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Wildlife killing contests where participants kill wild animals for fun and prizes tragically take place across the U.S., but there's now an opportunity to ban them on federal public lands with the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act. Urge your congressional representative to support this important piece of legislation to protect wildlife!

Wildlife killing contests, otherwise known as drives or derbies, are organized events that reward participants of all ages, including children, with cash and prizes for killing the most, biggest, or smallest animals within a given timeframe for fun, cash, or prizes. While many species may be targeted, coyotes and other native carnivores are most often the victims of these cruel events. While there are no exact numbers, by some estimates tens of thousands of animals are killed and discarded like trash.

Not only are these contests ethically indefensible, they're run contrary to science-based wildlife management and undermine conservation efforts. They also ignore the valuable role carnivores play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and send the message that wild animals are disposable.

In the U.S., 10 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, have already banned or restricted these events. It's time to take it further.

The Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act (HR 8492) would ban these contests on more than 500 million acres of public lands by requiring agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service to enact regulations that make organizing, sponsoring, conducting, or participating in a wildlife killing contest on public land illegal within a year.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Support the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act (HR 8492)

As your constituent and someone who is concerned with wildlife, conservation, and public lands management, I’m writing to urge you to support the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act (HR 8492).
 
It’s shocking that across the U.S. tens of thousands of wild animals are being killed and discarded like trash at organized events that reward participants of all ages, including children, with cash and prizes for killing the most, biggest, or smallest animals within a given timeframe for fun, cash, or prizes.
 
While many species may be targeted, coyotes and other native carnivores are most often the victims of these cruel events.
 
Not only are these contests ethically indefensible, they’re run contrary to science-based wildlife management, ignore the valuable role carnivores play in ecosystems, and undermine conservation efforts. Studies have also shown indiscriminate killing may actually increase conflicts by encouraging reproduction.
 
In the U.S., 10 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, have already banned or restricted these events, but federal legislation is needed to take it further.
 
The Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act (HR 8492) would ban these contests on more than 500 million acres of public lands by requiring agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service to enact regulations that make organizing, sponsoring, conducting, or participating in a wildlife killing contest on public land illegal within a year.
 
I sincerely hope you will support this important piece of legislation to end this cruelty and wanton waste of our nation’s precious wildlife.

Sincerely,

Signed

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