Defenders of Wildlife applauds New Mexico for its historic effort to expand the tools and authority needed to manage all state wildlife, and for renaming its Department of Game and Fish and State Game Commission to the Department of Wildlife and State Wildlife Commission. Defenders of Wildlife Southwest Director Bryan Bird issued the following statement to celebrate the news:

“This rewrite of wildlife law significantly broadens and strengthens the state's ability to manage its incredible diversity of wildlife — from beyond those we hunt and fish to the imperiled wildlife in dire need of our support, like the pinyon jay and the Gila Monster. Defenders of Wildlife has been advocating for nearly a decade to modernize wildlife management in New Mexico and is thankful the state is now better equipped to address the needs of this enchanted landscape and the creatures who call it home."

New Mexico Senate Bill 5, Game Commission Reform, was signed into law on March 20. 

For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.  

 

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Charles J. Sharp
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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