More than 40 bobcats were killed in New Hampshire, a state where hunting them is against the law. Three men have now pleaded guilty to shooting and trapping the wild cats, then smuggling their furs into Canada. They are expected to be sentenced in January, and the court has a chance to send a clear message: wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated.

According to the New Hampshire district attorney, the men drove the bobcats to New York to get false tags, which helped them pass the pelts off as legal at the Canadian border. This was not a one-time mistake. It was a planned scheme that crossed state and national lines and wiped out dozens of animals New Hampshire has chosen to protect.

Bobcats are part of what makes New England's forests wild. Hunters who follow the rules, wildlife lovers, and rural families all lose when poachers treat protected animals like a paycheck.

The judge overseeing this case should impose the strongest penalties the law allows, including the highest possible fines and the loss of hunting and trapping privileges. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department should also work with wildlife officials in New York and Canada to close the tagging gaps that let these furs slip across borders, so the next scheme is caught sooner. New Hampshire lawmakers can help by making sure penalties for wildlife trafficking are tough enough to stop it.

A light sentence would tell poachers the risk is worth it. Sign the petition to demand maximum penalties for the bobcat poachers before sentencing in January.