Every native species plays an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy and thriving. Iconic species such as black bears, gray wolves, and bald eagles are among the most famous ambassadors of the natural world, but bees, frogs, beavers, fishes, owls, and indeed all species are no less essential to thriving ecosystems. For our sake and theirs, we need to nurture these wild communities, not destroy them.

Unfortunately, when it comes to wildlife management, destruction is often the strategy federal and state governments deploy. Under the guise of “wildlife management,” they sanction all sorts of barbaric practices to kill animals. Some kill for fur, some in a misinformed attempt to eliminate perceived threats to livestock and, sadly, some kill for no other reason than a twisted sense of “fun”.

We envision a day when native carnivores like coyotes, wolves, pumas, and bears thrive in robust, ecologically functional populations amid vibrant ecosystems. We envision a future in which people coexist with and appreciate these majestic creatures, and in which every decision individuals and institutions make reflects an abiding respect for our interdependence and the need for natural systems. To fulfill that vision, we must shift to a model of non-lethal management and coexistence.