This commentary is by Alana Stevenson of Charlotte.
There was a moratorium on coyote hounding as of July 1, 2022, according to section 11 of Act 165. This moratorium was to be lifted if the Fish & Wildlife Department could ensure a way to maintain control over hounds; prevent hounds from attacking people, farmed and domesticated animals and prevent hounders from trespassing with hounds on private property. It was a long drawn out process that went through the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR).
Vermonters have been trying to change how the Fish & Wildlife Board and Department treat wildlife and the public for decades, but reach gridlock every time — and here we are again.
Not only did the Fish & Wildlife Department and Board scoff and “hem and haw” over recommendations made by legislators for hounders to control hounds — controlling hounds is considered a de facto ban — the Department and Board incrementally shuffled their feet, and while doing so, added detrimental language that would mitigate or nullify any potential regulations or safety measures from being enacted in the future. There’s no point in having or enacting legislation if it’s unenforceable or nullified by the next sentence in the legislation.
Upon the final meeting, the Fish & Wildlife Board decided they were not going to follow or implement any of LCAR’s recommendations, pointedly defying concerns made by legislators, and the next day lifted the coyote hounding moratorium. Legislators on LCAR assumed the moratorium would stay in place. But LCAR cannot “force” the Fish & Wildlife Department or Board to do anything. The Department and Board members regulate themselves. So now the department has proclaimed applications for hounding are up for grabs.
Welcome to coyote hounding in Vermont again — no restrictions, no regulations, no control of dogs, no consequences for hounders when hounds attack people, non-target, or companion animals and no protection for residents and landowners from hounders repeatedly running on their property.
The only thing that will prevent hounds from attacking people and farmed and domestic animals, and ensure safety and protection for the public is legislation to ban hounding of “large game” animals. Even legislators have no clout when it comes to modifying the behavior of hounders or actions of the Fish & Wildlife Board. Requiring hounders to control their dogs or banning hounding of bears, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, bobcats and wolves altogether (all considered “large game” animals) are the only options.
There is a bill, H.323, that will ban coyote and bear hounding in 2024. For anyone who may be concerned that legislation targets beagles or regulates rabbit hunting, it doesn’t. Rabbits are small game species and beagles are not used for attacking and chasing large game. More aggressive dogs such as coonhounds and foxhounds are used.
Vermonters and their companion dogs have been attacked by coyote and bear hounds with no consequences for hounders. Public safety should take precedence over a small subset of the population who intentionally release hounds to chase, harass and eviscerate wildlife for recreation.
There is some good news. Vermont residents can now sue the Fish & Wildlife Board and Department if they violate any recommendations made by LCAR regarding coyote hounding. Please monitor, record, and report any and all activity by hounders who taunt or mistreat you, trespass on your property, release dogs on your property, can’t control their dogs or if there are any attacks or emotional distress caused by coyote hounders. Log and report any violations or concerns to any of these organizations: Protect Our Wildlife, Animal Wellness Action, Vermont Wildlife Patrol and Vermont Wildlife Coalition.
Only together can we address the tragic treatment of hounds and abuse to wildlife, ensure safety of the public and respect for property rights and prevent attacks by hounds.
