As open land fades, wildlife is squeezed

Editorial from the Santa Fe NewMexican.com - Does New Mexico have too many bears? Or too many people? The state Game and Fish Department is gathering comment from the homo sapiens bloc — all 2 million of us — on its proposal to allow 733 black bears to be killed next year — 327 more than this year's quota. That quota includes animals hit by traffic, exterminated as nuisances and shot by hunters. And, say state officials, the numbers reflect the growing population of ursus americanus. But the game-and-fish folks don't really know what that population is; they're making educated and computerized guesses based on what their wardens see in the wild. Judging from this summer's close encounters between bears and campers, there might indeed be a population spike — although conservationists are making a case that the run-ins could be a matter of food: shortage of forage from late frosts in the high country, along with lots of it being left by recreationists, cabin-owners and campers where it invites cuddly-looking, potentially dangerous, visitors. Read more

As open land fades, wildlife is squeezed