We reached out to you this summer asking for your help in urging Mendocino County to permanently terminate its contract with the USDA Wildlife Services, which has trapped, shot, and killed hundreds of bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, mountain lions and other wildlife in Mendocino – and inadvertently killed non-target species, including imperiled wildlife and beloved pets. The County has been using taxpayer dollars to pay for their lethal wildlife management program, often on behalf of commercial agricultural interests.
On December 17, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will vote to decide whether to terminate the contract with Wildlife Services in favor or a more humane approach that will protect both livestock and wildlife.
Let’s end Mendocino’s lethal control program!
Let the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors know that you support the non-lethal program alternative. This past year, as required by CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), Mendocino County prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to assess the environmental impacts of both a lethal “Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM)” program contracted with USDA Wildlife Services, and a “Non-Lethal Program Alternative.” Unfortunately, despite public opposition to the IWDM, the County appears poised to not only renew their contract with Wildlife Services, but to actually expand their lethal methods of wildlife control to include neck wringing, cervical dislocation and the use of CO2, all of which can cause extreme pain and suffering.
There are several ways to help:
ONE: Sign our petition to the Board of Supervisors.
Go here to sign our petition asking the Board of Supervisors to adopt the non-lethal program alternative (Mendocino County residents only).
TWO: Submit written comments in support of the non-lethal program alternative.
Written comments are due no later than December 16, 2019. Please see sample talking points below.
Email your comments to the Supervisors: BOS@mendocinocounty.org
Mail your comments to:
Clerk of the Board
501 Low Gap Rd, Rm. 1010
Ukiah, CA 95482
THREE: Attend the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, December 17th.
You will have an opportunity to speak in favor of the non-lethal program alternative – or just attend and show your support (and invite your friends, family and coworkers to attend). Please be respectful and keep your comments brief (2-3 minutes). See talking points below.
What: Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing and Vote
Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Time: 1:30 pm (we suggest arriving by 1:00 pm))
Location: Board of Supervisors Chambers, County Administration Center, 501 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, California
FOUR: Submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
Letters urging readers to show their support for a non-lethal program by submitting written comments and attending the public meeting are crucial. Point readers to this link to learn more. You can also find tips for writing letters here and talking points below. You may submit your letter to one or more of the following papers:
Mendocino County Observer: observer@pacific.net
Mendocino Voice: info@mendovoice.com
Willits Weekly: willitsweekly@gmail.com
Willits News: editorial@willitsnews.com
Anderson Valley Advertiser: editor@theava.com
Ukiah Daily Journal: udjkcm@ukiahdj.com
Fort Bragg Advocate-News: editor@advocate–news.com
FIVE: Got Questions?
Email the Mendocino Non-lethal Wildlife Alliance at mendononlethal@gmail.com with questions or for more ways you can help.
Talking Points:
Here are talking points you can use in your written comments, at the public meeting, and in your letters to the editor:
- Ethics tell us that this needless killing and depletion of ecologically vital wildlife is wrong and rarely justified.
- Mendocino County should end its lethal program (the “Integrated Wildlife Damage Management Program”), permanently terminating its contract with USDA Wildlife Services. Instead, the County should adopt and implement the proposed non-lethal program alternative for addressing conflicts with wildlife.
- Every year, Wildlife Services traps, shoots, and kills hundreds of bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, mountain lions and other wildlife, largely at the behest of private ranchers and other agricultural interests. This flies in the face of the Public Trust Doctrine which maintains that wildlife is held in the public trust and we all have a say in how our wildlife is managed.
- Non-target species – including imperiled wildlife and dogs and cats – fall victim to Wildlife Services’ lethal approach to wildlife management. One Mendocino trapper admitted to killing more than 400 dogs, in addition to coyotes, mountain lions, bears, skunks, raccoons, and bobcats.
- Mendocino residents do not want their taxpayer dollars spent on a lethal program that cruelly and senselessly kills wild animals.
- The best available research shows that killing wildlife to reduce predation on livestock or damage to crops is rarely necessary or effective. For example, such killing may actually increase populations of coyotes while negatively impacting apex predator species such as mountain lions. More information here and here.
- There are many cost-effective non-lethal methods of addressing human-wildlife conflicts, including the use of livestock guard animals, appropriate fencing, night-corrals and innovations like Foxlights. More information here.
Thank you for speaking up for wildlife!
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| Camilla Fox Founder & Executive Director |
Don Lipmanson Project Coyote Advisory Board |