We need your help today to stop HB 553, a new bill introduced in Ohio that would transfer management decisions over coyotes from Ohio’s state wildlife agency to the state legislature. This does not bode well for coyotes! The first hearing for this bill is scheduled for tomorrow, May 12, at 11:00 am CT.
Ohio residents only, please ask your legislators to oppose HB 553 and keep the state’s coyote management out of the legislature and where it belongs—with scientists and those appointed as stewards of our state’s wildlife.
HB 553 would:
- prevent Ohio’s wildlife professionals and scientists from contributing to humane and scientific coyote management decisions;
- put coyote management in the hands of the state’s legislature, a political body that is heavily influenced by agriculture and trophy hunting special interests;
- allow indiscriminate hunting and trapping of coyotes year-round; and
- prevent the Ohio Division of Wildlife from adopting any rules to protect coyotes and end cruel and wasteful wildlife killing contests.
The science shows that indiscriminate killing of coyotes does not work for managing human and livestock/wildlife conflicts. This bill has the potential to increase cruel, non-selective killing practices including trapping and barbaric wildlife killing contests. Such practices do nothing to protect livestock or increase game animal populations for hunters and they frequently leave countless animals wounded or orphaned. Responsible hunters agree that wildlife killing contests are anathema to fundamentally ethical and humane hunting practices.
What you can do:
- Ohio residents only – please call your Ohio State legislators now. Look up your legislator’s phone numbers here: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/
Here’s all you need to say:
“Hello, my name is ___ and I’m one of your constituents. I’m calling to ask you to oppose HB 553, which would prevent the Ohio Division of Wildlife from using science to protect our state’s coyotes. Thank you.” - Then, send a written message to your legislators. Please personalize your message for the biggest impact. You can use any of the talking points provided and if you want, tell a personal story that relates to why you oppose HB 553. Please be sure to indicate if you play any related roles in your community, such as a biologist, wildlife rehabilitator, or ethical hunter who opposes wildlife killing contests.
- Submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
Letters urging readers to show their support for a non-lethal program are crucial. Point readers to this link to learn more. You can also find tips for writing letters here and talking points below. Here are a few examples of LTE submission links:
Cincinnati Enquirer
Columbus Dispatch
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Talking points:
- Coyote management decision-making belongs with our state’s knowledgeable wildlife biologists and scientists, not with a political body that too often bases decisions on special interests.
- Wildlife killing contests damage the reputation of responsible hunters by violating fundamental hunting ethics.
- Science shows that indiscriminate killing of coyotes does not work for managing human and livestock/wildlife conflicts and does not increase game populations.
- There is no scientific evidence that indiscriminately killing coyotes serves any legitimate wildlife management purpose.
- Randomly killing wildlife disrupts healthy ecosystems and leaves countless animals injured or orphaned.
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 Ohio’s wildlife!
Please share this action alert with other Ohio residents.
For Compassionate Coexistence,
Camilla H. Fox
Founder & Executive Director