WINNIPEG—Animal Justice is calling on the Manitoba government to stop a crow and magpie killing contest scheduled for this Saturday, April 12. The event, put on by the Woodlands & District Wildlife Association, offers cash prizes to participants who kill the most birds.
“While the Association claims this contest is a form of ‘pest control,’ random killing by the public in unlimited numbers is neither a responsible nor effective approach,” said Brittany Semeniuk, campaigns specialist at Animal Justice and a registered veterinary technologist. “In reality, it’s a senseless contest of cruelty, dressed up as wildlife management.”
Wildlife killing contests like this are not only inhumane but also typically illegal in Manitoba. However, due to an outdated loophole in the Wildlife Act, crows and magpies are not considered “wild animals” under Manitoba law and therefore aren’t afforded the same protections as other wild animals.
“The fact that crows and magpies aren’t even classified as wild animals under Manitoba’s Wildlife Act is a glaring oversight, given that they are highly intelligent, social animals with complex communication and problem-solving abilities,” Ms. Semeniuk said. “This cruel event exploits a loophole in outdated legislation and undermines laws meant to protect animals from unnecessary suffering.”
Animal Justice has submitted a formal complaint urging the Chief Veterinary Office to investigate and stop the contest and has also written to the Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures, whose office oversees wildlife policy in the province.
Animal Justice is pressing the province not only to stop the contest from going forward, but also to modernize outdated laws that leave these sensitive, social, and intelligent birds without basic protections.
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
Brittany Semeniuk
Campaigns Specialist
[email protected]
