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St. Paul City Council resolution on wildlife killing contest

The St. Paul City Council just issued a resolution condemning wildlife killing contests, in which participants compete to kill the largest, the smallest, or the greatest number of coyotes, foxes, and other species for cash and prizes.

The resolution also calls on state officials to take action to end these gruesome events statewide. The Humane Society of the United States, the Minnesota Humane Society, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Project Coyote provided letters of support and testimony at the hearing.

Christine Coughlin, Minnesota state director for the Humane Society of the United States released the following statement:

"At least ten wildlife killing contests have been held across Minnesota in recent years, including the West Metro Coyote Tournament (Watertown), Buffalo Ridge Coyote Hunting Tournament (Marshall) and Predator Hunt (Madison). Contests are usually sponsored by local bars, restaurants, or social clubs. These events have nothing to do with sound wildlife management and are not effective means of controlling predator populations. Participants use high-tech equipment, including spotlights and electronic calling devices -- which mimic the sound of prey or pups in distress -- to lure wildlife for an easy shot. Whether we live up north or in the Twin Cities, Minnesotans are making it clear that we do not support practices that encourage cruel, unsporting, and wasteful killing of our state's wildlife. The Humane Society of the United States commends Councilmember Noecker for her leadership on this issue, and we join the Council in asking state officials to end pointless, barbaric and destructive wildlife killing contests in the North Star State."

Recent HSUS investigations of killing contests in New York State and New Jersey and in Oregon have shown participants slinging dead animals into piles to be judged, joking about methods used to lure and kill them. Five states have already prohibited these contests (CA, VT, NM, AZ, MA).

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

Inhumane writes:

What these men/women have done is cruel on its own. Joking and comparing winners is cruel and insensitive. The animals are dead.. What happens to the Neanderthals??

 
 
 
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