Animals have no voice in Trump’s America

Last week, I voiced several concerns about the future of animal welfare under the Trump administration.

An anti-animal activist was appointed to transition the USDA, animal welfare records were wiped out, and the Endangered Species Act came under attack. 

There are other disturbing trends. 

An order phasing out the use of lead in ammunition and fishing tackle was put into effect on President Obama’s last day in office. Newly appointed interior secretary Ryan Zinke surrounded himself with members of the NRA, and promptly reversed this order. 

Banning lead in ammunition would have protected birds and wildlife on more than 150 million acres of national wildlife refuges. 

Hunters and fishermen deposit thousands of tons of lead into our environment. Carcasses left behind by hunters become a food source for birds and other wildlife, and they ingest the lead. It doesn’t take much to poison a bird or small animal. 

It is estimated that between 10 and 20 million birds and animals — including bald eagles and red-tailed hawks — die each year from lead poisoning. These losses are staggering, but preventable.

Zinke and the NRA ignored that there are less toxic forms of ammunition that are field-tested, cost-competitive, and readily available in the marketplace. Reversing this ban has ensured that millions of birds and animals will continue to die slow and painful deaths from lead poisoning.

On March 21, the U.S. Senate passed a barbaric bill affecting wildlife on 76 million acres of public land in Alaska. Pushed by the NRA and the Safari Club, this bill makes it legal to shoot, poison and trap wolves and their pups in their dens, allows hunters to trace and shoot grizzly and black bears aerially, allows bears and their cubs to be shot while hibernating, and sanctions bear-baiting and the use of cruel noose and steel jaw traps.

When caught in these traps, the poor animal struggles and suffers for hours or even days.

Although Alaskans had voted 2-to-1 to keep their federal land safe for wildlife (and to encourage tourists who flock to Alaska to see the majestic grizzlies and wolves), the will of the people was ignored. Every single Republican in the Senate voted for this cruel bill, while every Democrat voted against it.

The issue in Alaska is not about subsistence hunting. This is about needless, unethical slaughter for “fun,” abolishing protection of wildlife on public land, and balance of nature. Most of all, it’s about humane treatment of animals versus inhumane treatment.

This horrible bill could very well be the start of other federal lands and refuges being compromised. 

Sadly this is only the start of bad news for animals and wildlife under this administration. For the millions of Americans who care about animals, these policies are heartbreaking. It’s so difficult for advocates to get one little break for an animal, and now with a stroke of a pen or a confirmation of an agency head, animal welfare is being wiped out.

If this is an issue that resonates with you, please speak up for those who have no voice. Call or write your representatives. Demand that they vote against bills that will harm animals and wildlife. 

Our nation can do better.