YOUTH WORKING WITH UNM LAW PROGRAM SHARE EFFORTS TO PREVENT WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISIONS AT CAPITOL PRESS CONFERENCE OCT. 29

Oct. 24, 2003

YOUTH WORKING WITH UNM LAW PROGRAM SHARE EFFORTS TO PREVENT WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISIONS AT CAPITOL PRESS CONFERENCE OCT. 29
Governor declares "New Mexico Brake for Wildlife Day"

In an effort to raise awareness about how to make highways safer for both motorists and New Mexico wildlife, Governor Bill Richardson has proclaimed Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003 as "New Mexico Brake for Wildlife Day."

Students of "Wild Friends," a Center for Wildlife Law program at the University of New Mexico Institute of Public Law, and state agency staff, will host a press conference at the State Capitol Rotunda that day from noon to 1 p.m. Wild Friends is a statewide network of students in grades 4-12 involved in civics projects addressing wildlife conservation.

In 2001, in New Mexico, reported wildlife-vehicle collisions accounted for the deaths of more than 600 deer, 160 elk and 30 bears. As many as 50 percent of such collisions go unreported, according to New Mexico Game and Fish officials, who add that nationally, thousands of injuries and hundreds of human deaths occur from collisions with animals. Property damage is estimated in the millions.

The group Wildlife West will bring an orphaned mule deer fawn to the press conference. Wildlife Rescue will be on hand with a red-tailed hawk, the victim of a vehicle collision.

Speakers will include Wild Friends students, Secretary of Transportation Rhonda Faught, Director of New Mexico Game and Fish Bruce Thompson and Deputy Director of Motor Vehicles Keith Perry.

In 2003, Wild Friends students initiated a legislative memorial requesting state agencies to take specific actions to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in New Mexico. House Joint Memorial 3, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart (D-Bern), was passed by the legislature. In addition to New Mexico Brake for Wildlife Day, the memorial is now being implemented in several ways: