What Will Stop the Killing?

Dear Guardian,

In Salmon, Idaho, in the dead of winter—December 2014, killing contest participants slaughtered thirty coyotes. They came to gun down wolves as well, but, this time, were unsuccessful.

When do we put our feet down and say it is time for the killing to stop? Where do we draw the line? 

We have an opportunity. Our country is talking about guns, aggression, and violence. We are talking about Cecil the lion. Let’s also talk about sanctioned killing contests.

In the western United States animal killing contests—multi-day, gun events that often celebrate the person who kills the most—are increasing in number and scope. This is due in part to the region’s vast public lands, the existence of varied iconic wildlife, and the efforts of gun manufacturers, gun shops, and big game hunters to sponsor these events.

I live in the state that hosts more killing contests than any other, New Mexico. But New Mexico is not alone. You can find killing contests in every state in the Rocky Mountain West.

Do you visit or live in Colorado? You will find killing contests there that target prairie dogs. Montana? It’s coyotes and sometimes wolves too.

In 2015, WildEarth Guardians launched a full-fledged campaign to end contest hunting on public lands. 

We are leading litigation, along with coalition partners, against the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over the December 2014 Salmon, Idaho killing contest. We will prepare additional targeted legal action on high-profile events in other states or wherever we can set a strong precedent for wildlife protection.

Soon, Guardians will be submitting a petition for rulemaking to the U.S. Forest Service. We will request that the agency establish new rules for ensuring wildlife killing contests on our public lands require permits and that the public be fully engaged in the permitting process. You and I, the public—we need the opportunity to say “no”.

In the coming weeks, we will be launching the petition along with a social and traditional media push to draw attention to the issue of contest killing. We will ask you, and your 100,000 peers who follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and email to spread the word.

Your support sends Guardians into courtrooms with credibility, experts, witnesses, experience, and a commitment to change the way wildlife are viewed and treated across the American West.

Your support also enables us to take this issue into the public arena, the appropriate place to formulate our public lands policy. We believe that Guardians like you are the majority, that most people believe coyotes, prairie dogs, and wolves have a right to survive and thrive. During a recent comment period, the BLM received just 10 comments in support of a hunting contest and 56,000 comments against it.

For over 25 years, Guardians has acted as a voice for wildlife, engaging in vital legal battles and fighting for the rights of the voiceless. Please support our work today and enable us to stay in the fight for the long haul.

For the wild,

 

 

Carol Norton
Associate Director
WildEarth Guardians
cnorton@wildearthguardians.org

 

 

 

 

 

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coyote in snow photo credit: Ray Rafiti