US Government Kills Millions of Wild Animals Using Our Taxpayer Dollars

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The USDA's Wildlife Services program has been subject to significant criticism for its role in killing millions of wild animals annually, primarily to protect livestock interests.

Wildlife Services is a program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Its mission is to manage wildlife interactions that threaten agricultural, property, and natural resources, as well as public health and safety. The program operates in every state, conducting wildlife damage management in response to local requests.

In 2023, Wildlife Services reported killing 1.4 million animals, including 375,045 native animals such as wolves, coyotes, cougars, and birds. The methods used are often lethal and indiscriminate, including traps, snares, poisons, and aerial gunning. These methods have been criticized for being cruel and causing immense animal suffering.

Critics argue that the program's actions damage ecosystems and put public safety and health at risk. The killing of predators like coyotes and wolves disrupts natural ecosystems and biodiversity, which are crucial for maintaining ecological balance.

The program has been criticized for not integrating the best available science and for relying on outdated practices. There is a call for Wildlife Services to adopt humane, ecologically sound, and science-based nonlethal conflict mitigation strategies.

Wildlife Services is often seen as serving the interests of the agriculture industry, particularly livestock producers, by eliminating predators perceived as threats to livestock. This has led to accusations that the program prioritizes commercial agriculture over wildlife conservation.

The program has also been responsible for the unintentional killing of non-target and federally protected species, including river otters, turtles, and even domestic pets. This highlights the indiscriminate nature of the methods used.

Conservation groups and animal advocates are calling for sweeping changes to the program, including a shift towards nonlethal methods and better coexistence measures, such as cleaning up livestock carcasses that attract predators. There are also legal challenges and community opposition in various states seeking to curtail the program's operations.

In summary, the USDA's Wildlife Services program faces significant criticism for its lethal methods, impact on ecosystems, and alignment with agricultural interests. There is growing pressure for the program to reform and adopt more humane and scientifically backed approaches to wildlife management.

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