© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Harney County Coyote Hunting Derby Raises Hackles Of Predator Advocates

Predator Defense

Coyote Hunting contest is happening this weekend in Harney County . Predator advocates are condemning the event, especially given the ongoing occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge by armed militants .

It’s legal under Oregon statuteto kill coyotes. But Brooks Fahy of Predator Defense in Eugene says these kinds of contests amount to all-out slaughter of an animal that is important to the ecosystem. He says with what’s happening at Malheur, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Fahy: “It’s just a bizarre situation and this contest on top of it just seems like this spark that could make this whole thing explode into something extraordinarily violent. And what’s disappointing is to see the Sheriff of Harney County basically giving the green light for this contest and telling people in Harney County not to be concerned about hearing gunshot.”
Fahy fears the coyote derby could encourage the occupiers to hunt on the refuge—he suspects they already are. KLCC reached out to one of the organizers of the Coyote Derby. He had no comment. 
 

Rachael McDonald is KLCC’s host for All Things Considered on weekday afternoons. She also is the editor of the KLCC Extra, the daily digital newspaper. Rachael has a BA in English from the University of Oregon. She started out in public radio as a newsroom volunteer at KLCC in 2000.
Related Content