Pass a state law to ban wildlife killing contests

Coyotes and foxes are our highly intelligent and social wild neighbors. They’re also the unfortunate victims of wildlife killing contests, which take place in January and February across Illinois. Many hundreds of ecologically vital carnivores are killed in these events every year—all for cash and prizes.

After the killing, participants drag bloody animals to scales to be hung upside down for weighing and line them up to pose for photos. Whoever kills the most, the largest or the smallest animal wins. It’s a despicable activity and a stain on our state.

A recent poll by the bipartisan firm Remington Research Group found that 73% of Illinois residents support a ban on killing contests. Unfortunately, these gruesome competitions continue.

Hunters and wildlife management agency professionals around the country have acknowledged that the egregiously unsporting behavior exhibited in these contests is inflicting irreparable damage on the reputation of their states’ hunters. They’ve also noted that ethics and science do not support these events. As a result, 10 U.S. states have now banned them.

It’s important to stick with facts, not fearmongering, when talking about Illinois’ native carnivores. Scientists in Illinois and across the country stress that randomly killing coyotes will not prevent conflicts with pets or livestock. In fact, by disrupting coyote social structure, those actions serve only to increase coyote numbers and create problems where there previously were none. Instead, there are a number of common sense, non-lethal steps that Illinoisans can take to coexist with native carnivores.

Illinois state senators should bring an end to this bloodsport by passing HB 2900.

Chris Pado

Third Lake