The first time I saw a coyote was at Pyramid Lake. It was dawn and the sun was peeking out – lighting up a mother coyote and her two pups. The family was slowly trodding down the shoreline. I was awestruck by how gorgeous and content they were. Suddenly, one of the pups noticed a quick movement in the Tufa rocks and off they went, doing what coyotes do, hunting rodents. I still remember this fondly, my breath taken away by seeing iconic Nevada coyotes in their native habitat, and I have been advocating for coyotes and other wild carnivores ever since.
Coyote killing contests have gained notoriety in Nevada, raising ethical questions and heightening tensions between hunters and conservationists. These contests, which reward participants for killing the most coyotes within a set time frame, are not only inhumane but also detrimental to the ecosystem. It’s past time for Nevada to ban these contests.
At the heart of the issue is the ethical dilemma surrounding wildlife management and animal rights. Coyotes, often labeled as pests or nuisances, play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems. As apex predators, they play an important role in our ecosystems. Killing contests undermine this natural balance, incentivizing the indiscriminate slaughter of these animals without consideration for the broader environmental consequences. There is not one state-level department in Nevada that recognizes coyote killing contests as a viable scientific management tool. Not even Nevada’s Department of Wildlife.
Furthermore, these contests often promote a culture of violence toward wildlife. Participants are encouraged to view animals not as integral parts of the ecosystem but as mere targets for sport. This mindset can desensitize individuals to the suffering of living creatures and foster a dangerous disregard for nature. Hunting has a time and place, and certainly Indigenous people in Nevada have been hunting since time immemorial, but coyote killing contests are unsportsmanlike, and severely out of sync with the natural circle of life. The Sierra Club supports “regulated periodic hunting and fishing when based on sufficient scientifically valid biological data and when consistent with all other management purposes and when necessary total protection of particular species or populations.” Coyote killing contests are not based on sufficient scientific data or necessary for any species’ survival.
Public sentiment is increasingly leaning towards compassion and respect for wildlife. A poll conducted earlier this year shows that a majority of Nevada voters support a ban on coyote killing contests. Instead of endorsing events that encourage killing for sport, flagrantly defying the will of most Nevadans, the state should focus on education and fostering a culture of respect for all living beings. Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont have all banned wildlife killing contests.
After years of back and forth discussions on coyote killing contests, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners, with hunters representing the majority of the commissioners, is meeting once again on November 14th to rehash this issue. In 2019 and 2023, the Nevada legislature
had the opportunity to ban these contests once and for all, but the bills died both times. Since then, activists including myself have been let down time and time again as the Commission fails to ban these cruel contests. At a 2021 meeting of the wildlife commission, Tony Wasley, former Nevada Department of Wildlife Director, said that these contests are not an effective control of coyote populations.
Coyote killing contests in Nevada represent a concerning trend that contradicts the principles of ethical wildlife management and conservation. They not only harm ecosystems and promote violence against animals but also risk the state’s reputation as a leader in environmental stewardship. As a society, we must advocate for policies that prioritize compassion, sustainability, and coexistence. It’s time to end coyote killing contests and embrace a future where wildlife is respected and humanely managed.
