IndianaLocalNews

Humane Society pushes for hunting contest ban in Indiana

The Humane Society of the United States wants to ban hunting contests in Indiana after dozens of coyotes were killed during a contest in Warren County.

Undercover investigators from the Humane Society attended the contest weigh-in at the Williamsport Fire Department. More than a dozen teams competed in categories for killing the most coyotes, the heaviest coyote and the smallest coyote. Samantha Morton, Indiana State Director for the Humane Society, says approximately 60 coyotes were shot for the contest.

According to the Humane Society’s report, coyotes are native to Indiana, and they provide vital balance to the natural ecosystem.

“[Coyotes] keep our rodent populations in check, they clean up the environment by killing diseased animals and carcasses and they also help remove sick animals from the gene pool,” Morton said. “Wildlife killing contests have no place in Indiana.”

While some hunters may argue that killing off the coyotes prevents overpopulation, Morton says, this actually makes the problem much worse.

“The alpha pack are the only members of the pack that reproduce, but if one of those members is killed, other members of the pack start to breed,” Morton said. “It actually causes more coyotes to be around, versus if they’re not being indiscriminately killed.”

Wildlife killing contests are pervasive in Indiana, with foxes and coyotes being the most frequent victims, the report says. At the Coyote Showdown in Greenfield back in January, 45 teams killed 109 coyotes and 10 red foxes.

Indiana residents can contact the Indiana Natural Resources Commission and urge them to ban wildlife killing contests. You can read the full report here.

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6 comments

Thor February 16, 2021 at 6:36 am

What a bunch of whiny tree huggers. They would let the animals destroy everything…so long as it’s not theirs. Next up, do nothing about the wild pigs infesting the lower part of the state…soon to be seen in the north no doubt. They will whine about hunters doing what hunters have been doing since the dawn of time but will offer no solution to controlling the populations other than let them figure it out.

Out west they are so overpopulated that putting up signs for a missing pet is a joke among the Park Rangers. When they find a den they’ll try to collect the collars and tags to return them to their former owners. Saying the populations will control themselves if only we didn’t kill some Alpha Males is practicing willful ignorance.

I vote for all the pushy busybodies to keep their noses in their own business….but I guess some people are fundraising and making a living (the new religions) off all the educated by Disney feeling based thoughtless.

Reply
david February 16, 2021 at 11:07 am

Wah, wah, wah. Just a bunch of lib/commie/rino/dem cry babies.

Reply
Charles U Farley February 16, 2021 at 1:20 pm

“Indiana residents can contact the Indiana Natural Resources Commission and urge them to ban wildlife killing contests.”

Sane Indiana residents can contact the Indiana Natural Resources Commission and urge them to keep allowing wildlife hunting contests.

Reply
Amy February 16, 2021 at 2:18 pm

When I was in school, a hundred years ago, I remember our teachers telling us ,”if the food chain is broken, everything will fall apart. Everything is connected.” And humans broke it a long time ago.

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Steven Childs February 16, 2021 at 7:15 pm

My issue isn’t with an animal rights group being opposed to hunting. My issue is with a group misrepresenting facts about coyote behavior and biology to manipulate public perception. There is no evidence a small scale contest would initiate a density-dependent response (removing coyotes, increasing food availability leading to larger litters of pups). Coyotes only produce sperm (males) and go into heat (females) once a year. Killing coyotes does not create more coyotes.

Reply
TMH February 16, 2021 at 8:07 pm

Why is this picked as a top story? What a joke, which editor with an agenda picked this article. Might be time for a real news feed

Reply

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