Animal advocates and lawmakers in New York are working to ensure wildlife killing contests never take place in the state again.
These contests, which are also known as drives, derbies, and tournaments, reward people of all ages with cash prizes and weapons, among other things, for killing the biggest and most animals.
While native predators, including coyotes, foxes, and bobcats, are popular targets, many other species continue to become victims of these massacres.
Past events in New York targeting crows and squirrels have sparked outrage, and brought much-needed attention to these senseless events, while a recent undercover investigation released by The Humane Society of the United States has offered a glimpse into the little-seen culture that surrounds these contests and the dangerous, and indifferent attitudes they promote towards wildlife – which is especially troubling when it comes to what they teach children about our relationship with the species we share this earth with.
While some defend these contests as a perfectly reasonable means to deal with 'pests' and control predators, they're ethically and scientifically unjustifiable, and it's abundantly clear that they're not about wildlife management or even hunting, but about glorifying the senseless killing of wild animals for amusement and personal gain.
Now, animal advocates and lawmakers are supporting legislation (A.4116a/S.5148a) that will make it illegal to "organize, sponsor, conduct, promote or participate in any contest, competition, tournament, or derby with the objective of taking or hunting wildlife for prizes for other inducement, or for entertainment."
Please sign and share this petition urging lawmakers in New York to pass legislation that will make these cruel and senseless events illegal.
