Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission just made a dangerous and deeply disappointing move: they voted to allow coyotes to be hunted year-round, removing critical protections for mother coyotes and their vulnerable pups during birthing season.

This rule change undoes a sensible, science-backed “quiet period” from April to July—designed to prevent orphaned pups from slowly starving to death after their mothers are shot. Now, even without a current count of the coyote population or clear definitions for “interspecies conflict” or “overabundance,” the state will allow virtually unrestricted killing of coyotes on private land throughout the year.

 Without regulations rooted in data and accountability, Michigan risks promoting indiscriminate and needless killing—undermining responsible wildlife management and our state’s conservation legacy.

This is not just about coyotes. It’s about how we treat all wildlife. It’s about standing up for non-lethal solutions, science-informed policy, and a shared future where ecosystems are respected—not dominated by fear or outdated notions of control.

We call on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to immediately reverse this harmful decision and reinstate the coyote “quiet period” from mid-April to mid-July. Further, we urge the Commission and Michigan Department of Natural Resources to adopt clear, evidence-based standards for assessing coyote populations and defining nuisance behavior.

Michigan residents deserve wildlife policies grounded in compassion, conservation, and common sense—not in pressure from special interest hunting groups.

Add your name if you believe wildlife deserves better—and that Michigan should lead with science, not cruelty.