Cool for cats
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission decided by a 3-2 vote on August 5 to end bobcat trapping in the state, with the exception of depredation permits.
The commission had tussled with the idea of banning the practice statewide or just in particular counties for two years.
Governor Jerry Brown signed the Bobcat Protection Act in 2013 asking the commission to decide between the two options and to update the science behind the trapping. The last population study of bobcats was conducted in 1979.
DFW staff determined that trapping has had no impact on the population and a ban is not needed. Department of Fish and Wildlife Director, Chuck Bonham, said, “There is no evidence that a ban on bobcat trapping is needed to protect bobcat populations.”
Despite a lack of current evidence, the commission decided to ban the practice of live catching the cats, killing them in the cage and selling the pelts for high fashion.
The commission said it might be willing to allow trapping in certain areas if the science is updated.
And, the number of trappers, roughly 100 today down from more than 3,000 decades ago, could not sustain regulating the industry with the fees paid for licenses.
The Mono Lake Committee said in a press release, “After many years of staff reports, public meetings, and passionate and emotional discussions, the Commission followed the overwhelming majority of public sentiment and voted to ban trapping altogether.”
The hunting crowd was not so impressed. “We are very disappointed by the willingness of the new commissioners to cave to the irrational and emotional arguments of the animal-rights community by taking such a radical stance on a very complex topic that has been debated for more than year – especially when their knowledge and experience with the subject matter has been confined to this single meeting,” said Josh Brones, government affairs coordinator of western operations for the US Sportsmen’s Alliance.
There have been several meeting to discuss the issue including a commissioner’s meeting in Mammoth Lakes, June 10 and 11.
The ban will go into effect for the 2015-16 season that starts November 24.
For most of us, Director Bonham, it ain’t about the NUMBERS of bobcats, it’s about the ETHICS of this dirty commerce (as former commissioner Richard Rogers stated publicly just prior to his replacement). Truth be told, there’s only ONE overpopulated species on the planet….
Nearly all these furs will be sold on markets in China, Russia and Europe, a totally unnecessary luxury item for the wealthy and/or ethically-challenged. As our State Constitution decrees, wildlife belongs to ALL Californians, not just to the mercenary few.
The Commission received more than 25,000 letters, emails and petitions in support of a statewide trapping ban for bobcats. PROJECT COYOTE delivered another 30,000 petition signatures at the August 5 hearing in Fortuna (Humboldt Co.) The Commission received FEWER THAN TWO DOZEN letters opposing the ban, nearly all with vested financial interests. (Public Information – at the Commission office, Resources Building, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.)
Organizational letters in support of the statewide ban came from the following: Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Earth Island Institutes’s Project Coyote, Center for Biological Diversity, Mountain Lion Foundation, Project Bobcat, Mono Lake Committee, Humane Society of U.S., Public Interest Coalition, Action for Animals, California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators, Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife, National Parks Conservation Assn., Friends of the Inyo, Humboldt Wildlife Conservation Center, Morengo Basin Conservation Assn., Bird Ally X, Federation of Hillside & Canyon Assns., Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), Social Compassion in Legislation, et al. TOTAL REPRESENTING 1.2 MILLION CALIFORNIANS.
THE VIDEO OF THE FOUR-HOUR+ HEARING MAY BE VIEWED ON THE FISH & GAME COMMISSION’S WEBSITE. Well worth a look. (August 5, item #20.)
Trapping/hunting for fur pelts needs to stop. And not for just the bobcats, but for ALL furbearers: foxes, beavers, minks, badgers, skunks, coyotes, raccoons, martens, et al.
Seems about time for a statewide ballot initiative to end this bloody business, yes? I think it would pass overwhelmingly.
x
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland