California Moves To Ban Wildlife-Killing Contests

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<p><a class="redactor-added-link" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Coyote_in_Alaska.jpg">Wikimedia</a></p>

Soon, it may be illegal in California to indiscriminately slaughter coyotes and other predators for a chance to win cash and prizes in wildlife-killing contests and tournaments -- though the real surprise may be that it's even legal in the first place.

Last week, the California Fish & Wildlife Commission voted to approve a new proposal that would make it "unlawful to offer any prize or other inducement as a reward for the taking of any mammals in an individual contest, tournament, or derby."

The recent vote comes on the heels of a petition put forth by the group Project Coyote in response to a little-known Coyote Drive hunt which takes place annually in the state. The contest, like one of many across the United States, is a privately sponsored event in which participants win prizes for killing the largest number of coyotes. Many people haven't heard of it, mostly due to its organizers keeping it under wraps.

State hunting laws do apply, but anyone with a license can kill virtually any number of coyotes that they want, considering the animals are one of the least protected in California.

The Fish & Wildlife Commission's approval of the proposal, which will be decided upon this summer, comes as welcome news to wildlife advocates.

"This vote brings us one step closer to reforming how predators are managed in this state," says Project Coyote executive director Camilla Fox, to SF Gate.

"Most people are shocked to learn that it is legal to kill coyotes, foxes, bobcats and other wildlife as part of a tournament for prizes and recreational fun. They're even more shocked to learn that thousands of such contests take place each year in the U.S., killing tens of thousands of wild animals."

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