Big Win: California Wildlife More Protected From Traps, Guns
In response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and other wildlife-advocacy groups, a federal court has approved a deal requiring the USDA's Wildlife Services to implement more protections for wildlife in Northern California, including a ban on traps and aerial gunning in designated "wilderness areas."
The settlement also requires Wildlife Services to analyze the environmental impacts of its killing of coyotes, bobcats and other animals in 16 counties. Wildlife Services uses painful traps, strangulation snares, poisons and aerial gunning to kill wolves, coyotes, cougars, birds and other wild creatures — primarily to benefit the agriculture and livestock industries.
"We've saved hundreds of animals that would have suffered and died in traps set by Wildlife Services over the next several years," said the Center's Collette Adkins. "That feels really good."
Thanks to all of you who supported our work to fight Wildlife Services. Read more in our press release.