Big Wildlife E-News: Issue 9, June 12, 2009

Welcome to Big Wildlife’s enews, a monthly email update about our work to protect and restore carnivores throughout North America. We provide this free communication, along with periodic action alerts, to our members, supporters, and colleagues. If you do not wish to receive these updates, please let us know and we will remove you from our distribution list. Thanks. Please visit our website at www.bigwildlife.org IN THIS ISSUE: *INTERNATIONAL CALL-IN DAY TO eBAY – MONDAY, JUNE 15 *BOBCATS IN NEVADA THREATENED BY TRAPPING *“CONTROL KILLS” OF GRIZZLY BEARS OUT OF CONTROL ON BC’S CENTRAL COAST INTERNATIONAL CALL-IN DAY TO eBAY – MONDAY, JUNE 15 Big Wildlife, along with the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Raincoast Conservation, has urged eBay to halt the sale of trophy hunts of lions, leopards, bears, wolves, and other large predators on its website. To date, eBay has refused to ban the trophy hunts from its site. Click here to read more about our eBay campaign. WHAT YOU CAN DO: *On Monday, June 15 urge eBay to stop posting these cruel trophy hunt sales. Ebay employees to contact: Jack Christin, eBay Senior Regulatory Counsel Phone: 408-376-5145 Cell: 408-679-3621 Email: jchristin@ebay.com Terri Deanzo, eBay, Office of the President Phone: 408-376-7400 (After dialing number, you will hear a recording. Press “0.” An automated voice message will ask you to spell the person’s last name. Key in “Deanzo.”) Email: csme@ebay.com Amy Skoczlas-Cole, eBay’s Global Citizenship Group Phone: 408-376-7400 (After dialing number, you will hear a recording. Press “0.” An automated voice message will ask you to spell the person’s last name. Key in “Skoczlas.”) Email: askoczlascole@ebay.com BOBCATS IN NEVADA THREATENED BY TRAPPING The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners will meet June 27th, in Lovelock, to establish trapping regulations for bobcats for the next two years. Unfortunately, Nevada wildlife officials have resisted ending trapping “season” to protect this fragile animal. State data suggests Nevada’s bobcat population faces possible collapse from over-trapping. Trapping is also incredibly cruel and should be banned altogether. WHAT YOU CAN DO: *Attend the Saturday, June 27 Commission hearing in Lovelock. Urge wildlife officials to ban trapping of bobcats and all other furbearing animals. Hearing location: Lovelock Community Center, 820 6th St., Lovelock, Nevada Time for public comment: 8:30 AM *If you can’t attend the hearing, contact the Nevada wildlife commissioners at NVWCInfo@NDOW.org and/ or Jake Sunderland at JSunderland@NDOW.org You can also call the Commission chair, Gerald Lent, at (775) 852-4636. Email addresses for Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners: ga.Lent@yahoo.com ron.lurie@azcharlies.com tmcavin@charter.net michaelkmcbeath@cox.net dmcninch@washoecounty.us pmori9@hotmail.com scottraine@sbcglobal.net fourswan@mvdsl.com hay4you@veawb.coop FOR MORE INFORMATION: For talking points to use in your comments click here and scroll down to “The Cruel Reality of Trapping.” Questions, contact Don Molde at skyshrink@aol.com or Brian Vincent at brian@bigwildlife.org
“CONTROL KILLS” OF GRIZZLY BEARS OUT OF CONTROL ON BC’S CENTRAL COAST A disturbing number of grizzly bears are being shot as so-called “control kills” in the Bella Coola valley on British Columbia’s central coast. (Click here to read Georgia Strait article.) Records obtained from the provincial Ministry of Environment show that 18 grizzlies were killed as “problem bears” from 2007-2008. The majority of these grizzlies were killed because of irresponsible human behavior – primarily, a failure to secure bear attractants. For example, one local resident left a tub of salmon on his deck and then killed a female grizzly and her two cubs when they tried to eat the fish. Another resident, who was “not into removing” the apples from his tree, killed a grizzly for feeding on the fruit.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: *Urge the BC Minister of Environment to make existing laws addressing the issues of bear attractants enforceable and provide sufficient government funding for conservation enforcement and bear smart education. BC Minister of Environment contact information: The Honourable Barry Penner Minister of Environment PO Box 9047 STN PROV GOVT Victoria BC V8W 9E2 Email: env.minister@gov.bc.ca Phone: 250 387-1187 Fax: 250 387-1356 SAMPLE LETTER TO MINISTER: Dear Minister Penner, A disturbing number of grizzly bears are being shot as so-called “control kills” in the Bella Coola valley on BC’s central coast. Records obtained from the provincial Ministry of Environment show that 18 grizzlies were killed as “problem bears” over the course of 200 and 2008. The majority of these grizzlies were killed because of irresponsible human behavior – primarily, a failure to secure bear attractants. For example, one local resident left a tub of salmon on his deck and then killed a female grizzly and her two cubs when they tried to eat the fish. Another resident, who was “not into removing” the apples from his tree, killed a grizzly for feeding on the fruit. The BC government needs to reform existing laws under the Wildlife Act that address the issue of bear attractants to actually make them enforceable. The BC government must also help communities in bear habitat implement bear-proof waste management systems. And it needs to reinstate recently slashed provincial funding for bear smart programs. Taking such measures will ensure greater safety for people and bears. Sincerely, YOUR NAME, CONTACT INFORMATION HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to Big Wildlife and Raincoast Conservation
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“The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men.”
— Leonardo Da Vinci

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— Aldo Leopold For the cats,

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