STOWE, Vt. (WCAX) – Wildlife advocates are suing Vermont Fish and Wildlife over rules about trapping and hunting coyotes with dogs.
The advocacy groups Protect Our Wildlife, the Vermont Wildlife Coalition, the Center for Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action are taking the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Board to court over what they call inadequate new rules.
The groups claim the department ignored warnings from the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules that new rules on hunting dogs with coyotes, known as “hounding,” do not meet legislative intent.
They claim coyote hounding violates the rights of landowners and the well-being of farm animals, pets and wildlife.
They also say Fish and Wildlife has not protected the public from leghold and body-crushing traps, citing two instances of pet dogs getting caught in such traps.
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