Paws Up! New York would become the ninth state to outlaw wildlife killing contests if Governor Kathy Hochul signs the bill.
July 20, 2023
A.2917/S.4099 was introduced by Senator Tim Kennedy and Assemblymember Deborah Glick. If passed, killing contests in New York would become unlawful. S. 4099 overwhelmingly passed the Senate on June 7, 2023, and A. 2917 passed the Assembly on June 21, 2023. Now the bill is on Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk, waiting to be signed.
New York would become the ninth state to ban wildlife killing contests if signed by the Governor. States that have outlawed wildlife killing contests are California, Vermont, New Mexico, Arizona, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington, and Maryland. This bill would prohibit all participation in wildlife killing contests. It would prohibit organization, sponsorship, conduction, promotion, as well as actual participation.
Wildlife killing contests are horrific events where animals are killed for the “thrill” of it and cash prizes. Hunters will either try to kill as many animals as possible under a time restriction or will try to kill the biggest or smallest of each animal. A lot of times, the animals are wastefully discarded after the contest. Animals commonly facing this cruelty include bobcats, coyotes, foxes, prairie dogs, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, woodchucks, and even mountain lions and wolves.
“These killing contests encourage senseless brutality, and serve absolutely no scientifically backed ecological or conservation purpose. The wildlife of the state is a natural resource for all New Yorkers to enjoy, and to allow these cruel contests to incentivize wasteful killing for cash is an insult to nature,” said Assemblymember Glick. Hopes are high that Governor Kathy Hochul will sign the bill into law. New York can set an example for other states to follow. People participating in wildlife killing contests should not get prizes; they should get penalties.
Send Governor Hochul a message supporting the ban on wildlife killing contests in New York.