THE ISSUE:

During the fall, winter and spring months in British Columbia, cougar, lynx and bobcat are killed for trophy. Hunting big cats is a difficult task so hounds, often equipped with GPS collars, are used to track, chase and tree the animals. As the cat sits exhausted and defenseless, the trophy hunter follows the GPS signal to its location. While standing near the base of the tree, the animal is shot. Shooting at extreme angles and with tree branches often obscuring sightlines, a clean kill is never guaranteed.

Cougar, lynx and bobcat are hunted recreationally for trophy. Hunting regulations in the province do little to avoid orphaning kittens. While it is illegal to kill a mother cougar in the presence of her kittens, killing a mother while she has left her kittens in the safety of a nursery or rendezvous site is legal. Orphaned kittens are often left to starve or are attacked by other predators and rarely survive.

CALL TO ACTION:

In December of 2017, the BC NDP banned the grizzly bear hunt, due in part to public opposition to an outdated, inhumane and unethical practice. The hunting of cougar, lynx and bobcat is no different than grizzly hunting and belongs in the past.

Join Wildlife Defence League today as we seek to protect wild cats in British Columbia!

***(PLEASE NOTE you are NOT donating to Wildlife Defence League when asked after you have signed the petition - you are donating to change.org)