Coyote Hunting contest is happening this weekend in Harney County . Predator advocates are condemning the event, especially given the ongoing occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge by armed militants .

It’s legal under Oregon statute to kill coyotes. But Brooks Fahy of Predator Defense in Eugene says these kinds of contests amount to all-out slaughter of an animal that is important to the ecosystem. He says with what’s happening at Malheur, the timing couldn’t be worse.

Fahy: “It’s just a bizarre situation and this contest on top of it just seems like this spark that could make this whole thing explode into something extraordinarily violent. And what’s disappointing is to see the Sheriff of Harney County basically giving the green light for this contest and telling people in Harney County not to be concerned about hearing gunshot.”

Fahy fears the coyote derby could encourage the occupiers to hunt on the refuge—he suspects they already are. KLCC reached out to one of the organizers of the Coyote Derby. He had no comment.

