JULY 2019 IN THIS ISSUE:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
~Margaret Mead
With many state legislatures drawing to a close and others taking a summer breather, I’ve been absorbing the many accomplishments Project Coyote, our coalition partners, and like-minded individuals have achieved for animals over the last six months. While there have been some disappointments, most notably in Oregon with the defeat of the bill to ban coyote killing contests in the final hours of the legislative session, there have been several victories that will reduce animal suffering and save countless animal lives over the coming years.
I’m pleased to share below some of our latest triumphs targeting wildlife killing contests and promoting peaceful coexistence with native carnivores. In our home state of California – which often sets the standard for wildlife protection throughout the nation – we are seeing great progress on many fronts.
Project Coyote continues to be a leader in wildlife protection and conservation – a mission so crucial to the welfare of individual animals and the health of our ecosystems. We couldn’t do it without the help of our supporters and volunteers. Thank you for continuing to be the voice for North America’s wild carnivores.
For Wild Nature,
Camilla H. Fox
Founder & Executive Director
PROJECT COYOTE’S 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT
On April 27, Project Coyote celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary at the lovely Durell Vineyard in Sonoma, California. We commemorated a decade of protecting North America’s wild carnivores and promoting compassionate coexistence. The festive event included silent and live auctions, awards presentations, and more! We gratefully shared this joyous occasion with our supporters, members of our team who came from across the country, and our dedicated volunteers who helped make the event a huge success. We were pleased to announce the winners of our 2019 Pack Awards: Dr. Martin Griffin (Force for Wild Nature Award); David R. Parsons (Leader of the Pack Award); and Laura Honda (Wildlife Educator of the Year Award). Read more about these outstanding individuals here and check out our benefit event photos here.
ARTISTS FOR WILD NATURE
Project Coyote is honored to welcome Daniel Dietrich and Melissa Groo as our newest Ambassadors and members of our Artists for Wild Nature team. Both Daniel and Melissa are accomplished wildlife photographers and writers who use their impressive talents to encourage coexistence and appreciation for our wild carnivores. Please join us in welcoming welcome Daniel and Melissa to the Project Coyote pack!
REFORMING PREDATOR MANAGEMENT
New Mexico: Success!
In an enormous step forward for wildlife, New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham signed a bill on April 2 that prohibits organizing, sponsoring, or participating in coyote killing contests statewide. Project Coyote and our coalition partners commenced efforts to end killing contests in the state almost a decade ago, and we are grateful for the enthusiasm New Mexicans have shown for the campaign, the cooperation of our organizational partners, and the commitment of legislators to make the state of New Mexico a leader in wildlife protection.
In January, Executive Director Camilla Fox, Programs & Communications Manager Katie Stennes, Science Advisory Board member Dave Parsons, New Mexico Representative Judy Paulsen, Creative Associate Joe Newman, Program Associate Vicki Markus and Volunteer Barbara Rockwell represented Project Coyote at community events in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. These included a press conference where State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard issued her Executive Order banning all killing contests on State Trust Land and screenings of KILLING GAMES ~ Wildlife In The Crosshairs (see a list of upcoming screenings here) where we announced the winners of Joe’s innovative New Mexico Coyote Photography Contest.
Also in January, Joe, Ambassador Dan Flores, and Barbara and her husband represented our team at the Roundhouse event in Santa Fe. Barbara and her husband also wrote letters to their representatives encouraging the state to ban coyote killing contests, and Joe’s fabulous photo contest banners provided a fitting backdrop to Dan’s eloquent words!
Across the Nation: More Efforts to Stop Wildlife Killing Contests
After two years of urging by Project Coyote’s Chris Mowry and the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources decided to end its inhumane Georgia Coyote Challenge and switch to educational programs to raise public awareness about coexisting with coyotes. The agency recognized that “government-sponsored programs to eradicate coyote populations are huge money pits that result in failure.”
Project Coyote team members Matt Francis, Don Lipmanson, and Fauna Tomlinson helped urge the BLM to revoke, deny, or require permits for wildlife killing contest organizers in Arizona, Idaho and Nevada. Fauna, and Matt, and Project Coyote Science Advisory Board member Adrian Treves participated in screenings of KILLING GAMES in Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
Arizona: Taking a Stand Against Wildlife Killing Contests
On June 21st, the Arizona Fish and Game Commission voted to ban killing contests for furbearing and predatory species including coyotes, bobcats and foxes. (The rule must still pass the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council before it is enacted.) While the rule has some loopholes that may allow some contests to continue, it will significantly crack down on these barbaric events in Arizona. Following local governments in Dewey-Humboldt, Pima, Tucson, and Yavapai County, the Flagstaff City Council and the Coconino County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions opposing wildlife killing contests in February and March. (In March, Dane County, Wisconsin, similarly passed Resolution 502 by unanimous vote, calling for a state legislative ban.)
Local citizens and conservation organizations, including Project Coyote’s Matt Francis and Linda Bolon, worked hard to abolish killing contests statewide. Read Matt’s media interviews on the topic here and here, and an op-ed by Dan Flores and Dave Parsons here.
Massachusetts, Oregon, New Jersey, New York: Challenging Killing Contests
The citizens of Massachusetts, Oregon,* New Jersey, and New York also rallied in support of legislation banning wildlife killing contests. As public awareness of these brutal events grows across the country, more and more people are speaking up for the animals.
* Unfortunately, while the Oregon State Senate passed SB 723, the coyote killing contest bill, and had overwhelming support in the House, the bill did not make it through the legislature before the end of session.
Oregon: Bill to Ban Cyanide Devices
On May 6, Governor Brown signed into law SB 580, a bill to ban cyanide devices (M-44s). M-44s cause agonizing deaths for wild animals and are a serious public safety threat. The law sets an example for the thirteen other states that currently allow the use of M-44s.
California: Ending the Fur Trade
In March, two bills to end the cruel fur trade in California passed the State Assembly. AB 273 (which would ban all fur trapping of fur-bearing and nongame mammals in the state) and AB 44 (which would prohibit the sale of new fur products in California) are now under consideration in the Senate. We thank Project Coyote volunteers and supporters Kim Boester, Randi Feilich, Erin Hauge, Keli Hendricks, Sharon Ponsford, and Fauna Tomlinson for their efforts to help pass these crucial bills. AB 44 has a hearing on July 9th in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
California: Growing Outcry over Rodenticides
California AB 1788 continues its march through the legislative process. This bill would greatly restrict the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides which harm many non-target animals including bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, owls and hawks. It also prohibits first generation anticoagulant rodenticides on state properties. The bill passed the Assembly and has a hearing in the Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee on July 9th.
REFORMING PREDATOR MANAGEMENT & SCIENCE AND STEWARDSHIP
National: Saving Gray Wolves!
Hundreds of thousands of citizens submitted public comments on the Trump Administration’s proposed rule to remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves. This rash decision to delist wolves, who had been carefully brought back from the finality of extinction following decades of persecution, would allow states to open killing seasons on wolves. Special-interest trophy hunters and trappers would be permitted to senselessly kill wolves before the species has fully recovered. Project Coyote Science Advisory Board Member Dr. Adrian Treves is part of a five-member peer review panel appointed by the USFWS that analyzed the proposal to delist the gray wolf. He and several other peer reviewers found the proposal “chock full of scientific errors,” stating “it looks like they decided to delist and then they compiled all the evidence that they thought supported that decision.” Read the report here.
COYOTE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES AND RANCHING WITH WILDLIFE
Redwood City, CA: Live Interview with Camilla Fox
In a live interview at the Dragon Theatre on May 16, Camilla discussed the intersection of urban life and wildlife with host Angie Coiro as part of the In Deep program on Indeepradio.com.
Petaluma, CA: Keli Hendricks Wins Conservation Award
Paula Lane Action Network has awarded Project Coyote Ranching with Wildlife Coordinator Keli Hendricks the 2019 Badger Spirit Award. This award “honors individuals, groups and businesses who exemplify the best in community service” and who are dedicated to conserving habitat, wildlife and natural resources. Congratulations, Keli, on this well-deserved award!
RECENT NEWS
How to Protect Your Pet from Coyotes (undated)
A Death Of Ethics: Is Hunting Destroying Itself? (Dec. 12, 2018)
Telling the scientific truth about coyotes (Feb. 9, 2019)
Indiscriminate Traps Harm Endangered Mexican Wolves (Feb. 15, 2019)
Senate backs ban on coyote-killing contests (Feb. 27, 2019)
Flores and Fox: It’s time to end coyote killing contests in Oregon (Mar. 17, 2019)
Coyote-killing contests have no place in NM (Mar. 17, 2019)
Game and Fish Commission wants ban on predator killing contests (Mar. 18, 2019)
As weather warms, coyote sightings more common in Michigan (Mar. 18, 2019)
Long portrayed as a villain, the coyote is gaining a flicker of respect (Mar. 25, 2019)
County Supes Oppose Wildlife Killing Contests (Mar. 27, 2019)
Coyote-killing contests face growing outrage, state bans (May 17, 2019)
Rule being considered to eliminate animal killing contests in Arizona (May 20, 2019)
Coyote killing contests are wasteful, wanton behavior counter to Oregon’s values (May 20, 2019)
Our Wild World Podcast: Wildlife in the Crosshairs ~ Interview with Camilla Fox (May 20, 2019)
Scientists find flaws in plan to lift US wolf protections (May 31, 2019)
The relentless slaughter of wolves paved the way for a predator that refuses to die (June 3, 2019)
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Debates Banning ‘Coyote Killing Contests’ (June 10, 2019)
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