Thanks to you, legislation to ban the trophy hunting of bobcats (AB 1254); the use of deadly rodenticides (AB 1788); and the selling, giving or manufacturing of new fur products (AB 44) in California is moving through the state legislature. These bills – which would end the cruel and senseless killing of wildlife – are now up for a hearing in two senate committees.
On July 9th, AB 1254 (bobcat trapping) and AB 1788 (rodenticides) will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee. On the same day, AB 44 (fur trade) will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. While only those residents whose Senators sit on the committees need to write and call their lawmakers, all California residents are welcome to attend the hearings.
Act today—if your Senator sits on one of the committees, urge them to vote YES on the bills!
AB 1254 (bobcat trapping) and AB 1788 (Rodenticides)
Go here to see if one of the following Senators who sits on the Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee represents your district. If so, please write and call asking him or her to support the bills. You can simply say, “As your constituent, I ask you to please vote YES on AB 1254 to end cruel and senseless trophy hunting and trapping of bobcats and YES on AB 1788 to ban the use of rodenticides, which cause a slow, agonizing death for thousands of non-target wild animals.” Additional talking points below.
Sen. Henry I. Stern: (916) 651-4027; written comments here
Sen. Brian W. Jones: (916) 651-4038; written comments here
Sen. Benjamin Allen: (916) 651-4026; written comments here
Sen. Andreas Borgeas: (916) 651-4008; written comments here
Sen. Anna M. Caballero: (916) 651-4012; written comments here
Sen. Robert M. Hertzberg: (916) 651-4018; written comments here
Sen. Ben Hueso: (916) 651-4040; written comments here
Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson: (916) 651-4019; written comments here
Sen. Bill Monning: (916) 651-4017
Please Note: Sen. Stern, Sen. Borgeas, Sen. Jackson, and Sen. Monning sit on both committees. If one of these Senators represents you, you can call them about all three bills at once.
AB 44 (Fur Trade)
Go here to see if one of the following Senators who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee represents your district. If so, please write and call asking him or her to support AB 44. You can simply say, “As your constituent, I ask you to please vote YES on AB 44 to end the cruel and senseless fur trade.” Additional talking points below.
Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson: (916) 651-4019; written comments here
Sen. Andreas Borgeas: (916) 651-4008; written comments here
Sen. Maria Elena Durazo: (916) 651-4024; written comments here
Sen. Lena A. Gonzalez: (916) 651-4033; written comments here
Sen. Brian W. Jones: (916) 651-4038; written comments here
Sen. Bill Monning: (916) 651-4017
Sen. Henry I. Stern: (916) 651-4027; written comments here
Sen. Thomas J. Umberg: (916) 651-4034; written comments here
Sen. Bob Wieckowski: (916) 651-4010; written comments here
Talking Points
AB 1254 (Bobcat Trophy Hunting Ban):
- Californians do not support trophy hunting of the state’s native carnivores. We have already banned the hunting of mountain lions, abolished the use of hounds to hunt bobcats, and prohibited bobcat trapping in the state.
- Bobcats are not killed for human sustenance, but rather are solely hunted for sport and trophies.
- Bobcats are a keystone species that play an important role in the maintenance of healthy ecosystems.
AB 1788 (Rodenticide Ban):
- This bill targets only the most dangerous rodenticides. It would abolish the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) in California, with exceptions for agricultural activities and by special permit. It would also ban first generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) on state-owned lands.
- Rodenticides have widespread and detrimental impacts on the very species that help regulate rodent populations – including bobcats, coyotes, foxes, hawks, eagles, and owls. Rodenticides are counterproductive to long-term pest management solutions for rodent control because they destroy the health of California’s ecosystems.
- Rodenticides can cause a slow, agonizing death for the animals who ingest them.
- Rodenticides pose a dangerous risk to children and pets who may accidentally ingest them.
- There are more humane, safer alternatives to deadly rat poison.
AB 44 (banning the trade of fur):
- By making it unlawful to sell, give or manufacture new fur products, AB 44 would remove the financial incentives to trap animals for their fur.
- Los Angeles, West Hollywood, San Francisco, and Berkeley have already made the decision to ban fur sales.
- On fur farms, animals live in tiny cages, causing tremendous stress that may lead to self-mutilation and infections. The animals are then anally electrocuted, strangled or gassed, and may even be skinned alive.
- AB 44 provides reasonable exemptions for used fur items and fur items used for religious purposes.
Please join us on July 9th in Sacramento!
On July 9th, AB 1254 (bobcat trapping) and AB 1788 (rodenticides) will be heard by the Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee at 9:30 AM. On the same day, at 1:30 PM, AB 44 (fur trade) will be heard in the same room by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
You can simply attend and say, “I support AB 1254 / AB 1788 / AB 44.”
Bobcat Trapping & Rodenticide Hearing:
What: Hearing on AB 1254 and AB 1788 by Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee
Where: State Capitol, 10th and L Streets, Room 112, Sacramento, CA
Date: Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Time: 9:30 AM (we recommend arriving by 9:00 AM)
Fur Trade Hearing
What: Hearing on AB 44 by Senate Judiciary Committee
Where: State Capitol, 10th and L Streets, Room 112, Sacramento, CA
Date: Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Time: 1:30 PM (we recommend arriving by 1:00 PM)
Thank you for speaking up for California’s wildlife!
Camilla H. Fox
Founder & Executive Director