WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Groups Ask Colorado Division of Wildlife to Stop Killing Coyotes in Denver

Letter Details String of Incidents
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

DENVER - WildEarth Guardians, The Humane Society of the United States, other groups and long-time coyote scientist Dr. Marc Bekoff are calling on the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) to stop killing coyotes. A letter sent today details incidents throughout the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area where DOW has killed, attempted to kill, or assisted in the killing of coyotes in the past few months.

“We’ve asked the Division of Wildlife to meet with us to come up with better ways of addressing coyote conflicts. Killing coyotes is not going to protect the public,” stated Dr. Nicole Rosmarino of WildEarth Guardians. “Fortunately, we can resolve coyote conflicts through education rather than violence.”

The letter points out that DOW has publicly acknowledged that human behavior is fueling most conflicts with coyotes, including intentional and unintentional feeding, allowing pets to roam off-leash into coyote habitat, and not securing garbage and pet food. Yet, the DOW has responded to many incidents with lethal force or attempted lethal force.

“We applauded the Division’s public education and coyote hazing efforts,” stated Holly Tarry of The HSUS. “Now we urge the agency to bring their protocol in line with their message that most conflicts with coyotes can be avoided or resolved through nonlethal methods.”

Most egregious, according to the groups, is the recent shooting of five coyotes in Broomfield by DOW and Wildlife Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. One of the coyotes was reportedly injured and escaped, likely dying a lingering death. The shootings were in response to a Feb. 23 incident where a Broomfield policeman played fetch with one of his dogs off-leash at night, and it ran after a coyote. The man pursued his dog and was allegedly bitten by another coyote. Rather than cite the policeman for violating the city’s leash ordinance, five coyotes were shot.

“Lethal control has not reduced the number of incidents in the past and is not the answer for the future,” stated Judy Enderle of Prairie Preservation Alliance. “Public awareness and compliance with laws will allow us to take responsibility for our actions and co-exist with wildlife.”

WildEarth Guardians, The HSUS, and other groups have been working closely with city governments to develop sound approaches to coyote issues. The groups point to municipalities such as Aurora, Centennial and Denver leading the way with effective, public education-based plans.

The groups have repeatedly urged Greenwood Village to end its lethal coyote control program, where coyotes can be shot on-sight by the city’s hired shooter. The city has tried to obtain a permit to trap coyotes. While initially turned down by the state in February, it re-applied for a permit last Thursday.

Signatories to today’s letter are: The HSUS; WildEarth Guardians; Dr. Marc Bekoff, who has studied coyotes since 1970; Arapahoe County Citizens for Wildlife; Prairie Preservation Alliance; and Project Coyote. For a copy of the letter, email nrosmarino@wildearthguardians.org or htarry@humanesociety.org.