APRIL 2014 IN THIS ISSUE:
April 2014
EXCITING TIMES FOR CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE…
These are exciting times for wildlife in California! I’m thrilled to report that last week the California Fish and Game Commission voted 3 to 2 to move our petition forward to ban predator killing contests statewide! If we prevail, this will set the precedent for the nation.
And this month, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously (14-0) in support of an ordinance that bans snares and other body-gripping traps citywide! Last month, California banned the residential sale of toxic rat poisons responsible for killing wildlife and companion animals; and just last week, the city of Davis passed a resolution that takes a strong stand against the use of rodenticides.
With your help and our allies, we are making these victories happen for wildlife and showing the nation what wildlife stewardship, conservation and coexistence looks like. With 17 year-old Grant McComb joining us as our Youth Outreach Associate, we are reaching the next generation of conservationists. Read more below and thank you for your ongoing support. Together we are making a difference for our wild neighbors.
WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS
The pervasiveness of wildlife killing contests is a reflection of the lack of protections afforded to many species by state wildlife agencies. Animals targeted, including coyotes and foxes, often have no protections and can be killed year round in unlimited numbers.
The more we research these killing sprees, the more we learn just how widespread and insidious they are. They often proceed with little publicity, in secret, unmonitored by state wildlife agencies and in remote locations – sometimes at night.
Most people are shocked to learn that it is legal to kill wildlife indiscriminately as part of a contest and that thousands of such contests take place each year, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of animals. Project Coyote is focusing on California, as we believe by banning this practice in the most populous state, we will set the trend for the nation.
On April 16th, our team traveled to Ventura, California to make the case for a ban on killing contests before the California Fish and Game Commission. PC’s Camilla Fox presented the Commission with a scientific opinion letter, signed by more than 35 scientists, in support of a ban. Joined by dozens of Project Coyote supporters who traveled from as far as Eureka, our compelling testimonies swayed the Commission. In addition, the Commission received more than 13,000 public comments in support of a ban and fewer than 10 in opposition. Voting 3 to 2 in favor, the Commission voted to go to notice with a proposed rule, which would make it unlawful to offer any prize or other inducement as a reward for the taking of any mammalian predators in an individual contest, tournament, or derby statewide. Read more here.
That same morning, Camilla’s Op Ed, The Case for Banning Wildlife Killing Contests, appeared in the Sacramento Bee, making a direct appeal to the Commission: “As the commission reviews and updates its predator policies, regulations and statutes with the aim of modernizing predator conservation and stewardship, we believe the place to start is with those practices that clearly violate scientific, ecological and ethical principles. Starting with a ban on wildlife-killing contests is the right first logical step, which will set the standard for the rest of the nation – as we do so well here in California.”
We will continue to keep our California supporters apprised of the next steps with this effort and opportunities for public involvement.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Project Coyote is excited to welcome Youth Outreach Associate Grant McComb. Grant founded One Planet One Chance (OPOC), which is dedicated to environmental activism and youth education, when he was 15 years old. Now seventeen, Grant is driven toward service to the Earth and all its inhabitants.
As a leader of the youth environmental movement, Grant wants to bring his message to his generation, so that they can collectively have a stronger voice.
His testimony at the California Fish and Game Commission’s hearings in Ventura and Sacramento supporting banning predator killing contests and listing wolves under the California Endangered Species Act was so compelling that much of the audience erupted in applause.
He is confident that we can bring about systemic change in the way we treat predators. He also believes that California can provide a model for the rest of the nation.
Read more about Grant here.
Grant McComb and Lush Cosmetics Staff
Grant McComb speaking at the Wolf & Wildlife Rally before the CA Fish & Game Commission mtg., Ventura, CA
Grant McComb and Youth Advocates for Wolves & Wildlife
Grant McComb with Camilla Fox and Keli Hendricks at the Wolf & Wildlife Rally
GOOD NEWS FOR WILDLIFE!
Snares and Body-Gripping Traps Banned in Los Angeles
On April 9th, following testimony by Project Coyote’s Randi Feilich, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously (14-0) in support of an ordinance that bans snares and other body-gripping traps citywide! City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell championed the measure. “
Trapped animals sometimes chew off their legs when struggling to break free, and snares could crush animals’ vital organs or strangle them,” O’Farrell stated in introducing the motion to ban the traps citywide. “Trapping sounds ‘safe’ to people, but there’s no guarantee that the targeted animal is the one trapped and killed”, said Randi Feilich, Southern California representative for Project Coyote. “Pets can also fall victim to the snares”, she added.
Residential Rodenticide Use Banned in California
Last month, California took a crucial step toward protecting wildlife by banning residential consumer purchase of rat poisons responsible for poisoning wildlife (including coyotes, mountain lions, hawks, endangered San Joaquin kit foxes and northern spotted owls) and companion animals. Cities throughout California continue to pass ordinances banning the sale and use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, and on April 15th, the city of Davis passed a similar measure. Harm to wildlife from rodenticides is widespread, documented in at least 25 wild species in California, including coyotes, mountain lions, hawks, endangered San Joaquin kit foxes and northern spotted owls. Cities across California are recommending more humane and natural alternatives to rodenticides. For more information on alternatives, go to Raptors are the Solution.
One Step Closer to a Complete Ban on Penning in Virginia
Penning, the practice of confining coyotes and foxes in fenced enclosures to be chased and mauled by packs of dogs for “sport” and “entertainment,” is a cruel and vicious practice that, unfortunately, exists in states like Virginia. Foxes and coyotes die horribly in the pens- literally torn apart.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed a bill that will restrict and ultimately phase out state-licensed foxhound training preserves. Project Coyote’s Stacey Evans and Becky Pomponio actively worked with allies and legislators to push for a complete ban.
Fox and coyote penning parallels dog and cockfighting – activities made illegal in all U.S. states in the last twenty years. Read our joint report regarding penning that resulted from our coalition lawsuit in Indiana.
Coyote Penning
Coexisting with Wildlife
From California to Massachusetts, Project Coyote is promoting safe and healthy communities by educating and equipping both urban and rural communities with the tools needed to foster coexistence between people and wildlife.
In March, Project Coyote’s Camilla Fox offered special training about coexisting with coyotes to more than 250 staff of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. At this two-day training, city staff learned about coyote ecology, behavior, and the beneficial role coyotes play in urban ecosystems. Camilla was featured on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle after the training, reaching thousands more Bay area residents about how to coexist with coyotes.
In Superior Colorado, Ashley DeLaup provided similar training about aversive conditioning of coyotes –also known as “hazing” – to city staff and a volunteer crew who will work with Project Coyote in helping to educate residents about strategies for reducing conflicts between coyotes, people and domestic animals.
Massachusetts representative John Maguranis, New Hampshire and Vermont representative Chris Schadler and New Mexico representative Judy Paulsen are continuing their outreach and education efforts, with many events planned this Spring and Summer. View our Events page for event details.
Camilla Fox will discuss coexisting with predators, proactive solutions to human-wildlife conflict and successful community-based coexistence models at the Society for Conservation Biology North America Congress for Conservation Biology biennial conference on July 15th in Missoula, Montana. More information can be found here.
NM Representative Judy Paulsen
MA Representative John Maguranis
NM Representative Judy Paulsen
Project Coyote in the News
State Gets Closer to Ban on Wildlife-Killing Contests
By Chris Clarke
KCET
04.18.14
Ban on Coyote Killing Contests Moves Forward
By Peter Firmrite
SF Gate Blog
04.18.14
Viewpoints: The Case for Banning Wildlife-Killing Contests
By Camilla Fox
Sacramento Bee
04.16.14
Animal traps that Grip or Snare are Banned in L.A. as ‘Inhumane’
By Emily Alpert Reyes
Los Angeles Times
04.09.14
Protectors of S.F.’s Urban Coyotes try to Calm Fears
By Jill Tucker
San Francisco Chronicle
03.22.14
Compassionate Coexistence with Predators
Radio Interview with Camilla Fox and Dr. Robert Crabtree
By Eli Weiss
Voice America Our Wild World
03.3.14
Rewilding Out Hearts and Minds
Our inaugural gala benefit with Master of Ceremonies Peter Coyote was a huge success! We are enormously grateful to all who supported this effort that helped us raise more than $40,000.
A special thank you to Peter Coyote and our special guests Bob Crabtree, Tom Knudson, Michael Sutton and Grant McComb. Thanks also to the many artists who donated their amazing talent to the event and to the volunteers who helped make this special day come to fruition. Most especially our deep gratitude to our event hosts, Rebecca and Mitch Mandich, who made the event possible.
Camilla Fox, Peter Coyote, Rebecca Mandich
Peter Coyote & Grant McComb
Sacramento Bee Reporter Tom Knudson and PC Advisory Board member Keli Hendricks
View the Rewilding Our Hearts and Minds Gala Benefit video montage created by multi-media talent Caroline Kraus here.
Here you can create the content that will be used within the module.
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