On 24 January the government of California has considered a law that would ban the centuries-old source of income for residents of the state: the fur industry.
The law on the protection of wildlife presented the member of Parliament for Lorena Gonzalez. Animal rights activists have long claimed that the trapping of animals for their fur is cruel and outdated practice. Trapped animals strangled or beaten to death, so as not to damage their skin.
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez introduced Fletcher #AB273 a ban on commercial fur trapping in California today! @LorenaAD80, sponsors @SCIL2015, @CenterForBioDiv, the words «THANK YOU» are not enough to convey our sentiment. Please see press release here: https://t.co/QXBcL5se3O pic.twitter.com/mhhXlYPEyf
— PawPAC (@CAPawPac) January 25, 2019
Gonzalez, however, added that there were financial reasons for closing the industry. Approximately 60 hunters, who are still working in the state (compared with more than 5,000 in the 1920-ies), may not fully pay for the implementation and regulation of its activities in accordance with the requirements of the law. In the end, the trapping field is subsidized from taxpayers ‘ money, because the costs are not covered by the returns from the sale of licenses for hunting.
The national parks of California and animal welfare have become more important sources of income than hunting for their fur. Because some hunters catch animals in the same areas, this can cause irreparable harm to populations of many species. Their destruction will significantly worsen the condition of the environment.
According to the California Department of fish and wildlife in 2017 68 hunters reported the death of 1568 animals throughout the state. Among the 10 recorded species were mostly coyote, gray Fox, beaver, badger and mink. Of the animals caught and killed legally sold 1241. The price for the pelt of a coyote on the current world market is about $73, and the gray Fox skin is about $12. The total revenue received by the Department of fish and wildlife from license sales, totaled $15.5 million and $709 from the sale of licenses for fur traders.
Historically, before the population of California has grown to 40 million people, trapping played a significant role in the destruction of wolves and wolverines, and a sharp reduction in the number of sea otters, Martens, beavers and other fur-bearing species. Today, this industry is not only unprofitable, but also extremely cruel.
Thank you CA state assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez for sponsoring AB 273, which would end all of CA wildlife trapping for the fur trade! Killing our bobcats is now illegal. Now let’s extend that to all our amazing wildlife. Fake fur is so much better!
Thanks @SCIL2015 & @LorenaAD80 pic.twitter.com/dNn3ULRmv1
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) January 24, 2019
