A proposal aimed at regulating the killing of coyotes in California has sparked strong opposition from ranchers and farmers. They argue that controlling these wild canines is essential for the protection of their livestock and pets.
On Thursday, a significant hearing is expected to take place in Sacramento, where many individuals reliant on California’s expansive rangelands will gather before a committee of the California Fish and Game Commission. The focus will be on whether to remove coyotes from the list of animals that state regulations currently allow to be killed “at any time of the year and in any number.”
This meeting occurs amidst escalating tensions between livestock owners and conservationists, particularly regarding the management of predators. The state’s increasing population of gray wolves, which are protected under both state and federal endangered species acts, cannot be killed unless they pose a direct threat to humans.
Recent incidents have highlighted these tensions, including a tragic event where a man was killed by a mountain lion in El Dorado County. Additionally, in 2023, a woman in Downieville was reportedly “eaten alive” by a black bear, according to Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher. In March alone, wolves were responsible for the deaths of at least eight calves in California’s northern ranchlands, with state records indicating a possible ninth. Furthermore, officials in Yuba County recently euthanized a mountain lion that had entered a residential area in Camptonville, where it killed four domestic goats.
“This isn’t just coyotes in a vacuum,” stated Kirk Wilbur, a lobbyist for the California Cattlemen’s Association, which opposes the proposed protections for these doglike predators.
Estimates suggest that between 250,000 and 750,000 coyotes inhabit California. Beyond their impact on farm animals, they have also caused issues in urban areas, where they have attacked pets and even bitten people.
The coyote regulation proposal is still in its early stages and lacks detailed formulation. It has garnered support from animal rights and conservation groups, which argue that coyotes are native to California and play a crucial role in the state’s ecosystem. The Wildlife Conservation Committee of the commission had previously passed the proposal in January, but it was sent back amid backlash from farmers, ranchers, and rural politicians who felt blindsided by the recommendation.
California has a history of regulating the killing and trapping of various wild animals, requiring permits and proof that a mountain lion or bear has killed livestock or posed a threat to humans before they can be euthanized. Trapping animals for their fur is illegal, and there are generally restrictions on hunting designated game animals, including limits on the number and timing of their harvest.
However, certain species, including pigeons, weasels, skunks, coyotes, and most rodents, are excluded from these regulations. Animal rights advocates argue that it’s time for coyotes to be removed from this exempt list.
“We would like to see a restricted hunting season so that, for example, coyotes could not be killed during the pup-rearing season,” said Camilla Fox, executive director of Project Coyote. She emphasized that when parent coyotes are killed, their orphaned pups are left to starve, leading to significant suffering for these highly social animals.
David Parsons, a wildlife biologist and member of the Science and Ethics Advisory Board for Project Coyote, plans to testify on Thursday, asserting that coyotes are vital to the ecosystems they inhabit. According to his prepared testimony, “They help regulate rodent populations, support songbird diversity, and contribute to the overall health of their ecosystems.” He also noted that coyotes have evolved to reproduce more rapidly when their numbers are diminished, suggesting that aggressive population control efforts may be counterproductive.
The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has also protested against the trapping and killing of coyotes, prompting media coverage and a state investigation into a trapper in Southern California.
“Allowing the indiscriminate and unlimited killing of coyotes runs counter to sound science and to Californians’ humane values,” wrote Jenny Berg, California state director for Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society, in a letter supporting the proposed changes. “Rather than mass killing coyotes — which never works — we must instead focus on more humane and effective methods for minimizing rare conflicts with them.”
In contrast, Wilbur from the Cattlemen’s Association argues that ranchers are not indiscriminately killing coyotes. He explained that ranchers generally see value in coyotes, as they help control rodent populations. However, during calving season, coyotes can pose a threat to livestock. He expressed concern that restrictions on killing or hunting coyotes during this critical period would hinder ranchers’ ability to protect their animals.
“You’ve got to have some mechanism by which ranchers can protect their property, keeping it from being killed or injured,” he stated.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/proposal-limit-hunting-coyotes-draws-001419434.html
