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Valid California address required to sign

California lawmakers have passed the Wildlife Coexistence Act (SB 1135), which will ensure a number of measures are enacted to prioritize coexistence with our wild neighbors.

Urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign it into law.

A number of recent incidents that have made headlines, from the state-sanctioned killing of Blondie, a beloved black bear, and a mountain lion showing up in San Francisco to concerns about conflicts with wolves, have highlighted the need for measures to support programs that educate communities about how to coexist, use non-lethal tactics, and proactively prevent conflicts in the first place.

The California Wildlife Coexistence Act will make safe coexistence the goal of wildlife management. It will require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a Wildlife Coexistence Program, rename the California Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program to the Wolf-Livestock Coexistence and Compensation Program, provide resources to wildlife coexistence partners, and establish the Wildlife Coexistence Technical Advisory Committee to provide guidance and recommendations on coexistence efforts with public input.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Decision maker: California Governor Gavin Newsom

Subject: Sign the Wildlife Coexistence Act!

As someone concerned with wildlife, I’m writing to urge you to sign the California Wildlife Coexistence Act (SB 1135).
 
The recent state-sanctioned killing of Blondie, a beloved black bear who was deemed a threat to public safety in Monrovia, among other incidents, highlights the price that animals are paying when conflicts arise, especially as habitat shrinks.
 
Unfortunately, numerous animals have paid with their lives as a result of conflicts with humans, ranging from encounters in urban areas to wolves who are being vilified by ranchers. Even with protection under the California Endangered Species Act, they’re still at risk. Last year, four were killed because they had become “habituated to preying on cattle.”
 
It’s clear that more needs to be done to promote coexistence with wild animals, regardless of species, especially with funding for the state’s Human-Wildlife Conflict program allowed to run out.
 
This bill will require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a Wildlife Coexistence Program, rename the California Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program to the Wolf-Livestock Coexistence and Compensation Program, provide resources to wildlife coexistence partners, and establish the Wildlife Coexistence Technical Advisory Committee to provide guidance and recommendations on coexistence efforts with public input.
 
I hope to see California lead the way on preventing conflicts and resolving them humanely using the best available science when they arise. Wild animals who are just trying to survive in an ever-changing landscape aren’t just inherently valuable, but they’re part of healthy ecosystems and must be prioritized. 
 
Thank you for your consideration of this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.