HIDDEN HORRORS
Learn about the obscured horrendous treatment of wild wolves and coyotes and ways you can contribute to ending it.
"If wolves and coyotes can endure this kind of inhumane treatment, we can endure witnessing it."
-Ivy Raen, Conserving the Wolves founder and Executive Director
TRAPPING
Each year, millions of fur-bearing animals are caught in traps. Non-fur-bearing animals like wolves are trapped and killed for entertainment and 'management'. Coyotes are primarily trapped and skinned for their fur (though, in countries like Canada, gray wolves are also utilized for fur). Foot-hold traps are most commonly used. The trap is triggered when the wolf or coyote steps on it, and slams shut their foot. Animals caught in traps frantically attempt to free themselves, resulting in deep lacerations, broken bones, and dislocated joints. Animals may even gnaw off their foot in an attempt to escape. They can be left stuck in the trap for as long as 72 before they succumb to the elements or when the trapper returns to 'dispatch' already exhausted and distressed animals through strangulation, stomping on them, bludgeoning, drowning, injecting poison, or setting hunting dogs loose on the animal. Non-target species and companion animals such as dogs can and have also been caught in traps.
© Tim Woody
© Image from Wolf Patrol
SNARING
Snares kill animals via strangulation. Similar to foot-hold traps, snares do NOT kill the animal quickly. They can be left caught in snares/traps for hours or even days all while suffering intense panic and desperately attempting to free themselves which tightens the snare around their necks. When a wolf or coyote is strangled for long periods, thick blood swells the brain, causing it to eventually explode. A horrible, agonizing death that trappers refer to as "jelly head".
HOUND HUNTING
Hound hunting in the U.S. is a method used by trophy hunters and trappers. Aggressively trained dogs are tasked with pursuing and killing wild canids such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes. Animals are often outnumbered, terrorized, chased to exhaustion, and brutally mauled the hounds. Coyotes and wolves will often fight back in self-defense, further injuring themselves, and the dogs; which could be considered legalized dog-fighting. The pursuit can last for miles, and the coyote or wolf dies as a result of its injuries. There have been reports of hounds chasing injured animals onto private property where they are not welcome.
© Image from Wolf Patrol
© Image from Cowboy State Daily
COYOTE & WOLF WHACKING
Coyote and wolf "whacking" is pursuing animals (mainly coyotes) on motor vehicles and running them over repeatedly until crippled or dead. Wildlife that fall victim to whacking often suffer internal injuries such as organ damage, rib and bone fractures, and hemorrhages. If killing the animal via modernized vehicle is unsuccessful, they will be repeatedly bludgeoned until finally killed. Wildlife whacking is perfectly legal in states such as Wyoming and Montana--with a recent case of a 9-month-old wolf who was tortured and killed by Sublette County resident Cody Roberts. Coyotes are especially targeted through whacking, often referred to as "yote whacking". Wildlife whacking is not hunting. It is blatant animal cruelty and completely unethical.
ON-SITE SHOOTING
On-site killing is currently legal in Northwestern states such as Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and in countries like Canada. It involves killing a wolf (s) with a shotgun for "management" purposes. Wolf hunting seasons usually take place from September 15 to March 15 (181 days) in Montana, September 15 to December 31 (107 days) in Wyoming, and are open year-round in Idaho (365 days). During the season, wolves can be legally killed via any means listed on this page. Wolf hunting is highly unethical and redundant for livestock protection as wolves have minimal impact on cattle. While on-site shooting is the most humane method of wolf hunting, the wolf doesn't always die swiftly.
