Comment Deadline: May 12 / Testify: May 15 @ 1pm PT
If you’ve already submitted a comment to the WRC in support of ending the unlimited killing of California’s coyotes, THANK YOU! If you haven’t yet commented, please do so TODAY! The supplemental comment deadline is 12:00 pm PT Sunday, May 12! The Wildlife Resources Committee (WRC), part of the California Fish and Game Commission, will meet on May 15th at approximately 1:00 pm PT to consider placing stricter regulations on the killing of coyotes. This is a critical step toward ending the current “non-game” classification that allows coyotes to be killed without limits—day or night, year-round.
The WRC will soon decide whether to recommend initiating rule-making that would regulate coyote hunting and give the animals the basic protections they currently lack. While we always prefer that effective coexistence strategies be used rather than lethal means, having a regulated, restricted hunting season and restrictions on when coyotes may be subject to lethal control would save many lives and reduce harm.
Your voice is needed NOW to ensure the WRC hears strong public support for this more humane, effective, and science-based approach to managing California’s coyotes!
Here’s how you can make your voice heard:
1. Please submit a comment immediately (deadline for comments: 12:00 pm PT on May 12) to fgc@fgc.ca.gov with the subject line “End Indiscriminate Coyote Killing in CA.” Use these key talking points, but please personalize your letter for greatest impact! View the WRC meeting agenda and find a link to join here.
2. Attend virtually via Zoom, by phone, or in person in Sacramento at the WRC meeting on May 15th at 1:00 pm Pacific Time. View the WRC meeting agenda and find a link to join here. The meeting starts at 10:00 am and “Take of coyotes” is 4th on the agenda, so we expect this issue to be discussed quite quickly. The WRC will inform attendees about how to indicate that they would like to testify (virtually using the “raise hand” function).
We suggest keeping your testimony polite, pithy, and concise. Use these key talking points, but please also personalize your testimony for greatest impact. The WRC prefers that individuals who testify do not repeat points made by previous speakers so you can also simply say: “I agree with the comments and recommendations made by Project Coyote” to show your support.
It is critical that the WRC hears from as many Californians as possible to demonstrate widespread support for setting regulations around when and how coyotes may be killed and eliminating the indiscriminate killing that is currently allowed.
