California Becomes First State to Ban Wildlife-Killing Contests for Prizes

In a historic move, California has become the first state to officially ban wildlife-killing contests for prizes, a controversial topic among livestock holders and conservationists as of late.

Under the new rule, approved Wednesday by the California Fish and Game Commission, it is against the law to offer "prizes, inducements or rewards" for the killing of predatory animals - such as wolves and coyotes - in hunting tournaments, contests and derbies.

"Most people are shocked to learn that it is legal to kill coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and other wildlife as part of a contest or tournament for prizes and recreational fun," Camilla Fox, from the conservation group Project Coyote, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "They're even more shocked to learn that hundreds of such contests take place each year in the US, killing thousands of wild animals."

However, do realize that it is still entirely possible that in the future these contests will continue - not for prizes, but more so for bragging rights - which is still legal after the commission's action. So the tradition will likely continue, as will the fierce debate between ranchers and wildlife advocates.

"Nuisance" Predators

The news comes just weeks after officials announced the pre-approval of an annual "killfest" in Salmon, Idaho. Along with coyotes, weasels, skunks, jackrabbits, raccoons and European starlings, endangered gray wolves would be the unlucky targets of as many as 500 hunters as part of a "predatory derby" to take place every five years starting in January.

US land managers withdrew the permit last week after receiving 90,000 letters of opposition from around the globe.

Such competitions take place, supposedly, as a way to control predator populations and prevent them from killing valuable livestock, like sheep and cows, as well as reduce competition with humans.

Aside from the state of Idaho and others, wildlife-killing contests have been going on in California for years, according to the commission. In fact, the Golden State was host to the annual Big Valley Coyote Drive in the town of Aiden, an event that was kept secret from all non-participants.

Proponents of these contests may argue that they're helpful in reducing predators seen as a "nuisance," but wildlife advocates just see the practice as cruel and unnecessary.

"Awarding prizes for wildlife-killing contests is both unethical and inconsistent with our current understanding of natural systems," Michael Sutton, president of the California Fish and Game Commission, said at a meeting Wednesday in Van Nuys, Calif., according to Take Part. "Such contests are an anachronism and have no place in modern wildlife management."

Although hunters now cannot reap the rewards, the measure does not put a cap on how many wild animals they can kill just for defending their livestock.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, California cattle ranchers lost more than $4 million in 2010 to predators, with coyotes causing most of the damage.

"They're in our neighborhoods. We see them all the time," Wayne Raupe, president of the California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association, who supports the contests, told The Associated Press.

The killing of 11 coyotes in Bakersfield as part of a weekend Coyote Drive is what first started the campaign to end wildlife-killing contests. The hunter that killed the most coyotes reportedly received a $300 prize.

Inadvertent Targets

It should be noted that coyotes, found all over North America, are not endangered and number around 700,000 in California. But during coyote hunts in other states, wolves sometimes become inadvertent targets, including the endangered gray wolf.

More than 2,800 wolves have been killed in the northern Rockies, for example, resulting in a nine percent population decline, while Minnesota wolf populations have recently dropped a staggering 25 percent.

Meanwhile, a gray wolf was spotted in the Grand Canyon in October, the first time the species has been seen in that region in half a century. This may be a sign of the species' recovery, but killings due to predator derbies won't aid in conservation efforts.

"Wolves, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and etc. are not commodities for people to make money," one wildlife advocate wrote, according to Take Part. "They are our heritage."

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