Be an advocate for animals.
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- “Nuisance” Animals or #MichiganWildlifeMatters?
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources unveiled a deeply troubling proposal to triple the number of wildlife species considered “nuisances,” allow expanded hunting and trapping (including conibear traps) to kill these animals, and eliminate most requirements that the private landowner obtain a DNR permit before killing an animal.
- The proposal is a sharp and seemingly sudden reversal of policy, without satisfactory explanation and based on limited input. It could be approved by the Natural Resources Commission as early as its May 11 meeting.
- Talking Points:
- greatly expands wildlife considered “nuisances” from 4 to 13 species;
- allows trapping, including body gripping conibear traps for the 4 existing “nuisances” who are cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, and woodchuck;
- removes permitting requirements;
- the rationale for these major changes, saving money for the department and making it more convenient for landowners are insufficient to justify such drastic expansion of hunting and trapping while diminishing the role of the DNR in issuing permits;
- the process was flawed and relied on only two internal groups, the Human-Wildlife Conflict Workgroup and the Furbearer Workgroup, with apparently no input from tribal voices or those advocating for co-existence with wildlife;
- the proposal represents a major shift in policy from a 2020 department informational handout which had a nuanced view about wildlife and described the educational value of the permit process; (7) the proposal contradicts the current DNR strategic plan which acknowledges a shift in values toward non-consumptive use and the need to include these perspectives in decision making.
- Take Action: (1) contact NRC@michigan.gov and (2) the Governor at (517) 335-7858
- AFA’s testimony at the April NRC meeting.
- Proposed Order presented to NRC in April 2023, could be adopted as early as May 11, 2023
- Farm Bill Alphabet Soup: OFF and EQIP Acts
- These bills aim to fix existing Farm Bill programs. The OFF Act has been introduced in both House and Senate, S. 557/ H.R. 1249; EQIP in the Senate only, S. 658. Contact both of your U.S. Senators and Representative. Urge them to sponsor the bills (or thank them if they have); and urge them to make these bills part of the Farm Bill. https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
- The EQIP Improvement Act of 2023 would
- The EQIP Improvement Act, would revise the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, to steer funding away from livestock operators and re-focus support toward conservation and environmental programs. According to Senators Booker and Lee, the bill co-sponsors, “Between 2018 and 2021,taxpayers provided more than $812 million to support … cost-sharing for roads, fish ponds, stock ponds, dams, animal waste pits, pipelines, and land clearing…”
- Call to Action: Make the Farm Bill Better. Are your U.S. Senators and Representative sponsors/co-sponsors of the OFF Act? If so, thank them. If not, ask them to co-sponsor S. 571 or H.R. 1249. Have your Senators sponsored the EQIP Act? If so, thank them; if not, ask them to co-sponsor S. 658. Ask them to ensure that the act becomes part of the Farm Bill.
- Find your elected officials here. Find the Senate sponsors here and here; the House sponsors here.
- The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would reform the Commodity Check-off program. Farmers and ranchers are required to pay into a fund ostensibly to support research and promotion of commodities such as pork, eggs, beef, and corn. Over the years, through lax agency oversight, industrial agriculture interests have received check-off funds for lobbying. Read more here.
- Grizzlies, Wolves, Lesser Prairie-Chickens, and Northern long-eared bats are among wildlife species, along with the Endangered Species Act itself, facing renewed threats. The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee approved six bills/resolutions. Contact your U.S. representative to voice opposition to all six and ask her/him to vote against all of them, which include as reported by the HSUS :
- “The Trust the Science Act, H.R. 764, would remove Endangered Species Act protection for gray wolves in the lower 48 states.
- The Grizzly Bear State Management Act, H.R. 1245, would remove Endangered Species Act protection for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population.
- The Comprehensive Grizzly Bear Management Act, H.R. 1419, would remove Endangered Species Act protection for grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem population.
- House Joint Resolution 29 would nullify a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision last year to protect the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.
- House Joint Resolution 46 would nullify last year’s joint decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service to expand the habitat that the Endangered Species Act can protect for the benefit of species facing extinction.
- House Joint Resolution 49 would nullify last year’s tentative decision by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the northern long-eared bat under the Endangered Species Act.”.
- Sign this petition and tell PETCO and PetSmart to Stop Selling All Birds
- AFA joined in a letter earlier this year sponsored by Avian WElfare Coalition, asking the corporations to stop selling all birds.
- Federal regulations regarding birds have recently been updated but do not protect birds in pet stores and exempt certain breeders of small birds from USDA licensing requirements
- Many of these birds are raised in egregious conditions, some of them bred by those breeders exempt from regulation, and sold to pet stores, exempt from any oversight
- They are nearing their goal of 75,000 signatures
- Thanks to U.S. Rep Lisa McClain, (MI-9) who was a driving force in a successful effort to have the Biden Administration stop funding Russian experiments on cats. “’Having led congressional efforts over the past year to stop the flow of taxpayer dollars to Russia’s inhumane and unaccountable animal testing labs, I’m proud that the Biden administration finally listened to reason and halted this wasteful and dangerous spending,’” GOP Representative Lisa McClain of Michigan, the lead advocate on this issue, said in a statement”, according to a news story. You can email Rep. McClain or call her DC office, (202) 225-2106, or District office (586) 697-9300.