"A land ethic, then, reflects the existence of an ecological conscience, and this in turn reflects a conviction of individual responsibility for the health of the land. Health is the capacity of the land for self-renewal. Conservation is our effort to fulfill that vision"--Aldo Leopold................I feel that Leopold's statement is spot on as it relates to NEW YORK STATE'S barbaric Coyote killing contest scheduled right in the midst of the coyote mating season(FEB)...............As mentioned in one of yesterdays Postings on these rattlesnake roundups/Coyote culls.................Michael Vick was sent to prison for arranging dog fights......................perhaps the entire State of New York's Dept of Conservation should be shackled and chained for allowing the slaughter of what Massachusetts Biologist JON WAY(friend of this blog) calls our Eastern Coywolf...............up to 25% Eastern wolf DNA in our NorthEastern Coyotes.................I 2nd Jon's call for a National Wild Canine Protection act to be initiated to protect our top trophic social predators...............Special thanks to Frank Vincenti of Wild Dog Foundation and Anne at Wildwatch for bringing this important issue to everyones attention.............Incoming Govenor Cuomo is on the record as someone concerned for our environment..............Let him put those words into action in protecting our Eastern Coyote(Coywolf) and one day(if not already here)...........the Eastern Wolf

 Sullivan county, NY coyote hunting contest

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The Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc. is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Coyote Hunt in White Sulphur Springs, New York. Feb 19-21, 2010
There is a $30 entry fee

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Only coyotes taking the State of New York on the three days of the hunt may be entered. Coyotes may be taken by hunting only, no trapped or cable-restrained coyotes will be allowed. hunting with the use of dogs is permitted. NYSDEC hunting regulations must be strictly adhered to. All coyotes must be taken by fair chase/stalk methods. All coyotes must be brought in on the day of the kill for weigh-in. If taken in the weigh-in hours keep the coyote warm.

 NOTE: All coyotes will be body temperature tested. In case of a tie, the first coyote weighed-in will win.
Weigh-in will be held at the Warren Krum residence on Heinle Road in White Sulphur Springs, NY (1 mile on Shore Road off Rte 52 to the 5-point corner then onto Heinle Road)(Phone # 845-292-4807 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              845-292-4807      end_of_the_skype_highlighting) form 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Sunday. THE WEIGH-IN ENDS AT 2:00 PM SHARP ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21.

 A roast beef dinner is included with the entry fee for all entrants on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the White Sulphur Springs Firehouse on Rte 52. A free 3 gun $5 raffle ticket will be given to all the entrants. The winner will be announced after the final weigh-in results have been tabulated at approximately 3:00 PM at the firehouse.
For information please feel free to call either Edna @ 845-932-8929 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              845-932-8929      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Jack @ 570-798-2998 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              570-798-2998      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Warren @ 845-292-4807 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              845-292-4807      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Oh yeah...prizes...
$100 for each coyote brought in.
$200 for the heaviest of the day
$2500 grand prize for the biggest yote overall.
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From: Wild Dog Foundation <savewilddogs@yahoo.com>
Subject: Wolf and coyote advocacy
To: center@biologicaldiversity.org
Date: Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 11:55 AM

To whom it may concern,

my name is Frank Vincenti, Director of a small wild canid advocacy group here in New York for wolves, coyotes, wild dogs ect,called the Wild Dog Foundation (http://www.wilddog.org/). It has been proven genetically that our Eastern coyote is in fact a hybrid between the extirpated small Eastern wolf and western coyotes.

 

Upon endorsing your effort and recommendation for restoration of wolves in all N. American ecosystems, we feel it should be extended to all wolf-like canids ( whether hybrids or even coyotes who are after all wolves on a smaller scale).
Wolf groups make a deadly mistake by only endorsing the top-down effect by saying , well wolves control coyotes, well what is said when the enemies of the wolf say that wolves are out of balance and need control as has been proposed by those in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

This is why we feel there should be a carnivore-wide innitiative especially for canid predators. Already the hostility towards coyotes or more appropriatley coywolves (as coined by colleagues of mine and myself, (Dr. Jon Way,2007, Hope Ryden,1970's) is taking a toll on wolves returning to our region ( as said by Maine Wolf Coalition and Northeast Ecological Recovery Society).

I was sent a photo from an increasingly popular coyote killing contest here in New York State of a supposed 70lbs. coyote , well that is no coyote , it is an Eastern wolf.
Eastern wolves and coyotes have been shown to form mixed packs as seen in and around Algonquin Park and the Red wolf recovery in North Carolina, we feel this is not a bad thing but a recovery of wolf-like canids and should be allowed to happen.

It is my hope, as I am trying to do my part along with my colleagues doing theirs, that a large influential group such as yours would help us in this effort and we can support Dr. Jon Way's suggestion for a Wild Canid Protection act, one already endorsed by some eastern wolf groups here as well as my own.

Thank you.
sincerely
Frank Vincenti, Director
Wild Dog Foundation
http://www.wilddog.org/
savewilddogs@yahoo.com