Bobcat Trapping Banned in California!

In August, the California Fish and Game Commission voted in favor of ending the commercial and recreational trapping of bobcats in California, becoming the first state in the nation to do so.

This victory was the culmination of a concerted effort by a coalition of groups. Project Coyote hand delivered to the Commission a petition with nearly 30,000 signatures supporting the “no bobcat trapping” option, and is keeping the pressure on the Commission to implement the ban immediately. Read more about this historic victory.

Watch a short video on this historic victory!

Legal Action in Mendocino County, CA Challenges USDA “Wildlife Services” Killing Program

In July, Project Coyote and allies filed suit challenging Mendocino County’s contract renewal with “Wildlife Services,” a notorious federal wildlife-killing program that killed close to 3 million animals in the U.S. in 2014. According to the complaint, the county’s renewal of the contract violates the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and a previously signed settlement agreement, in which the county agreed to comply with CEQA before renewing its contract with Wildlife Services. As part of the lawsuit, Project Coyote’s Camilla Fox presented non-lethal alternatives before the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors and is working with local residents to build support and momentum for a countywide shift to a more ethical and ecologically sound way of living with wildlife.

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Wildlife Killing Contests Featured at Speak for Wolves Conference

In August at the Speak for Wolves Conference in West Yellowstone, Project Coyote Founder and Executive Director Camilla Fox led a team of panelists to discuss the pervasive and cruel practice of “wildlife killing contests” that award prizes to those who kill the most and largest animals including coyotes, bobcats, foxes and even wolves – often on public lands. Conference attendees also got a sneak peek of Project Coyote’s film trailer that will help expose this unconscionable practice and empower citizens to take action to end it.

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Challenging New Mexico’s War on Wolves, Bears and Cougars

In late August, Science Advisor Dave Parsons spoke out on behalf of Project Coyote at a rally and a public hearing as part of a coalition opposing the New Mexico Game Commission’s new rule allowing increases in cougar trapping and bear hunting. The Commission also denied a federal request to release more Mexican Gray Wolves into New Mexico.

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Federal Endangered Species Act Under Threat

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed draconian changes to the long standing regulations for citizen petitions for adding species to the Endangered Species Act’s list of threatened and endangered species. The proposed changes would make it difficult if not impossible for most citizens and conservation organizations to file petitions. Project Coyote will submit a comment letter endorsed by members of our Science Advisory Committee opposing the proposed changes.

The deadline for comments is September 18.

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OTHER NEWS

Wolves Returning to California

In late August, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that a family of seven wolves, called “the Shasta Pack,” has made Siskiyou County home. With allies, Project Coyote secured protections for wolves under the California Endangered Species Act. Efforts are underway to promote coexistence and better understanding of wolves to mitigate negative encounters with ranchers and hunters. Read More

Catch Project Coyote at an Event Near You

Meet our Representatives and Science Advisory Board Members who are on the front lines advocating for better protections for apex predators and speaking about living with wildlife. For more information follow us on Facebook and check out our events page. Find an Event here

Volunteer Spotlight

A tireless animal advocate, Fauna Tomlinson works non-stop to help coyotes and other misunderstood and maligned wildlife throughout California and beyond. A resident of Tahoe, California and a wildlife rehabilitator, Fauna volunteers as a Project Coyote Program Associate. Fauna promotes the organization’s mission through social media and through advocacy campaigns aimed at changing laws and policies regarding how predators are treated in North America. Watch Fauna in action here. Watch Fauna in Action here

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