September 27, 2024
Media Contacts: info@projectcoyote.org, 415.326.4110
Nationwide Survey Reveals Strong Public Support for Greater Wildlife Protection
Wildlife Killing Contests, Wolf and Coyote ‘Whacking,’ and Other Cruel Practices Among Key Concerns Polled
Fort Collins, CO – Results of a national public survey published today by the Animal-Human Policy Center at Colorado State University, in collaboration with Project Coyote, show broad public support among U.S. citizens for addressing animal protection issues, including for policy solutions aimed at protecting wildlife.
The survey examined public perceptions of key animal welfare policies that are currently being discussed by policy-makers and stakeholders nationwide, including multiple issues related to wildlife and wild carnivore killing. Results show the following levels of support for proposed federal and state policies related to wildlife:
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- 85.8% would support a federal law specifying cruelty towards wildlife is a criminal violation
- 80.2% would support banning purposefully running carnivores over with vehicles
- 78.2% would support a federal law banning wildlife killing contests
- 81.7% would support a state law banning wildlife killing contests
- 81.7% support for a state law restricting hunting season length for wild carnivores
- 77.5% would support a federal law requiring states to limit the number of carnivores that can be killed by a hunter in a year
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“We found that the United States public strongly supports a variety of animal protection policies, especially policies that reduce suffering among wild carnivores.” said Dr Rebecca Niemiec, Director of the Animal-Human Policy Center. “However, we also found that the public underestimates the extent to which others in the country care about these issues. By correcting these perceptions, we can show the public and policymakers that reducing animal suffering is indeed a priority for the vast majority of Americans.”
Survey results also showed strong evidence of pluralistic ignorance toward animal protection policy in the United States for all animal issues examined. Specifically, actual public support for policy was higher than perceptions of others’ support, with an approximately 20-30% gap in actual support and perceived public support. This general underestimation of public support for animal protection in the United States may be reducing the amount of civic and policy action occurring in the country on these issues.
“These results show overwhelming support among the public for protecting wildlife from numerous cruel and inhumane practices such as wildlife killing contests, running over coyotes and wolves with motorized vehicles and extending cruelty laws to wildlife,” said Renee Seacor, carnivore conservation director at Project Coyote. “With such broad public support, immediate action by policymakers is needed to address ongoing abuse and mismanagement of our nation’s wildlife.”
Download a factsheet on wildlife related survey results here:
These survey results reflect the national outrage sparked by a disturbing incident that took place earlier this year in Daniel, Wyoming, in which a man ran down a yearling gray wolf with a snowmobile, captured her, taped her muzzle shut, paraded her in a local bar while subjecting her to extended abuse before killing her. This incident displayed the ongoing lack of legal protection for wild carnivores, including the failure of animal cruelty statutes to apply to wildlife and the legality of the practice of running over wolves and coyotes with snowmobiles and other motor vehicles, also known as “whacking.” The survey results released today show broad public support for banning “purposefully running carnivores over with vehicles,” and a federal law specifying cruelty towards wildlife is a criminal violation.
Federal and state legislation related to these issues are actively being pursued in multiple jurisdictions. In Wyoming, in the wake of this disturbing incident, the state legislature formed an ad hoc panel—The Treatment of Predators Working Group—to determine potential statutory changes to deter the practice of running over wildlife with snowmobiles. After meeting several times over the last several months, and receiving immense public pressure to take action, the working group recommended draft bill language that would codify running over wildlife with snowmobiles into law instead of banning it. The Wyoming Legislature’s Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in Cheyenne to review this bill.
Meanwhile, members of Congress took action earlier this month, introducing the Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons Act, into the U.S. House of Representatives, which has bipartisan support from Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Don Davis (D-N.C.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and Troy Carter (D-La.). This legislation, if enacted, would ban the use of motorized vehicles — mainly by use of snowmobiles — to kill wolves or coyotes on federal lands. The survey results released today show strong support for this federal policy.
The survey results also showed broad public support for banning wildlife killing contests—organized events during which participants compete for cash or prizes by killing the most, the largest or the smallest animals over a certain period of time. In May, The Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act of 2024 was re-introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) with support from more than 16 members of the House of Representatives that would prohibit organizing, sponsoring, conducting or participating in wildlife killing contests on more than 500 million acres of U.S. public lands. Ten states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington — have already outlawed wildlife killing contests within their borders. Survey results show support for both state bans (81.7%) and a federal ban (78.2%) of wildlife killing contests.
The survey results also show strong public support for the protection of wild carnivores beyond wildlife killing contests, including restricting hunting season length, specifically preventing hunting during the breeding season (e.g., when carnivores are in dens with their pups) and placing limits on the number of carnivores that can be killed by a hunter in a year.
To cite this report, please use the following citation: Niemiec, R., Mertens, A., Crooks, K., Kogan, L., Seacor, R., & Santiago-Ávila, F. J. (2024). United States Resident Survey on Animal Protection Issues and Policy Solutions: National Public Survey Report. Colorado State University, University of California Berkeley, Project Coyote, Washington Wildlife First.
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