Last month, we asked our Illinois supporters to speak out against Bill 352, which proposed to reinstate an annual bobcat trapping and hunting season within the state after years of protection. Despite massive public objection, (with an estimated 75 percent of voters against this legislation) and thousands of phone calls and letters, we regret to inform you that Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has approved this deplorable bill.
Taking effect on Jan. 1, the Illinois bobcat population will endure a gruesome four month hunting and trapping season. The small, shy creatures will suffer from brutal hunting tactics including hounding. This exhaustive chase by hunting dogs usually results in the terrified creature collapsing or fighting the dogs in self-defense, often leading to the deaths of both animals. Furthermore, the use of cruel hunting devices including guns, arrows and steel foothold traps will cause immense suffering and death to the previously protected animals.
The Illinois bobcat population has just started to recover from a century of slaughter, outlawed 40 years ago. Reinstating this barbaric hunting and trapping season places this growth in jeopardy. Forty years of protection allowed their fragile population a chance at survival. Now, without continued protection, the Illinois bobcat population faces a devastating collective experience and a drastic decline.
Please express your objections to Rauner's devastating decision by posting to the Governor's Facebook page and Twitter account.
Picture explained by Big Cat Rescue: When the rescuers were trying to catch this bobcat, he was running on all four paws, even though both front legs had been chewed off. This bobcat kitten had obviously been struggling to survive for days, as the bones were completely dried out.
