This crucially needed legislation, labeled as the Wildlife, Body-Gripping Traps Ban, Animal Poisons Statute, (the ProPAW initiative) will:
1. Prohibit the use of body-gripping traps, including steel-jawed legholds, snares, and Conibears, declared "inhumane" by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. Alternative: Cage traps recommended by the California Department of Fish and Game.
2. Ban the use of Sodium Fluoroacetate (compound 1080), used in livestock collars, and Sodium Cyanide, used in M-44 "coyote getters". Both of these chemicals have been labeled extremely and indiscriminately poisonous by the manufacturer, by the Federal Animal Damage Control (ADC), and by the Environmental Protection Agency. Alternatives: guard dogs, better fencing, herding sheep, shed-lambing.
So why ban these practices, when people earn a living by using them? The reasons are many.
Punishing the victim
With the evolution of ranching in the direction of capital-intensive factory farming, encroachment on wildlife habitat becomes more and more severe. Large, untended livestock aggregates replace the small, well-tended herds of private ranches. Who then, can blame a hungry coyote, forced out of its natural habitat, with a dwindling food supply, from turning to a large herd of untended goats or sheep for survival?
In the case of traps, where the intended target is the coyote, up to 90% of the victims are non-target animals such as birds, rabbits, squirrels, not to mention pets and protected species such as eagles and kit foxes. In addition, most of these animals die or must be destroyed because of serious, disabling injuries. The pain and suffering inflicted on animals held in these traps for hours or days, to starve of thirst or bleed to death, is unconscionable regardless of the species.
With regard to compound 1080, it's a direct threat to humans and any other life form that walks or flies or swims. The chemical is contained in a collar-bladder worn by sheep, and intended to be punctured by the teeth of an attacking coyote. But the bladder can easily be punctured by star thistle, wire barb or a sharp stick. Each collar contains enough poison to kill six 150-pound humans and who knows how many birds or cats or frogs. The manufacturer recommends disposal under three feet of soil one-half mile from any human habitation. With the rains of winter, who among us is safe from this draconian menace?
Labeled the Save the Horses Initiative, this measure deals with the thousands of horses that are transported and slaughtered annually under dispicably inhumane conditions, to be used as meat for human consumption. Horses intended for human consumption cannot, by law, be euthanized via standard humane methods. They are killed by splitting open their skulls with a four-inch spike, then hung, bled and dismembered while still alive.
Prop 6 will prohibit possession, transfer, or receipt of horses for slaughter, as well asÊthe sale of horsemeat for human consumption.
What you can do
Those desiring more information or who wish to contribute for Prop 4 may call (818) 768-7752. For Prop 6 the number is (415) 273-6070. But if you're as concerned as we are vote YES on Propositions 4 and 6 on November 3.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1998
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited