IWCN is driving a nonlethal coexistence effort in Colorado, working closely with Representative Tammy Story and other wildlife advocates. Representative Story introduced the Wild Carnivore & Livestock Nonlethal Coexistence Act – HB HB24-1375. Full Bill Text here.
This bill is headed to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Committee on April 1st. If passed, this will be the most comprehensive nonlethal coexistence act of its kind in the country. Nonetheless, the introduction of coexistence legislation is a growing trend. In the past two years, seven other states have attempted to pass coexistence acts.
The main provisions of the Act include: Funding for Coexistence tools; training on the art and science of shepherding, herding and for carcass removal; requirements for the use of Coexistence methods to be eligible for compensation for livestock or guardian dog loss to carnivores; and if producers fail to remove a livestock carcass, and that failure results in a carnivore depredating livestock, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department would not issue an order to kill the carnivore.
This is one of our best chances to start restoring our wildlife and wildlands to reverse the degradation from inappropriate livestock grazing.
Want to help? Here’s what we need you to do!
TO ASK FOR SUPPORT:
We need seven votes in the Ag committee to pass this out of the Ag Committee. We know we have four votes and three more. We need you to contact your Legislator, by emailing or calling them, to voice your support for the Wild Carnivore & Livestock Nonlethal Coexistence Act – HB HB24-1375.
Please contact the representatives listed below in RED – they do not yet support the bill. Please tell them why you support the bill and ask them to support the bill. A sample letter with talking points and guidelines is below.
- K.McCormick: Boulder; karen.mccormick.house@coleg.gov
- M. Martinez: Pueblo. 303-866-2916; matthew.martinez.house@coleg.gov
- B. Mclachlan: Durango/Cortez. 303-866-2914; barbara.mclachlan.house@coleg.gov
- M. Lukens: Meeker/Craig. 303-866-2923; meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov
Also, please contact the representatives listed below in BLUE, thanking them for their support of the bill:
- E. Velasco: thank you for supporting. 303-866-2949; elizabeth.velasco.house@coleg.gov
- B. Titone: thank you for supporting 303-866-2962; brianna.titone.house@coleg.gov
- M. Lindsay: thank you for supporting 303-866-3911; mandy.lindsay.house@coleg.gov
- J. Marvin: thank you for supporting 303-866-2918; julia.marvin.house@coleg.gov
- T. Story: Please send her thank you emails 303-866-2582; tammy.story.house@coleg.gov
DETAILS FOR YOUR LETTER:
- Be sure to send one email to each Legislator, if you put them all in one email it goes to their assistant but if you send one email to each, they must read it.
- If you are not from Colorado, you can still submit a letter….”My name is… I live in … I choose to visit Colorado because I love the wildlife and wildlands and support the protection and coexistence with the apex predators that are so essential to healthy ecosystems…” OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.
Dear Representative ########,
I am ### and live in ###.
I’m writing to ask for your support of the Native Carnivore Nonlethal Coexistence Act — HB24-1375. What is happening in Colorado today will determine the future of wildlife wildland health around the country. We cannot do this without YOU.
I support the Native Carnivore Nonlethal Coexistence Act because…. FILL IN THE DETAILS OF WHY YOU SUPPORT THE COEXISTENCE ACT.
For more information to include in your letter use the following references:
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