Calling all photographers: Help us end wildlife killing contests!
The following sign-on letter will be used in our state-based campaigns and to encourage major camera companies to take a stand against wildlife killing contests:
On behalf of Project Coyote, and the undersigned photographers and videographers, we urge you to end wildlife killing contests (WKCs)—events in which contestants compete to indiscriminately kill wildlife species such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, wolves and even prairie dogs and crows. Through the unity of thousands of wildlife photographers and videographers who photograph wildlife and wildlands, we demand a stop to this bloodsport that unethically kills beautiful wild animals, destroys ecosystems, is contrary to modern science-based management principles, and degrades the value of individual animals.
Most Americans are shocked to learn that each year tens of thousands of native species are killed in WKCs where contestants win prizes and awards for killing the most or largest of a given species. These cruel and unsporting contests take place across the country, operate unsupervised by wildlife agencies, and often occur on our public lands.
As wildlife photographers and filmmakers, wildlife and wildlands are crucially important, not just for the health of our planet, but also for the value they bring to our lives, livelihoods, local economies, and the photography industry. Wildlife photography is a non-consumptive industry that brings significant economic benefits–especially when compared to slaughtered animals at WKCs, which are most often simply discarded.
We are dedicated to ending Wildlife Killing Contests. Our coalition, with almost 60 national and state organizations and supported by the ## undersigned photographers, is growing rapidly. Nine states have banned wildlife killing contests: California, Colorado, Washington, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont. Local governments across the country, including those in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan, and Wisconsin, have condemned the events. Last April, Congress introduced the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act of 2022, which would prohibit organizing, sponsoring, conducting, or participating in WKCs on more than 500 million acres of U.S. public lands. Now is an opportune time to join this effort and put an end to these unethical and inhumane killing contests.
We urge you to stand with us as we work to protect innumerable animals from unjustifiable and unscientific slaughter.
Click here to find out more about how you can help End Wildlife Killing Contests.
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