Working to assure the longterm viability of top carnivore wildlife in the west.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEHEADING COYOTE PUPS WITH SHOVELS; MAY BE BURNING PUPS ALIVE

Please Urge Federal Government to Halt Grisly, Barbaric Killing of Coyote Pups

Big Wildlife, along with a coalition of leading conservation and animal welfare groups, has urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to halt the inhumane killing of coyote pups in their dens. In an October 9, 2007 letter to Wildlife Services Deputy Administrator William Clay, the organizations called on the agency to cease all “denning” activities – the practice of killing pups at or in their dens – after the groups learned the agency was using shovels to behead young coyote pups or breaking the pups’ necks.

The organizations also urged Wildlife Services to stop burying burning cartridges – that contain a deadly mixture of sodium nitrate and charcoal – in dens. Intended to asphyxiate animals, the highly combustible material is likely burning pups alive.
Click here to read Associated Press story about issue.

BACKGROUND

Every year, Wildlife Services kills millions of animals such as wolves, cougars, coyotes, bears, and birds through a variety of means including poisoning, gunning from airplanes and helicopters, hounding, baiting, and the use of steel jaw traps and leg and neck snares. The agency publishes an annual report, Animals Taken by Component Type and Fate by the Wildlife Services Program, that details the various methods it employs to kill wildlife. (To review the report go to: Click Here)

WHAT YOU CAN DO

*Urge Wildlife Services to stop its cruel practice of killing coyote pups in their dens.

Contact Wildlife Services at:
William Clay, Deputy Administrator
U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS-Wildlife Services
14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Room 162 South
Washington, D.C. 20250-3402

Phone: 202-720-2054 Fax: 202.690.0053 Email: bill.clay@aphis.usda.gov