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Use SCI’s Action Center to voice your opposition to both proposals.
Senate Bill 1487 would prohibit the importation and possession in California of several specified species, including their parts, of game animals lawfully harvested by hunters in African countries. A number of the species listed under Senate Bill 1487, including hyena, hippopotamus, plains zebra and giraffe, are not listed under the Endangered Species Act or as an Appendix I species on CITES.
For species listed under the ESA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service already determines when their importation (and possession) in the United States benefits the conservation of the species. California, which has no expertise in these matters, should not second-guess the FWS. Banning an import that the ESA allows is inviting an expensive lawsuit that California, and its taxpayers, are likely to lose.
Should this bill pass and Californians forego hunting these species in Africa, African wildlife and the rural communities will lose a vital stream of funding for both conservation of wildlife and support for the local communities. Additionally, the range countries and professional hunting guides will lose funds, brought in by hunters, used for on-the-ground anti-poaching efforts.
Senate Bill 1487 is being heard in the Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 14.
Assembly Bill 2805 would allow property owners to destroy wild pig populations throughout the state.
The wild pig would lose its game mammal status and be reclassified as an “exotic game mammal” and also would lose protections from over harvesting and excessive methods of take that are in place for game mammals.
The State would no longer manage wild pigs under the principles of scientific wildlife management, but by politics, speculation and emotion, as in the case of the recent ban on bobcat trapping.
Assembly Bill 2805 is being heard in the Appropriations Committee on Friday, May 25.
Contact your state elected officials today!
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