In the News: Public input sought on trapping
SILVER CITY – The People’s Forum Panel on Public Lands Trapping will hold its second comment period after the New Mexico Game Commission voted to expand trapping across the state and lifted the trap ban in the range of the Mexican wolf in July.
After the vote, the panel received 12,000 citizens’ comments, most requesting a ban on traps on public lands in New Mexico. The panel is requesting New Mexico citizens to submit comments on trapping issues. The panel will look at the comments and issue a report to the public and decision makers.
The comment period began Tuesday and runs until 5 p.m. on Nov. 5.
The TrapFreeNM Coalition held the People’s Forum on Sept. 14. A panel of seven citizens recorded testimony at a public hearing organized by four non-governmental organizations. More than 130 people attended and about 40 testified, including professor Robert Harrison, a small carnivore expert.
In addition to the oral testimony, the panel determined to allow additional public comments for those who could not attend the event and have their voices heard.
New Mexicans can submit written comments to: www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMTrappingSurvey.
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This article was published in the Silver City Sun-News on October 4, 2011.
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