Coyote killing contest in Alberta Canada

[Catherine]

Coyotes are part of the natural balance and hunting binges can upset that balance. Nature doesn't do things in a big way like this.
Poisoning the rodents does not work because it risks also poisoning the hawks and owls that eat them. Then you have more rodents and an increase in the rodent population can mess up the vegetation. Alberta is very dry and you need all the vegetation to survive. If the rodents eat too much and the land is bare then you get erosion. I don't think anyone has thought through the whole issue. I can't even think of all the possible effects of killing coyotes.
(little known fact: there are no rats in Alberta and they are vigilant about going after them if any come in a shipment. Rats would really mess up the ecological balance)

You are right about the internet. I have never heard of the hunt and yet it has been going on for four years and getting bigger each year. Now we know! All of these hunts and other activities don't do well once the world knows about them.

I really think glorifying killing is barbaric. It doesn't fit the Travel Alberta message. They would not want a tourist boycott. With oil prices dropping, Alberta needs the tourists. It all comes back to money as usual. If we can get Alberta to do the right thing for the wrong reason, I am okay with that!