SENATE MEMORIAL 91

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A MEMORIAL

URGING AWARENESS BY CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES OF CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING DRONES, THAT MAY AFFECT WILDLIFE AND REQUESTING A STUDY TO RECOMMEND METHODS FOR THE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE FROM DRONES.

     WHEREAS, a drone is an unmanned device used or designed for navigation or flight that is guided remotely or by an onboard computer or control system; and

     WHEREAS, while there are many positive uses for drones, such as scientific monitoring and research, search and rescue and forest fire detections, drones have been shown to be harmful to wildlife populations; and

     WHEREAS, drones can change the natural behavior of wildlife by separating mothers from their young, disrupting animals while they are trying to eat or sleep, disturbing nests and causing stampedes and other behaviors; and

     WHEREAS, wildlife can be injured when attempting to escape or avoid drone activity; and

     WHEREAS, Alaska, Colorado and Montana have banned the use of drones for hunting and fishing; and

     WHEREAS, many national parks, including Carlsbad caverns, Yosemite, Olympic, Grand Canyon, Arches, Zion and Canyonlands national parks, have banned drones completely; and

     WHEREAS, hunting and fishing activities bring more than six hundred thirteen million dollars ($613,000,000) annually to New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, prohibiting the use of drones for hunting and fishing protects the "fair chase" principle of hunting and helps keep alive the tradition of ethical hunting in New

Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the state game commission recently passed a rule protecting game mammals, game birds, game fish, fur-bearing animals and endangered species from drones used for hunting, fishing and other activities; and

     WHEREAS, protecting wildlife from drones helps keep New Mexico's wildlife populations safe, stable and healthy; and

     WHEREAS, other state agencies with wildlife responsibilities include the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department and the state land office;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that all state entities with wildlife responsibilities be encouraged to stay aware of changing technologies, including drones, that may affect wildlife; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to recommend methods for the protection of wildlife from drones; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the department of game and fish, the chair of the state game commission, the director of the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department and the commissioner of public lands.

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