We are writing to you today to express our strong condemnation of contests that reward the killing of Coyotes (Canis latrans) and other native wildlife (hereon referred to as “wildlife killing contests”).

The arguments used to justify wildlife killing contests are that they control the populations of predatory wildlife and that they help prevent human-wildlife conflict (Sportsmen’s Alliance 2015). Neither of these claims are supported by the scientific evidence. Coyotes and other mesopredators respond to hunting pressure through increased reproduction, and quickly repopulate when other individuals migrate into the control region from neighboring populations (Jackson 2014; Kilgo et al. 2017; Minnie et al. 2016). Indiscriminate killing of predators is often ineffective for reducing conflicts with humans and may even increase depredation (Minnie et al. 2016; Treves et al. 2016). Human-wildlife conflict can be successfully managed using non-lethal methods (Shivik 2014; Treves et al. 2016), thus making wildlife killing contests unnecessary. Since they are unscientific, many biologists are opposed to wildlife killing contests (Project Coyote 2019a).

As you are aware, the management and conservation of native wildlife in the United States is heavily influenced by the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Two of the seven guiding principles of this model is that wildlife populations should not be commercialized and that wildlife should only be hunted for legitimate purposes, such as food and self-defense (Boone and Crockett Club n.d.). Wildlife killing contests are a violation of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation since they result in the wasteful deaths of wild animals and commercialize wildlife by give monetary rewards for hunting them. Because of this, many non-hunters and ethically-minded hunters are opposed to wildlife killing contests, even if they are not against the hunting of predatory wildlife in general (New Mexico Wildlife Federation 2019; The Wildlife Society 2019).

Studies in ethology are finding that at least some nonhuman animals, including all vertebrates, are conscious and/or sentient beings who are capable of experiencing pleasure and suffering. This knowledge demands a moral obligation from humans to protect the welfare of individual animals, including those impacted by wildlife management (Francis Crick Memorial Conference 2012; Proctor et al. 2013). Americans are increasingly aware of the need for ethical animal treatment, and as a result opposition to lethal wildlife control is increasing (Manfredo et al. 2018; Riffkin 2015). Many people now find wildlife killing contests to be unethical since they cause the needless suffering and death of wild animals, and wildlife killing contests have already been outlawed in a few states (Project Coyote 2019b).

In order to promote scientific wildlife management and to protect the welfare of individual wild animals, we ask that you please ban wildlife killing contests in your jurisdiction. Thank you.

References:

Boone and Crockett Club. N.d. The North American model of wildlife conservation, sportsmen, and the Boone and Crockett Club. https://www.boone-crockett.org/conservation/conservation_NAM.asp?area=conservation

Francis Crick Memorial Conference. 2012. The Cambridge declaration of consciousness. http://fcmconference.org/img/CambridgeDeclarationOnConsciousness.pdf

Jackson, P. J. 2014. Effects of removal on a lightly exploited coyote population in eastern Nevada. Human-Wildlife Interactions 8(2): 180 - 194.

Kilgo, J. C., C. E. Shaw, M. Vukovich, M. J. Conroy, & C. Ruth. 2017. Reproductive characteristics of a coyote population before and during exploitation. The Journal of Wildlife Management 81(8): 1386 - 1393.

Manfredo, M. J., L. Sullivan, A. W. Don Carlos, A. M. Dietsch, T. L. Teel, A. D. Bright, & J. Bruskotter. 2018. America’s wildlife values: the social context of wildlife management in the U.S. National report from the research project entitled “America’s wildlife values.” Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University, Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources.

Minnie, L., A. Gayland, & G. I. H. Kerley. 2016. Compensatory life-history responses of a mesopredator may undermine carnivore management efforts. Journal of Applied Ecology 53: 379 - 387.

New Mexico Wildlife Federation. 2019. New Mexico Wildlife Federation resolution opposes coyote-calling contests. https://nmwildlife.org/news/new-mexico-wildlife-federation-resolution-opposes-coyote-calling-contests/

Proctor, H. S., G. Carder, & A. R. Cornish. 2013. Searching for animal sentience: a systematic review of the scientific literature. Animals 3(3): 882 - 906.

Project Coyote. 2019a. Statement in opposition to coyote killing contests: signed by more than 70 prominent conservation scientists. http://www.projectcoyote.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SAB-Letter-Against-CKCs-Feb-2019-FINAL.pdf

Project Coyote. 2019b. A barbaric bloodsport: end wildlife killing contests. http://www.projectcoyote.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/WKC-Factsheet-Jan28.pdf

Riffkin, R. 2015. In U.S., more say animals should have same rights as people. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/183275/say-animals-rights-people.aspx

Shivik, J. A. 2014. The predator paradox: ending the war with wolves, bears, cougars, and coyotes. Beacon Press, Boston, MA.

Sportsmen’s Alliance. 2015. Alert: call to prevent ban on coyote controls in New Mexico. https://www.sportsmensalliance.org/news/alert-call-prevent-ban-coyote-controls-new-mexico/

The Wildlife Society. 2019. Issue statement: wildlife killing contests. https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/TWS_IS_WildlifeKillingContest_ApprovedMarch2019.pdf

Treves, A., M. Krofel, & J. McManus. 2016. Predator control should not be a shot in the dark. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 14(7): 380 - 388.