest Column: Return to rigorous science for game decisions

John Wilson

The board of Amigos de la Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge recently discussed issues before the New Mexico Game Commission. It is the opinion of the board that the commission could be doing a better job planning management of our state’s cougars and bears.

Aldo Leopold was a great New Mexican (from 1909 to 1924) who wrote one of the seminal works on the ecology of huntable wildlife in 1933, Game Management. He used his strong academic background to set the tone for scientific game management. He would likely take issue with the work the commission has been doing lately. He should be the guide for your actions, not public opinion or political pressure.

The lack of a clear understanding of the status of both species in question is an obvious barrier to intelligent decision-making. We feel one cannot make good decisions without that knowledge.

In addition, the suggestion that some of the taking of top predators — cougars — could take place without recording, is irresponsible in the extreme. The idea that taking cougars on private land falls outside the purview of the commission is unthinkable.

Bears also are poorly understood in the state, although better understood than the cougars. Opening the gates to higher takes of this species is premature without more knowledge.

Finally, we have great concerns about the use of snares and leghold traps in the taking of both these species. Significant numbers of non-target animals, both wild and domestic, will be put at risk. Endangered species such as the Mexican gray wolf especially need to be protected from this scattergun approach to removing animals from the population.

The board of Amigos de la Sevilleta offers these comments with a strong encouragement that the New Mexico Game Commission look to the roots of scientific game management, which are part of our state heritage, and return to rigorous science rather than emotional and politically expedient motivations.

John Wilson retired to Magdalena after working as a teacher, then as a naturalist for the National Audubon Society in Ohio. He is a graduate of Miami University’s Institute of Environmental Studies. He serves on the board of the Amigos de la Sevilleta, the Friends group for Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.

The letters to the editor page is one of the most widely read, influential parts of the newspaper. One letter from you can reach thousands of people and will also likely be read by decision-makers. Tips and talking points for writing your letter are below, but please write in your own words, from your own experience.

• At last official count, only 110 Mexican gray wolves were found in the wild, making them one of the most endangered wolves in the world. Actions such as NM Game Commission’s unwarranted denial of the Ladder Ranch and USFWS permits will only further complicate efforts to recover these rare wolves.

• As the federal agency responsible for the recovery of endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can and must move forward with releases of captive wolves, regardless of the Commission. The Service should be releasing entire families of wolves from captivity instead of deferring to state agencies that are clearly hostile to wolf recovery.

• The federal government nearly drove the Mexican gray wolf to extinction in the 1900’s. We have a moral responsibility to do all we can to ensure these wolves do not go extinct and NM Game Commission is ignoring that sacred charge and their public trust responsibility.

• US Fish and Wildlife Service must be able to release wolves into New Mexico to improve the dwindling genetic health of the wild population. The wild wolves suffer from inbreeding depression and can’t wait for politics or risky experimental techniques like cross-fostering.

• New Mexico Game Commission has given no good reasons for denying the Ladder Ranch or USFWS permits because it has none-only a desire to block the recovery of these native wolves. These decisions should be reversed.

• The New Mexico Game Commission, under Governor Martinez, has clearly become a tool of a small anti-wolf, anti-carnivore minority and its actions are out of touch with the majority of New Mexico voters who support wolf recovery and understand the important role top carnivores play in our ecosystems.

• Wolves are a benefit to the West and are essential to restoring the balance of nature. Actions to interfere with the Mexican gray wolf’s survival and recovery cheat us all of the opportunity to have wolves returned to their critical natural role.

• Mexican gray wolves are unique native animals. They are the rarest, most genetically distinct subspecies of gray wolf in North America and the most endangered wolf in the world. State and federal agencies should do all in their power to move these special wolves away from extinction towards recovery.
  

• Wolves generate economic benefits – a University of Montana study found that visitors who come to see wolves in Yellowstone contribute roughly $35.5 million annually to the regional economy. New Mexico stands to benefit from wolf-related tourism, but only if the Mexican wolf reintroduction is allowed to succeed.

• The livestock industry has a responsibility to share public lands with wolves and other wildlife. Wolves are responsible for less than 1% of livestock losses and there are many tried and true methods to avoid conflicts between livestock and wolves. Responsible managers and livestock owners emphasize conflict avoidance instead of scapegoating wolves.

Make sure you:

• Thank the paper for publishing this guest column.

• Submit your letter as soon as possible. The chance of your letter being published declines after a day or two since the article was published.

• Do not repeat any negative messages, such as “so and so said that wolves kill too many cows, but”¦”  Remember that those reading your letter will not be looking at the article it responds to, so this is an opportunity to get out positive messages about wolf recovery rather than to argue with the original article.

• Keep your letter brief, between 150-300 words.

• Include something about who you are and why you care: E.g. “I am a mother, outdoors person, teacher, business owner, scientific, religious, etc.” Don’t be afraid to be personal and creative.

• Provide your name, address, phone number and address.  The paper won’t publish these, but they want to know you are who you say you are.

Submit your letter to the Santa Fe New Mexican here.

Contact the Governor’s office and request respectfully that she put an end to her Commission’s anti-carnivore state wildlife policies, grant the Mexican wolf permit to Ladder Ranch, and rescind the rule giving the Commission this authority.

Calls are most effective: 505-476-2200 The Governor’s office may try to tell you to contact the Commission. Please tell them politely, but firmly, that Governor Martinez is responsible for the actions of her Game Commission and your message is for her.

Email: http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Contact_the_Governor.aspx

You can also sign a petition to the Governor here.

Please contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe as well.

Sample message:

I am calling to urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to exercise its federal authority over the Mexican gray wolf reintroduction and stop allowing state game commissions in New Mexico and Arizona to undermine wolf recovery. The Service should be doing all in its power to ensure the recovery of endangered Mexican gray wolves. This includes going far beyond risky cross-fostering.  Please expedite the release of adult wolves and wolf families to improve the wild population’s genetic health.

Calls are most effective. Just tell whoever answers that you have a message for Director Ashe: 202-208-4717

Emails can be sent to dan_ashe@fws.gov