Arizona: Urge your state senator to oppose harmful wildlife bills
Arizona lawmakers have introduced 12 harmful wildlife bills, seven of which have passed the House and now head to the Senate.
The seven bills that are currently being considered by the Senate would enshrine some of the cruelest hunting practices into law, including baiting, hounding and trapping, while stripping Arizonans of their ability to weigh in on wildlife management decisions and weakening democratic oversight. The legislation would also allow ranchers to shoot and trap critically endangered Mexican gray wolves, drastically expand the killing of bears and mountain lions and further undermine protections under the Endangered Species Act.
HB 2158: Would designate black bears and mountain lions as “predators,” making it much easier to kill these species.
HB 2159: Would allow landowners to be issued permits to kill and use leghold traps on Mexican gray wolves regardless of whether the wolves have been involved in conflicts.
HB 2497: A “right to hunt” bill, which would block voters from using the ballot process on wildlife protection issues and uses vague, deceptive language to protect cruel practices like hounding, baiting and trapping in Arizona statute.
HB 2162: Would guarantee a cattlemen/rancher on the wildlife commission, privileging one special interest over others with valuable input on wildlife management.
HB 2787: Would prohibit any state resources (personnel or financial) from participating in the Mexican wolf reintroduction program and perpetuates fearmongering about this subspecies of wolves.
HCM 2011: Message to Congress in support of a bill that would remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for Mexican gray wolves.
HCM 2006: Message to Congress and the Trump administration asking for weakening of the federal ESA and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
TAKE ACTION
Please take a moment to contact your state senator and, in your own words, urge them to vote against this harmful package of wildlife bills. Use the form below to send your message.
You can simply write: “As an Arizonan, I deeply value our state’s incredible wildlife and I urge you to vote no on the group of bills that represent an unprecedented attack on wildlife and conservation efforts. Arizona is home to iconic and treasured native carnivores including mountain lions, black bears and the critically endangered Mexican gray wolf. These bills would weaken protections for wildlife, undermine the broadly supported Endangered Species Act, and increase killing and the use of cruel methods such as steel-jawed leghold traps. I strongly urge your no vote on HB 2158, HB 2159, HB 2497, HB 2162, HB 2787, HCM 2011 and HCM 2006 as they threaten our wildlife populations, are counter to our values of science-based and ethical treatment of wildlife and disenfranchise Arizonans from wildlife management decisions.”
Then make it your own by personalizing your message.