Your Action is Needed Now!
Here is how!
We are following up on our newsletter, which was recently mailed and is also available on-line, with the focus on our bill to prohibit coyote killing contests in Maine. Maine Friends of Animals has a long history with coyotes going back to snaring in 1999, and we have been preparing for the challenges of this legislation in the 132nd Legislature. To debunk the outdated notion from extreme hunting groups that there can be no changes in any hunting practice regardless of how inhumane, unnessary and unethical they are.
As we wait for our bill to be printed and sent to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, we want to alert you to our schedule to get “An Act to Prohibit Coyote Killing Contests” passed. We will send you periodic Action Alerts on the progress of the bill and how you can help at each point. This legislative action happens for only 4-6 months over a 24-month period, so it is a critical time when our supporters can really make a difference by informing the legislators and helping pass this much needed legislation.
Our MFOA volunteer ‘writers’ are already submitting letters to the five major Maine newspapers, some of which have been published recently. These ‘writers’ will also write legislators.
MFOA will soon be releasing a list of wildlife and conservation groups supporting this legislation.
Here is how YOU can help now!
Circulate our “Ethical Hunters Against Coyote Killing Contests” petition to hunters and the bill Fact Sheet to any who will listen. Email, post on social media, copy and distribute — please spread the word now so we can build momentum going into the legislative process.
“Ethical Hunters Against Coyote Killing Contests” petition
The majority of Maine hunters believe this wanton killing of wildlife for a prize undermines the public’s view of hunting and does not represent their view of hunting ethics. This senseless killing gives all hunters a black eye. With that in mind, we have formed “Ethical Hunters Against Coyote Killing Contests”, BUT we must get those hunters to come forward! We need them to be part of our coalition in moving forward. Please send the petition and QR code below to any hunters you know who might be inclined to sign it; and then, even more important, have them circulate it in the hunting community.
Circulate Fact Sheet for Bill
Distribute the bill Fact Sheet and pass the word on the issues pertaining to “An Act to Prohibit Coyotes Killing Contests.” We need to spread the truth about these events and what they do.
“An Act to Prohibit Coyote Killing Contests” FACT SHEET
These killing events are a degradation of Maine’s wildlife, and disrespectful of our hunting traditions and ethics. These malicious killings do not align with Maine’s hunting traditions of sportsmanship and fair chase principles, nor the ethics and reverence for nature in general. Wanton killing of wildlife for a prize undermines the public’s view of hunting and gives all hunters a black eye. Rewarding the indiscriminate killing of as many animals as one can violates conservation ethics and its humane values. Glorifying killing for its own sake should not be what we want to teach our children.
There is no credible science supporting the indiscriminate killing of wildlife as an effective method for wildlife management. A strong body of science indicates that short-term hunts have no measurable impact on regulating coyote populations nor increasing deer populations. When reductions in coyote numbers are locally achieved, other coyotes simply move in to fill the area. Adults can increase their reproductive rates in response to increased hunting, as with killing contests, so populations rebound quickly. Habitat loss and severe winters are far more likely responsible for deer losses in the north country than coyote predation. These “derbies”, often held under the guise of “wildlife management”, but they have never had the official support of the Department of IF&W.
This is not anti-hunting legislation. Maine’s wildlife belongs to all state residents. This bill is about one very egregious hunting practice that has no place in Maine’s wildlife hunting or management. Those claiming this bill is about ending all hunting by animal rights groups is the typical false mantra claimed by the hunting lobby when its cannot defend its practices to the public and wants to change the focus. This endless “slippery slope” argument translates into everything is “anti-hunting” unless it is agreeable with those who hold onto the antiquated notion that we cannot change any hunting practice regardless of how cruel, useless or unethical it is? This bill addresses just one egregious “hunting” practice that is an outlier that does not represent traditional Maine hunters; and will continue to become a public relations problem for a sport that is already at all time low numbers.
Mass removal of a wildlife species from the environment impairs the ecological benefits these animals provide to both urban and rural communities. Predator and prey species are vital to a healthy ecosystem. With man’s eradication of wolves, coyotes are essential to control rodent and small mammal populations, cull sick and injured animals and eat wildlife that harbor ticks / Lyme disease. Coyotes are ecologically vital top carnivores in Eastern US biodiversity. Coyote killing contests impact and impair these ecological stabilities and the balance of nature. These are intelligent and highly adaptable animals living deserts and city alleyways, so why not find ways to best cohabitate with them.
Opposition to wildlife killing contests is growing rapidly. Polls show the vast majority of the public, including hunters, are against these contests. This bill has been endorsed many state and national conservation and wildlife organizations. Ten states have banned wildlife killings contests: Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington, Oregon and New York. Five more states, including Maine, are submitting anti-killing contests legislation and Congress has introduced the ‘Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act’. With this national trend to end these blood sport activities, it is time for Maine to follow suit.
Coyotes are not a public safety issue. Healthy coyote families are typically wary of humans, and attacks are extremely rare. Coyotes in your yard can be easily dispersed with a yell, thrown stick or banging on a pot or pan. Irresponsible human behavior is most often the root cause of wildlife conflicts. There are many simple ways we can eliminate or reduce coyote interactions such as walking dogs with a leash, not leaving out pet food, securing garbage cans, keeping cats indoors (also protecting birds), eliminating artificial water sources, clearing brush, using motion lighting, and walking trails with a whistle. Healthy coyotes are not motivated to go after livestock, but issues can also be reasonably mitigated with good husbandry practices. Many farmers appreciate coyotes keeping rodents levels in check, foxes and raccoons away from stock, and deer herds moving so they do less damage to plants and products.
Do these images reflect Maine’s tradition of ethical hunting?
Are responsible Maine hunters okay with this?
Help Us Fund a Successful Campaign
The extreme hunting lobby still clings to the antiquated notion that there can be no change to any hunting practice regardless of how inhumane, unnecessary and unethical it is. It is organized and well-funded by those who still don’t recognize these events are a black eye to hunting. We need to effectively debunk their position as we get our message out to legislators, hunters, press and the general public.
Our supporters respond most passionately to issues that are egregiously inhumane, and coyote killing contests certainly fall into that category. Your past contributions have always made a difference and they are equally important now. Please donate today to support this important legislation.
