Landmark ruling preserves “Roxy’s Law” to protect wildlife, companion animals, and public safety
SANTA FE, N.M. — Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM) and its legislative arm Animal Protection Voters (APV) are celebrating a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, issued last month, affirming the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging New Mexico's Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act, also known as “Roxy’s Law.”
Roxy’s Law prohibits the use of traps, snares, and wildlife poisons on New Mexico public lands while preserving limited exceptions for public safety, scientific research, wildlife management, and other narrowly defined circumstances established by law.
The lawsuit, brought by state and national trapping organizations, challenged a narrow provision of the law that allows for religious and ceremonial trapping by members of federally recognized Tribes and Pueblos. On September 8, 2025, a federal District Court dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing to pursue their claims—because eliminating the tribal religious exemption would not remedy their alleged injury, their claims were not ripe for judicial review, and their asserted psychological injuries were legally inadequate. In a written opinion filed on June 8, 2026, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal.
'This is a tremendous victory for New Mexico's wildlife, public lands, and the overwhelming majority of New Mexicans who supported the ban on bodycrushing and leg-hold traps, snares, and poisons on our public lands,' said Jessica Shelton, Senior Program & Policy Strategist for APNM and APV.
'The Court recognized that the legal theories put forward in this lawsuit were too weak to accomplish what the plaintiffs ultimately wanted—to overturn a law that was justly enacted through the legislative process after years of debate.'
Animal Protection New Mexico and Animal Protection Voters led the statewide campaign, alongside members of the Trap Free New Mexico coalition, that resulted in the passage of Roxy’s Law by the New Mexico Legislature in 2021 (Senate Bill 32). APNM and APV also joined Humane World for Animals in filing an amicus curiae brief with the Tenth Circuit, supporting the State of New Mexico's defense of the law. WildEarth Guardians additionally filed a separate amicus curiae brief.
“No animal should ever have to suffer the pain and cruelty inflicted by traps, snares, and poisons, no matter their species or where they roam,” said Kate Hendrix, Staff Attorney for Humane World for Animals. “Despite their assertions otherwise, the trappers who want to inflict harm on animals for sport and profit are not the victims here, and we are glad that the Court recognized that. This decision is a victory for all animals in New Mexico.”
“Cruel traps, dangerous poisons, and lethal snares have no place on public lands in New Mexico,” said Chris Smith, wildlife and wild places program director for WildEarth Guardians. “This was a last-ditch effort to keep treating wildlife as though we live in the 1800s. I’m thrilled to see it dismissed.”
In its written opinion, the Tenth Circuit emphasized that because the plaintiffs challenged only the law's limited tribal religious exemption—not the statewide trapping prohibition itself—even a ruling in their favor would not have restored trapping on New Mexico's public lands. The court further rejected the plaintiffs' remaining claims—that the exemption caused psychological and stigmatic harm to the plaintiffs— finding they presented no judicially cognizable injury and, in any event, were premature (not ripe) because no regulations have ever been adopted implementing the exemption.
'This decision reinforces what our Legislature and Governor made clear— that our public lands should be safe for wildlife, companion animals, families, hikers, and everyone who enjoys the outdoors,' Shelton added.
Traps, snares, and poisons cannot distinguish between their intended targets and non-target animals. For decades, these devices have injured and killed companion animals, threatened endangered species, and caused prolonged suffering to countless animals across New Mexico.
Animal Protection New Mexico and Animal Protection Voters thank Attorney General Raúl Torrez and the New Mexico Department of Justice, as well as the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, for successfully defending Roxy’s Law.
While the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision preserves critical protections on New Mexico's public lands, significant work remains. Roxy’s Law does not prohibit trapping on private land, where steel-jaw traps and snares continue to threaten wildlife, companion animals, and endangered species. Tragically, at least nine endangered Mexican wolves have been caught in traps in New Mexico during 2026 alone, underscoring that indiscriminate trapping devices continue to jeopardize one of North America's most endangered mammals. Animal Protection New Mexico and Animal Protection Voters remain committed to supporting stronger protections for endangered wildlife and reducing the negative impacts of indiscriminate wildlife trapping.