Ending Killing Contests in Massachusetts

Killing contests are a bloodsport — they make a “game” of inflicting suffering and death on wild animals. Contestants typically compete for cash or prizes for killing the largest, smallest, or greatest number of animals.

These contests are unethical and out of step with most Americans’ values. They are also ecologically destructive and ineffective — no scientific evidence demonstrates these contests reduce the population of targeted species. Instead, they may actually increase populations and lead to increased conflicts. Nonlethal, preventive methods are the best way to reduce conflicts with wildlife.

In December 2019, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board adopted regulations banning killing contests for numerous furbearing animals: coyotes, bobcats, red foxes, gray foxes, weasels, mink, skunks, river otters, muskrats, beavers, fishers, raccoons, and opossum.

Massachusetts joins Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Vermont in limiting or prohibiting killing contests. Vermont and New Mexico outlawed coyote-killing contests in 2018 and 2019, respectively. California and Arizona’s laws are broader — California banned killing contests for furbearing and nongame mammals, and Arizona banned contests for furbearing animals.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund played an active role in this victory for Massachusetts wildlife, educating and rallying residents, as well as testifying at public hearings and submitting comments along with a coalition of national and state animal protection organizations in support of the proposed regulations. In addition to encouraging states to enact laws prohibiting these senseless events, the Animal Legal Defense Fund also challenges killing contests through litigation and has successfully challenged coyote-killing contests in Oregon and Kansas.