Cancel Coyote Massacre NOW!

jsanderson@greenwoodvillage.com, drose@greenwoodvillage.com, jpresley@greenwoodvillage.com, dkerber@greenwoodvillage.com, jroemer@greenwoodvillage.com, btodd@greenwoodvillage.com, gkramer@greenwoodvillage.com, gkleeman@greenwoodvillage.com, rrakowsky@greenwoodvillage.com

The Honorable Jim Sanderson
Mayor of Greenwood Village
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Denise Rose, City Councilmember
District 1
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Jerry Presley, City Councilmember
District 1
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

David Kerber, City Councilmember
District 2
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Joe Roemer, City Councilmember
District 2
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Bette Todd, City Councilmember
District 3
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Gary Kramer, City Councilmember
District 3
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Gary Kleeman, City Councilmember
District 4
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Ronald Rakowsky, City Councilmember
District 4
6060 S. Quebec St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111


Dear Mayor and Councilmembers in Greenwood Village,

Compassionate Colorado State residents called on PETA for help after local media outlets reported that city officials in Denver's suburb Greenwood Village have decided to gun down coyotes living in parks throughout the city indefinitely in a misguided attempt to control the coyote population.

Reportedly, the city has also applied for a permit to use archaic steel-jaw traps to capture coyotes! Steel-jaw traps are unusually cruel and indiscriminant and have been banned in 88 countries and several states. Terrified coyotes and other animals—including companion animals, who become caught in these traps, suffer extreme pain when the traps’ steel jaws snap, digging into their flesh, breaking their bones, and resulting in further mutilation as the victim struggles to escape. Eventually, the animal succumbs to exhaustion and often exposure, shock, and death.

Killing individual coyotes is a shortsighted "solution" to any perceived problem. As long as the areas of concern remain attractive and accessible to these animals, more will move in from surrounding areas to fill the newly vacant niche. This creates a vicious and repetitive kill cycle in which many coyotes will be maimed, injured, or separated from their beloved packs. A coyote mother who is caught in a steel-jaw trap will even attempt to chew or twist her limb off in a desperate attempt to return to her pups.

Numerous communities around the country have employed exclusively humane, nonlethal methods for addressing problems with coyotes effectively. Please stick to coyote control programs that everyone can live with—including coyotes!!

Sincerely yours,