People who care are powerful when they use their passion to advocate for change. We know fighting for change in environmental and wildlife issues can feel overwhelming but it’s really important to remember that the actions of every single person can really add up.
There are actions you can take, right now, that can change the course of a state agency or commission. Don’t believe us? This one example might change your mind.
After seeing a post by the New Mexico Department of Fish & Game (NMDGF) about a wildlife killing contest for all four species of squirrel in the state, a small group of activists—including Wildlife for All Board Member Denise Fort—jumped into action.
They posted on social media, used their networks to tell others, and Denise even fired off this opinion letter to the Santa Fe New Mexican:
Promoting the killing of squirrels? Our NM Game and Fish Department has shown again why we need to reform this agency and, joining other states in the recognition that wildlife matters to all of us. The agency in charge of conserving wildlife instead recently announced a hunting killing contest, promising rewards for shooting four different species of squirrels. They’ll even post pictures of the dead creatures. Is this what a state agency should be doing? To be clear, New Mexico is advertising itself as a beautiful destination where one can enjoy our landscape, sky and wildlife. Yes, people hunt and fish, and some people eat squirrels, but Game & Fish shouldn’t push the killing of any wildlife. As a state, we decided that coyotes don’t deserve to be killed for cash and prizes. Why would squirrels? Wildlife killing contests are abhorrent. Governor, please help.
-Denise Fort, board member, Wildlife for All
New Mexico banned coyote killing contests, where people win cash and prizes to kill coyotes, in 2019. Why should squirrels be any different? Killing contests are unethical, aren’t “management” and cause a lot of pain and suffering just for the gratification of the participants.
Word quickly spread about this squirrel killing contest. People joined in sharing the post, and called the Department and elected officials to register their opposition to a killing contest.
The Department of Fish and Game canceled the contest, and a reporter even reached out to Denise and other activists to write an article about their actions.
When people used their voices to call out NMDGF for spending its resources to promote hunting and fishing in ways that commodify and disrespect animals, rather than spending money on authentic conservation, it stopped a killing contest. And while that doesn’t happen every time, it’s an important victory to celebrate today.
Our voices can make a tangible difference when it comes to helping state wildlife management agencies modernize their focus to truly make their mission about conservation of all species. They also need our help in creating new sources of funding that prioritize biodiversity protection, not just “hook and bullet” activities.
Feeling defeated or overwhelmed is an easy reaction to the uphill battle we’re in to change an entrenched system.
But consider this: your compassion that leads you to feel this deeply is actually a source of strength. Your internal capacity to be devastated by animal cruelty is actually what makes you powerful, because it’s what motivates you to create change.
What you do matters. You are not alone.
For every Rachel Carson or Martin Luther King, Jr. or Dolores Huerta, there are millions of people whose names we don’t know but who join the fight every day, in many different ways.
Take action: share your thoughts on social media, spread awareness in your community, show up to meetings and write public comments. It all adds up, perhaps more than you know.
Give what you can with your talents and capacities, while recognizing the responsibilities in your life. If we are united in vision, strategy, and passion: we can change culture, win policy, and build a movement.
Ready to get involved? Download our Advocacy Toolkit to start making change in your state.
