As we have shared, the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) proposed a regulation to ban wildlife killing contests in the Commonwealth. MassWildlife held public hearings on the regulation in October (thanks to all who attended!) and a small but vocal minority of killing contest participants expressed their opposition to the regulation. We need your voice to help push this rule through the last hurdle!
The proposed regulation would prohibit the killing of predatory and furbearing animals including coyotes, bobcats, foxes, otters, skunks, beavers, and raccoons as part of competitions in which participants compete for prizes or other inducements. Minimally, we know that coyotes are killed in these contests every year in Granby and Hyannis.
Help us end this bloodsport in the Commonwealth once and for all—let’s push the regulation over the finish line!
Contact the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board ~ Comments due November 12th
The deadline for the Board to receive public comments is 5:00 pm on November 12, so please submit your comments before then to make sure they’re counted. It’s vitally important that YOUR voice be heard for Massachusetts wildlife!
Please write a concise, polite letter urging the Board to adopt a regulation banning wildlife killing contests in the Commonwealth. We’ve provided additional talking points below. Be sure to indicate that you’re a resident of the state and note any roles you play in your community.
Send an email to: Susan.Sacco@state.ma.us, to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board
Send written comments to:
Chairman, Fisheries and Wildlife Board
c/o Director of MassWildlife
Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
1 Rabbit Hill Road
Westborough, MA 01581
Talking Points
- Banning wildlife killing contests will prevent a small minority of the population from recklessly slaughtering our wild animals.
- Wildlife killing contests are ethically and ecologically indefensible. They are a bloodsport just like dogfighting and cockfighting, which have been outlawed in every state.
- Four states have banned the practice in recent years. Vermont and New Mexico outlawed coyote killing contests in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and Arizona prohibited the events for predatory and furbearing species in 2019. In 2014, California banned the awarding of prizes for killing nongame and furbearing species. Local governments in Arizona, New Mexico and Wisconsin have passed resolutions condemning wildlife killing contests.
- Killing contests are contrary to sound wildlife management. Randomly killing coyotes, for example, disrupts their pack structure, which can increase their populations and increase conflicts with humans and companion animals. Preventing conflicts with the use of humane, non-lethal methods is more effective, ecologically sound and ethical.
- Killing contests jeopardize the public’s support for hunting and damage the reputation of all hunters by violating fundamental hunting ethics. Countless animals are injured or orphaned during killing contests. The events put non-target species, including pets, at risk. Participants use electronic calling devices, which mimic the sounds of prey or young in distress, to lure wildlife in for an easy kill.
- Wild animals play an important ecological role in healthy ecosystems. Coyotes, for example, reduce rabbit and rodent populations, keep environments free of animal carcasses, and increase biodiversity.
Learn more about wildlife killing contests here, the scientific reasons behind why killing coyotes doesn’t solve problems here and here, and the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests here.
Thank you for acting TODAY to protect Massachusetts’ wildlife!
For Compassionate Coexistence,
 |
 |
| Katie Stennes Programs & Communications Manager |
John Maguranis Massachusetts Representative |