Yesterday was a momentous day for wildlife.
In California, two bills that would end the cruel and senseless fur trade in California overcame their first hurdle. By a 9 to 3 vote, the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife passed AB 273, which would ban all fur trapping of fur-bearing and nongame mammals including coyotes and foxes in the state. The Committee also passed AB 44–which would prohibit the sale of new fur products in the state–with a vote of 10 to 4. Project Coyote’s amazing volunteers Kim Boester and Erin Hauge testified at the hearing. These historic measures would set a standard for the humane treatment of wildlife throughout the nation. Learn more about these bills here.
Project Coyote volunteer Kim Boester testifies at the Committee hearing in Sacramento on March 12th in support of AB 273 and AB 44.
In New Mexico, the bill to ban coyote killing contests in the state (SB 76) passed the House of Representatives with a 37-30 vote. Now the bill is on to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for signing! Our own Dave Parsons–Project Coyote Science Advisory Board member–served as the expert scientist for Representative Matthew McQueen, the bill’s sponsor, in support of the bill–helping to counter the misinformation perpetuated by killing contest proponents.
We encourage New Mexico residents to contact Gov. Grisham to urge her to abolish coyote killing contests in the state by signing SB 76 into law. Please send her a brief, polite email here and make a quick call to her at (505) 476-2200.
Project Coyote Science Advisory Board Member Dave Parsons serving as expert scientist in support of SB 76 with Representative Matthew McQueen, the bill’s sponsor.
The bill’s passage comes on the heels of New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard’s executive order banning wildlife killing contests for unprotected species on State Trust Lands in New Mexico in January (watch and read more).
We could not have come this far without your support. So many of you responded to our call to action— writing letters, showing up to testify at hearings, picking up the phone to call your legislators and sharing our action alerts with friends and family. Thank you.
Despite so many forces against wildlife at the federal level, we are making progress at the state and local levels. We are gaining momentum, giving coyotes and other wildlife a voice–and we must take advantage of this opportunity. We depend on individual donors and foundations to continue this critical work for wildlife. If you’re not already a supporter, please consider joining our pack by becoming a monthly donor to sustain our work for wildlife into the future.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping to make this a better world for wildlife!
For Wild Nature,
Camilla Fox
Founder & Executive Director
P.S.: Oregon Residents: The bill to ban coyote killing contests in your state (SB 723-2) will be voted on by the Senate Committee on Judiciary next Wednesday, March 20. Please contact members of the Committee and your own senator in support of the bill–learn more here.