Ending Wildlife
Killing Contests
in Michigan
WHAT ARE WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS?
Cruel, Inhumane, and Ecologically Destructive
Wildlife killing contests generally involve a day or weekend-long contest promoting the indiscriminate killing of coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and other wildlife species with prizes awarded to the contestants who kill the most or largest individuals. Wildlife killing contests promote cruelty and disrespect towards wildlife, deplete lands of wild carnivores that are critical for natural processes, such as rodent control/disease prevention, and serve no conservation or management purpose.
OUR WORK TO END WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS
Contests in Michigan
Michigan
Every year, cruel and senseless wildlife killing contests are held throughout Michigan. Project Coyote has identified at least twenty-eight known contests in the state targeting wildlife species, including coyotes, bobcats, and foxes. However, more contests likely occur across the state. It is difficult to assess how many contests occur statewide because organizers and participants are aware that the public does not condone or support these events, and therefore, they operate mostly in secret, with virtual check-ins and little oversight. In 2024, one of the state’s largest wildlife killing contests, The Great Lakes Region Predator Challenge, resulted in 235 dead coyotes and foxes.
TAKE ACTION IN MICHIGAN
- Raise awareness by sharing this page with your community in Michigan and encourage them to take action!
- Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) and submit it to your local newspaper. Inform your community members and encourage them to support the bill to ban wildlife killing contests. Use these talking points.
- Host a screening of Project Coyote’s Killing Games: Wildlife In The Crosshairs and Comfort Theory’s Wildlife Killing Contests, two award-winning films, and invite lawmakers and activists to attend.
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