Letter: Act now to end slaughter of wildlife, pets

Tuesday, June 6, 2000 | 9:42 a.m.

Wildlife Services' methods of predator control are indiscriminate and inhumane: aerial gunning, clubbing, poisoning and steel-jaw leg-hold traps kill animals that may never have jeopardized livestock, including pups and cubs, endangered species and pets.

Scientific studies indicate that this "livestock protection program" is ineffective in reducing livestock losses. Despite a 46 percent increase in Wildlife Services' appropriation and a significant increase in the number of animals killed in the last decade, livestock losses to predators have not declined.

In fact, some predator species have responded to the intensive killing by increasing their reproduction. In the next few weeks, Congress will debate an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill that would cut funding for wildlife destruction to protect livestock. This is a rare opportunity for public involvement in wildlife protection. Ranching interests are fighting hard to continue the killing.

I call on all who oppose the use of tax dollars for cruel and wasteful killing of wildlife and pets to act today. Contact your U.S. senators and representative and ask them to support the Bob Smith amendment (in the Senate) and the DeFazio-Bass-Morella amendment (for your representative) to the Agriculture Appropriations bill.

DEBBIE DILL