Target: Martha Williams, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service
Goal: Ban the brutal killing of keystone alligators in national wildlife refuges.
A disturbing photo of a car dragging the limp body of a slain alligator in its trail sparked outrage online. Unfortunately, strapping alligators to the backs of cars—as well as ruthlessly slaughtering these creatures in the first place—is totally legal in Florida. This year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the first-ever alligator hunt in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, which is supposed to be a protected area. There are few regulations governing alligator hunting in Florida, and hunters may use cruel methods of trapping and killing innocent alligators. One particular method involves using a pole that shoots a bullet into the animal’s brain—also known as a bangstick—that may leave the animal conscious and suffering for hours before dying.
Alligators are a keystone species in the environments of which they are a part. This means they play a particularly crucial role in the maintenance of ecosystems, especially by regulating prey populations so they don’t get out of control. Animal reserves should be places where wildlife can roam free of human disruption and hunting. There is absolutely no reason to permit the killing of any species in a wildlife refuge center, especially one as crucial as the alligator.
Sign this petition to demand an end to alligator hunting in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director Williams,
The recent approval of alligator hunting in Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is quite upsetting. These protected regions are supposed to be sanctuaries for the species they home, and animals within their premises are supposed to be safe from human activity. As alligators are a keystone species in the ecosystems to which they belong, alligator hunting can potentially affect the rest of the flora and fauna living in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Hunters show little to no respect for the animal’s life, and cruel methods of trapping and killing–such as using a bangstick to shoot a bullet into the alligator’s brain–are commonly used.
We are asking you, Ms. Williams, to prohibit the killing of alligators on protected plots of land.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Mark Gstohl
