HELP BAN COYOTE & FOX PENNING IN FLORIDA

Show your
appreciation for coyotes with a gift to Project
Coyote


ACTION ALERT
HELP BAN COYOTE & FOX PENNING INFLORIDA
YOUR VOICE NEEDED!
On February 17th, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will consider whether to ban or restrict the controversial practice of coyote and fox “penning” in the state. “Penning” involves the trapping, trading and selling of live coyotes and foxes to hound hunting training facilities. The captured wild canines are then released into pens and used to “train” hunting dogs. Considered “sport” – and legal in many states across the South and Midwest – one coyote or fox may be pitted against packs of hound dogs who are released into the pens to pursue the wild animals- domestic canine pitted against wild canine. This practice parallels dog and cock-fighting – activities made illegal in all U.S. states in the last twenty years. Many penned coyotes and foxes are literally torn apart by the dog pack.
A recent investigation of several penning facilities across the state by the FWC led to the arrest of 12 people and the issuance of 46 citations for various violations related to penning practices. Operators of such pens often charge a fee for individuals to train their hunting dogs on the captive coyotes and foxes. Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute, and other national and state organizations strongly condemn coyote/fox penning as inhumane and ecologically reckless and seek to ban this practice nationwide. Moreover, transporting wild animals for penning purposes has directly led to the spread of rabies and other diseases. See our letter to the FWC supporting a ban on this practice, signed by over 60 prominent scientists/biologis ts, ethicists, veterinarians, and attorneys.
On February 17th the FWC will hold a public hearing in Apalachicola and consider recommendations from the Florida Division of Law Enforcement regarding this practice. Your voice is needed in support of a ban of this practice prior to February 17th! (PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS BY Feb. 15th )
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR A COMPLETE BAN OF “PENNING” STATEWIDE. Submit comments to (see talking points above and below):
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
EMAIL: Commissioners@ MyFWC.com
Please also cc your letters to:
Governor Charlie Crist (Charlie.Crist@ MyFlorida.com)
Mr. Nick Wiley, Executive Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Nick.Wiley@myfwc.com)
Major Curtis Brown, Special Ops. Coordinator Florida Division of Law Enforcement (curtis.brown@myfwc.com)
Ms. Kathleen Hampton, Office of Executive Director (Kathleen.Hampton@MyFWC.com)
1. Call your state representative and senator (FLORIDA RESIDENTS ONLY) and request that they please ask the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ban fox pens (You can find their contact information here: www.capwiz.com/compassionindex/dbq/vote_info )
2. If you live in Florida, please consider attending and testifying at the FWC hearing on February 17th in Apalachicola where they will receive the staff recommendations regarding penning and accept public testimony on this issue. We need a good showing at this hearing! Details:
Date: February 17th
Time: 8:30am EST (penning report & testimony expected during afternoon)
Place: Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Apalachicola, FL
More info: myfwc.com/COMMISSIO N/2010/Comm_ 10_AgendaFeb. htm
POINTS YOU MAY WISH TO INCLUDE IN YOUR LETTER in addition to expressing your strong support for a statewide ban on the practice of coyote and fox penning:(Remember to include your first and last name and your full mailing address.)
* Such practices are inhumane, ethically indefensible, ecologically reckless and counter to sound scientific management.
* Transporting wild animals for penning purposes has directly led to the spread of rabies and other diseases.
THANK YOU FOR WRITING AND MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD! PLEASE SHARE THIS ACTION ALERT WITH OTHERS!
To view video clips and photos of this practice see the following links (WARNING: disturbing and graphic content):
www.trainingnottorture.org
www.youtube.com/user/wildlifepenning
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhNRwOtJNQ&feature=related
coyoteinfo.typepad.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNVMu8jSYD8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mom_wMCNshw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gd94TA58Ag
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbb_nKIy_ i4&feature= rec-LGOUT- exp_fresh+ div-HM
************ ********* ********* ********* *
Project Coyoteis a non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that promotes educated coexistence between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of coyotes and other native carnivores. We depend on our members and supporters to help us continue our work on behalf of America’s native “song dog.” Please join us today! All donations are tax-deductible. Visit us at www.ProjectCoyote.org





Project Coyote
P.O. Box 5007
Larkspur, CA 94977
415-945-3232
Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.

SPEAK OUT AGAINST COYOTE KILLING ‘TOURNAMENT’ IN MAINE

ACTION ALERT
SPEAK OUT AGAINST COYOTE KILLING ‘TOURNAMENT’ IN MAINE

Right now in Northern Maine (Jackman), predator hunters are killing coyotes as part of a contest “tournament.” Sponsored by the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce, the “kill” runs from December 16th through January 30, 2010. Prizes are awarded for those hunters who kill both the most coyotes and the largest individuals. Ethics aside, random coyote killing will do nothing to protect Maine’s deer herds, as tournament sponsors contend. A copious and growing body of literature shows that coyote population reduction efforts through lethal control are futile, given the species’ resiliency and ability to biologically rebound.


WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1- Contact the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerceand express your concern about this hunt. Points to convey:

· Let them know that their name as a Chamber of Commerce will be deeply tarnished by their support of this blood sport.
· The principles behind tournament/bounty systems are ecologically and socially flawed, and no federal or state wildlife agencies endorse this as a viable coyote management strategy.

· If you live outside of Maine, convey that you will not be spending your tourist dollars in Jackman until they stop sponsoring coyote/predator killing contest hunts — and that you’ll encourage your friends and family to do the same.

· Let them know that you believe that this “tournament” is ethically indefensible, ecologically reckless, and counter to sound scientific wildlife management. It is important to point out that this coyote slaughter is not hunting, and is in direct opposition to Maine’s long tradition of sustenance hunting.
· As an area that prides itself on being a “working forest”, the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce should support forestry practices that will support adequate wintering habitat for deer – not scapegoating coyotes. As confirmed by state biologists and researchers, deer are suffering in Northern Maine from a loss of wintering habitat- not from predation.

Contact information:

Jackman-Moose River Region
Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 368
Jackman, Maine 04945
Email: mooserus@jackmanmaine.org
Phone: (207) 668-4171 or 1-888-633-5225
2- Cc your letter/comments to (and call) Governor John Baldacci; urge him to tell the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce to call off the coyote killing “tournament” in perpetuity (in 2005 Governor Baldacci came out against a coyote contest hunt in Washington County and directed the state Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to tell “tournament” organizers to cancel the event because it was not an effective way to control the coyote population).
Contact information:
Gov. John E. Baldacci
Office of the Governor
#1 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0001
Email: governor@maine.gov
(or share your views directly through the Governor’s website:
http://www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/contact/index.html)
Phone: 207-287-3531

************ ********* ********* ********* *
Project Coyoteis a non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that promotes educated coexistence between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of coyotes and other native carnivores. We depend on our members and supporters to help us continue our work on behalf of America’s native “song dog.” Please join us today! All donations are tax-deductible. Visit us at http://www.projectcoyote.org/.



Project Coyote
P.O. Box 5007
Larkspur, CA 94977
415-945-3232

HELP BAN LIVE COYOTE/FOX BAIT DOG TRAINING IN INDIANA

YOUR VOICE NEEDED!


On
November 17th, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission will consider several formal
petitions to prohibit the taking, killing and harassment of coyotes and red
foxes for "penning" purposes and as live bait in the wild.
Current
loopholes in Indiana´s wildlife regulations allow the capture and killing
of coyotes and red foxes by dogs in the wild. Moreover, no rule or law exists
prohibiting the trapping and selling of coyotes and foxes in state or across
state lines to "penning" facilities where these wild canines are
then used to "train" hunting dogs in "running pens;"
this practice is allowed for five months of the year during the furbearer
trapping season. Operators of the running pens often charge a fee for
individuals to "train" their hunting dogs on the captive coyotes
and foxes. This practice - commonly referred to as
"´penning" - violates the concept of "fair
chase" and runs counter to fundamental concepts of wildlife management.
Project
Coyote and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) strongly support a ban on these
practices. We have garnered the support of many prominent scientists, wildlife
biologists, veterinarians, and attorneys who have joined us in urging the
Commission to ban these practices (see Project
Coyote and AWI´s sign-on letter to the Commission). Moreover, the
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR) has acknowledged that there are
ecological, ethical, and disease/health related issues associated
with penning.
PLEASE
VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE PETITIONS! You do not need to be an Indiana
resident to voice your opinion but you do need to clearly state your city,
state, and country of residence for your comment to be officially considered
(see INDNR´s rules
about commenting). Please write a letter to the Commission urging them to
support these formal petitions to move forward with the formal rulemaking
process to prohibit the taking, killing and harassment of coyotes and red foxes
for "penning" purposes and as live bait in the wild. LETTERS MUST
BE RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 17TH!
If you
live in Indiana, please consider attending and testifying at the Commission
hearing on November 17th where they will decide whether to move forward to
preliminarily adopt these petitions and move forward with formal rulemaking
procedures. We need a good showing at this hearing! Details:
Date: November 17
Time: 10am (EST)
Place: Fort Benjamin Harrison - The Garrison (Fort Harrison State Park)
6002 North Post Road., Indianapolis, Indiana
More info: www.in.gov./nrc/2354.htm
Letters
should be addressed as follows:
Indiana
Natural Resources Commission
Indiana Government Center North
100 N. Senate Ave., Rm. N501
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2200
Sent via
email: jkane@nrc.in.gov
RE:
Support for proposed rules to prohibit the taking, killing and harassment of
coyotes and red foxes for "penning" purposes and as live bait in
the wild
Dear
Commission members:
As a
concerned citizen who values wildlife, I strongly support the proposed rules to
prohibit the taking, killing and harassment of coyotes and red foxes for
"penning" purposes and as live bait in the wild. I strongly urge
you to move forward with the formal rulemaking process to end these brutal
practices.
POINTS
TO INCLUDE IN YOUR LETTER(please personalize your letter and use your own words
as this will have a much greater impact):
* ETHICALLY INDEFENSIBLE: Capturing, transporting, marketing, and penning wild animals for dog training is inherently cruel and should be banned for this reason alone. Pitting domestic canines against their wild cousins is ethically indefensible. Legislators have had the wisdom to ban dog and cock-fighting - largely on ethical grounds - and "penning" parallels these abhorrent practices. Penned wild coyotes and foxes are often mutilated in a cruel and unconscionable way- as acknowledged by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
* ECOLOGICALLY RECKLESS:Transporti ng and marketing wild coyotes and foxes for penning purposes is ecologically reckless. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources explicitly stated these concerns acknowledging that trade and transportation of wildlife is one of the primary contributors to disease transmission and historically has led to the spread of rabies and other diseases dangerous to wildlife, domestic animals and people.
* COUNTER TO SOUND SCIENTIFIC WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT:Coyote and fox penning is not an effective method of coyote and fox control as acknowledged by numerous and prominent scientists and wildlife biologists. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that penning operations somehow help reduce coyote/fox populations on a state-wide level or mitigate negative encounters with coyotes or foxes. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has acknowledged that there are ecological, ethical, and disease and health related issues associated with penning. Moreover, the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies passed a resolution in 2008 urging the adoption of state-by-state regulations prohibiting the importation or interstate movement of foxes and coyotes for the purpose of stocking coursing pens or for release and pursuit by hounds outside of coursing pens.
For these
reasons, I urge you to support the proposed rules to prohibit the taking,
killing and harassment of coyotes and red foxes for "penning"
purposes and as live bait in the wild.
Thank you
for your consideration of my comments. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
**FIRST & LAST NAME**
**FULL ADDRESS & COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE**
************ ******
Please
also tell the Indiana tourist authority why this ecologically reckless and
ethically indefensible practice will affect your plans to visit Indiana:
www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

To view
video clips and photos of this practice see the following links (WARNING:
disturbing and graphic content):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9c0KaLjKrI
coyoteinfo.typepad. com
www.trainingnottorture.org
news.mync.com/site/news/video/6057/ Fox_and_Coyote_ Hunt_Ban
www.youtube.com/user/wildlifepenning
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNVMu8jSYD8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mom_wMCNshw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gd94TA58Ag
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbb_nKIy_ i4&feature= rec-LGOUT- exp_fresh+ div-HM
THANK
YOU FOR WRITING AND MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD! FEEL FREE TO FORWARD AND SHARE
THIS ACTION ALERT WITH OTHERS!
MORE
INFORMATION: www.ProjectCoyote.org
____________ _________ _

Camilla
H. Fox
Founding Director, Project Coyote
Wildlife Consultant
P.O. Box 5007
Larkspur, CA 94977
cfox@projectcoyote.org
415.945.3232 (o)

Fostering educated coexistence between humans and coyotes
A project of Earth Island Institute
visit
us online: www.ProjectCoyote.org
make
a tax-deductible donation:
https://www.earthislandprojects.org/projectCoyote/donate.html