Massachusetts residents, we need your help to urge the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) to pass a regulation prohibiting coyote killing contests in the state. During these barbaric events, participants compete to kill the smallest, the largest, or the greatest number of coyotes for entertainment and prizes. Coyotes are killed in these contests every year in Granby and Hyannis.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a proposed rule to strip Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states – a premature decision unsupported by science that will further threaten an already imperiled species. Federal protections for gray wolves brought the species back from the brink of extinction following decades of persecution. This rash decision to delist wolves from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife would allow states to open killing seasons on wolves, permitting special interest trophy hunters and trappers to senselessly kill wolves before the species has made a full recovery.
On February 28th, the Oregon Senate Committee On Judiciary heard testimony for SB 723-2—the bill to ban ethically and ecologically indefensible coyote killing contests in Oregon.
Thanks to your support, we’re almost there! SB 76—which would ban coyote killing contests in New Mexico—has made it through the Senate and two committees in the House and is very close to passing. We need your help TODAY to get it through the full House.
On Tuesday, March 12, the California Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife will be considering two bills that would end the cruel and senseless fur trade in California. Your voice is needed to help pass this important legislation, which would set a standard for the humane treatment of wildlife throughout the nation. You helped us get a ban imposed on commercial and recreational bobcat trapping in California in 2015—now let’s extend that ban to the other animals who suffer in the fur trade.