×
Back left
Back right

Protecting the Ecosystem or Animal Cruelty

Mar 31, 2017

Is hunting to control the population of animals OK or is it just animal cruelty? Here are some animals that are hunted in North America and around the world. Check it out before you make up your mind!

Population Control: Coyotes

Nearly 100,000 coyotes are killed each year in the [kwlink]United States[/kwlink] in an attempt to contol numbers and protect farmers' livestock and crops, according to USDA Wildlife Services. Coyotes prefer to live in remote [kwlink]wooded areas[/kwlink], but with continual encroachment by humans on their territory, these predators have had to learn to adapt to new environments - like cities. For the most part, coyotes are a shy animal that prefer to stay away from humans, but they have been known to attack small children and [kwlink]pets[/kwlink] when food becomes scarce.

Population Control: Cats and Dogs

Due to pet overpopulation, the Humane Society of the United States estimates that three to four million cats and dogs are euthanized (killed) each year by pet shelters because there is no one to adopt them. Dogs and cats can have a lot of babies at one time, so in order to keep these animals off the streets, and out of animal shelters, it is encouraged that you spay or neuter your dog or cat. Since pets are domesticated, they need attention and care, so having a bunch of them stray, hungry and swarming with disease isn't safe for humans or other animals.

For more information on hunting and population control, click here.

What are your thoughts on animal population control? Do you have ideas on how we can keep animal populations in check? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Related Stories