Protect Oregon’s Coyotes!
Speak up to let the ODFW Commission know you support banning coyote killing contests in Oregon
Every year, cruel and senseless coyote killing contests are held throughout Oregon. These contests, which are counter-productive to science-based wildlife management principles, promote the indiscriminate killing of coyotes, with prizes awarded to the individuals who kill the most, largest or even smallest animals. More than 1,000 Oregon coyotes have been killed in these contests over the last four years, yet many Oregonians are not even aware that these contests are pervasive across their state.
Last month, Project Coyote and a coalition of Oregon wildlife conservation organizations submitted a petition to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Commission proposing a ban on coyote killing contests in the state. ODFW should ban these contests given the cruelty and disrespect they display towards wildlife, their negative ecological impacts and the lack of evidence that contests serve any purpose other than to kill for “fun”.
We need your help.
Urge the ODFW Commission to accept our petition banning coyote killing contests by December 5th!
Here’s how you can help:
- Submit written testimony to odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.
gov. Craft your email in your own words using the Talking Points below. Please be sure to submit your message by December 5th. - Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) and submit it to your local newspaper.
- Inform your fellow Oregonians and encourage them to support our petition.
- Use the talking points below. See tips on LTEs here.
- Spread the word by sharing this alert with other Oregon residents and encouraging them to take action.
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Talking Points
(Please personalize and be respectful)
- There is no scientific evidence that indiscriminately killing coyotes reduces their populations, protects livestock or increases populations of “game” animals like deer. Randomly killing coyotes disrupts their pack structure, which can increase their populations and increase conflicts between coyotes, humans, and domestic animals. Preventing conflicts by utilizing humane, non-lethal solutions is more effective.
- In the last four years, at least 1,000 coyotes have been indiscriminately and brutally killed in coyote-killing contests across Oregon.
- A recent poll by the Remington Research Group found that a strong majority of Oregonians, in all five congressional districts, support public policy to ban coyote killing contests.
- Coyotes targeted by killing contests play an important ecological role in healthy ecosystems. For example, coyotes reduce rabbit and rodent populations, scavenge animal carcasses and increase biodiversity. These contests disregard ecological health and sound management.
- Eight states have prohibited wildlife killing contests and several more are considering bans. As awareness of these barbaric events spreads, Americans are increasingly demanding an end to this bloodsport.
- Killing contests damage the reputation of responsible hunters by violating fundamental hunting ethics. Countless animals are injured or orphaned during killing contests. The events also put non-target species at risk.
- Killing contests are a bloodsport. Killing coyotes for thrills and prizes—with no respect for their intrinsic or ecological value—personifies senseless violence and wanton waste.
- This petition is not a ban on hunting and does not impact other laws. Individuals will still be allowed to hunt coyotes and other wildlife according to state laws.
- Oregon’s wildlife is managed in trust for all Oregonians. Allowing individuals to wantonly kill wildlife as part of a cruel bloodsport is a grave violation of the state’s obligations to hold wildlife as a public trust for all citizens.