Tell Halifax County, Va. to Stop Cruelly Killing Coyotes
- by: K.M.H.
- recipient: Halifax County Board of Supervisors
Halifax County of Virginia is currently considering killing coyotes in the area using poison and cruel traps. When an animal is poisoned, it causes convulsions, vomiting, internal bleeding, and slow cardiac collapse that draws out the painful death of the poor animal. The snares and steel-jaw traps that they want to use cause extreme suffering as the animal sustains painful injuries, and some try to gnaw off their own limbs in order to escape! When nursing mother coyotes are killed, their babies will starve to death, especially in the cold winter months. These indiscriminate population control techniques also pose a danger to other non-targeted animals, such as companion animals and protected wildlife.
Please sign this petition to urge the Board of Supervisors of Halifax County to stop considering these cruel options, and instead consider other options such as vegetation management, and encouraging residents to contain their trash securely, monitor pets when outside, and never to feed wild animals. Please tell all your friends to sign this as well!
Please reconsider your coyote management plan.
We the undersigned were appalled to learn that the Board of Supervisors were considering using such cruel management techniques as traps and poison. While we are aware that there is a need to control the population of these animals, we cannot support such a cruel decision.
Steel-jaw traps and snares, such as the ones in consideration for use, cause severe, painful injuries. The animals generally do not die right away, and some are so desperate to escape the torture of the trap that they will attempt to gnaw their own limb off.
Poison is no better. It causes convulsions, vomiting, internal bleeding, and gradual cardiac collapse, all leading to a slow, agonizing death. This is no way to treat a sentient being.
These techniques are not the only option. Other cities around the U.S. have decided on management plans that do not involve killing innocent coyotes. Instead, these plans focus on allowing wildlife, humans and pets to peacefully coexist. Please join these cities and stop the cruelty to the coyotes!
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
