Protect Wildlife in Nevada!

Every year, Nevada’s bobcats, coyotes and foxes are targeted in cruel and senseless wildlife killing contests, in which participants compete to kill the most, the largest, or even the smallest animals solely for cash and prizes. Hundreds of animals may fall victim over one or two days and are typically discarded like trash after the prizes are awarded. 

We have an opportunity to ban killing contests in Nevada now but we need your help. Assembly Bill 102, introduced by Assemblyman Howard Watts and Senator Melanie Scheible, aims to prohibit contests across the state. 

On March 15, the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources will consider AB102 along with another important bill to support. Assembly Bill 70 would remove an existing legal mandate – referred to as the 80% lethal mandate – that currently uses a $3 application processing fee of game tags for ‘lethal control’ of predators. Instead, the bill would remove the mandate so that funding would support “programs, wildlife management activities and research that will provide the greatest benefit to populations of big game mammals in the State.” Even if you do not agree that more funding needs to support big game mammals, the important part of this legislation is that it will protect the countless coyotes, ravens, and mountain lions that have been killed using this funding.

Nevada Residents Only:

Let legislators know that you support AB102 and AB70!

Here are three ways you can get involved:

1. Testify in-person or submit written testimony in favor of the bills using these talking points (and please remember to personalize and be respectful): 
   • Written testimony must be submitted in PDF format to AsmNR@asm.state.nv.us by March 14 at noon PDT. You can watch the subsequent meeting on the Legislature’s YouTube Channel.
   • You can provide oral testimony in-person at the meeting starting on March 15 at 4 pm PDT in Room 3143 of the Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV.
   • To ensure folks who attend in person have time to testify, we discourage phone testimony, but if you are unable to attend and would still like to testify you can sign up to give oral testimony over the phone by emailing AsmNR@asm.state.nv.us by March 14 at noon PDT. See agenda details. You will have 2 minutes or less to speak.
     1. Include your name; the name of the organization you represent, if applicable; email address; telephone number; and support for AB102 and AB70. 
     2. To provide testimony via telephone during the hearing starting on March 15 at 4 pm PDT:
        • Call (888) 475-4499
        • When prompted to provide the Meeting ID, enter 83655328682#
        • Press # when prompted for a Participant ID
        • To resolve any issues during the hearing, call (775) 684-6990.

2. Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of your local newspaper to encourage fellow Nevada residents to support a ban on wildlife killing contests. Use these talking points, and check out our tips on writing LTEs.

3. Share this alert on social media, forward it to your network and ask fellow Nevadans to submit comments supporting AB102 and AB70.

Thank you for helping protect Nevada’s wildlife!