The Manitoba Woodlands District and Wildlife Association is hosting a sickening crow and magpie killing contest where prizes will be handed out to individuals who shoot down the most birds.
The annual contest, taking place on Saturday, April 12, is advertised as a fun and family-friendly event. The contest encourages teams of two to spend the day shooting as many crows and magpies in the Woodlands area of Manitoba as they can. The top two teams that kill the most birds will be offered prizes for their mass killings, and celebrated over a BBQ to wrap up the day’s events. Organizers have attempted to justify the event as a means of ‘pest control’ for animal farmers—despite encouraging teams to spend the day searching large areas of land for crows and magpies to shoot.
All Wild Birds Need Legal Protection
While ravens are listed as a protected species under Manitoba’s WIldlife Act and cannot be hunted, crows and magpies are not. In many other jurisdictions, including the UK and the US, it’s illegal to harm or kill wild birds unless under specific licenses or circumstances. Shooting contests can cause immense suffering, risking birds to die slow, painful prolonged deaths. Birds also experience heartbreaking psychological trauma from having their mates and family members killed.
Animal Justice has filed a formal complaint with the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), and submitted our concerns to Manitoba’s Minister of Natural Resources Ian Bushie highlighting that Manitoba’s Wildlife Act is outdated and needs to be amended to include protections for crows and magpies.
Humans have coexisted with crows for thousands of years. Crows and magpies are not pests, they are highly social, intelligent and emotional individuals worthy of respect and admiration. Crow and magpie killing contests have no place in a compassionate, progressive society.
Crows & Magpies Are Extremely Intelligent
Crows and magpies are highly intelligent birds, and rank alongside dolphins and octopuses as some of the most intelligent animals on the planet. They are highly social birds with strong senses of community and family. They’re one of the few species documented to host funerals for others, play social games, and exhibit critical problem solving thinking skills. Corvids like crows and magpies are also monogamous, and spend their entire lives with one mate.
It’s Time to End the Crow & Magpie Shoot
Crows and magpies deserve to live in peace in their natural habitats, free from human harm. They desperately need protection from being shot and killed by trigger-happy hunters, such as the ones participating in this cruel hunting contest.
Please take action and contact Manitoba’s Minister of Natural Resources, demanding an end to this and future crow and magpie shoots within the province.