Stop glorifying the killing of defenseless wildlife (Your letters)

NY state should ban inhumane ‘sport’ of trapping

To the Editor:

Regarding “Bobcat Bonanza”:

I was horrified and disgusted to see your article in the Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, Sports section regarding the seven bobcats tortured and murdered by trapper Shawn Coston. How in the 21st century do we allow this barbaric “sport” to continue and have your paper glorify it like it is great that he murdered seven bobcats “'...for a mount in their man cave or as a wall hanger, getting from $100 to $250 each.” Unbelievable! He killed four males and, worse, three females, thereby destroying any future offspring from these animals.

Have bobcat been trapped to extinction in the Catskills by Coston? If not, they soon will be. According to the DEC data, he killed enough for 44 square miles in one winter. I won’t even talk about the beaver, muskrat and mink he normally targets. If these were domestic animals, he would be up on animal cruelty charges, but these are wild animals so it is perfectly all right to kill them? It’s hard for me to buy the “I’m killing them for their own good” argument. Beavers deforesting parts of New York? I don’t think so. Man is doing that pretty well on his own.

I know it is legal, but it shouldn’t be. This inhuman and barbaric “sport” should be banned. California has done it. They are learning to live with their wildlife. Leave them alone, give them a place to live, and they will leave you alone. There is no reason for it to continue for “wall hangers” or for the fur trade. And yes, I read the whole article. I guess I’m one of " the antis". The state Legislature should step up and make New York the first East Coast state to ban trapping.

Stephen Klisz

Marcellus

Killing defenseless animals nothing to be proud of

To the Editor:

I hope that I am not the only one that finds the pictures of the “hunted God’s creatures” offensive. All you hunters must be so proud of yourselves for killing these defenseless animals. Last week the coyotes and bears. This week those beautiful bobcat cubs.

I had better make sure my dog is in the house — or are they next, along with cats? Please, do not give me the “thrill” of the hunt. How exciting can it be to destroy something that is just standing there? And, do not deluge me with the story of “controlling” population. Mother Nature can take care of herself. How many of the defenseless deer population were murdered this year? Another sorry sport.

If you are so thrilled with what you are all doing, keep your pictures to yourself. Not everyone is interested. To me, the pictures of smiling people hold dead animals — as if they are a prize — is disgusting and sickening.

Dorothy Korszeniewski

Baldwinsville