Momentum is building to end wildlife killing contests in the province once and for all. Pacific Wild in collaboration with Humane Society International and 30 other organizations have signed onto a joint letter calling on the British Columbia government to outlaw this unethical practice. This follows a separate open letter sent by the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) in November 2022, urging the BC government to take action.
Wildlife killing contests take place legally across British Columbia every year. During these contests, animals are killed to accumulate points towards winning cash and/or prizes. Animals commonly targeted in these contests include coyotes, wolves, bears, cougars, bobcats and raccoons.
“Following media backlash in 2019, wildlife killing contests have been driven underground, yet these unethical events still take place legally across British Columbia. For example, hunting forums reveal recent self-organized killing contests, such as a “bear derby” in 2021, where cash prizes were awarded based on the size of the bear or bear skull harvested. The ‘CARIBOU AND YOUNG UNGULATE SURVIVAL PROJECT’ organized by a local gun club attempts to brand its annual activities as predator control, yet is very much a killing contest, awarding points and cash prizes according to the number and species of animals killed.”
While these contests may occur legally, it is the opinion of Pacific Wild that killing for sport is unethical, unscientific, anti-precautionary and violates the values of many First Nations communities.
Click the link below to read the full letter.
