The First Round Is Over

February Contests Are Less Than a Month Away. Help Us Stop Them.

Today, the first round of Moondog Madness ended. Coyotes are dead. Rabbits are dead. Prizes were handed out. Participants went home.

And in less than a month, the February killing contests begin again.

We have one month to organize. One month to educate. One month to stop them.

---

Lois Lehmann Showed Up Today

This is Lois Lehmann. She’s a retired teacher and a member of the Raging Grannies.

And today, while the Marshall Lions Club was hosting a rabbit and coyote killing contest at the Ice Fishery Festival, Lois was there—handing out educational flyers to families, explaining what killing contests are and why they need to end.

While participants were competing to kill the most animals for cash prizes, Lois was educating her community—one conversation at a time.

That’s what grassroots advocacy looks like. A retired teacher and Raging Granny, standing at a family festival, refusing to be silent.

Lois showed up because she knows what’s at stake. She knows these contests are cruel. She knows they serve no wildlife management purpose. She knows they tear apart families—animal families.

---

Coyotes Mate for Life

About a decade ago, scientists discovered that coyotes mate with just one partner in their lifetimes. But more recent research has turned to the sadder side of their lifelong love: the grief of widowhood.

After the death of a mate, these canids exhibit clear behavioral and brain changes, which researchers hope may help explain how stress and loss affect other long-term, pair-bonded species—including humans.

Learn more about coyote widowhood:
https://on.natgeo.com/3NvG75d

When killing contests tear coyote families apart, they’re not just killing animals. They’re creating widows. They’re orphaning pups. They’re inflicting grief.

And they’re doing it for prizes. For trophies. For $18 and a hunting license.

Keep families together. Stop killing contests.

---

Dane County Already Said No

Here’s what makes today especially infuriating:

Dane County—where Marshall is located—already passed a resolution condemning wildlife killing contests. The first resolution of its kind in Wisconsin.

We fought for that resolution. We won it.

And yet the Marshall Lions Club—an organization known for community service and humanitarian work—sponsored a killing contest anyway.

In direct contradiction of their own county’s position.

---

This Is What We’re Up Against

173 known wildlife killing contests across Wisconsin.

Coyotes. Foxes. Raccoons. Rabbits. Crows. Squirrels.

Most have no DNR oversight. Many happen on public land. All of them serve no legitimate wildlife management purpose.

And all it takes to participate? An $18 hunting license. No bag limits. No accountability.

We tried to ban these contests statewide. We introduced legislation. Ten states have already done it—Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Washington, Oregon.

The Wisconsin bill didn’t pass.

So we’re building the campaign again. Passing local resolutions. Educating communities. Organizing for another legislative push.

But it takes resources. And the February contests are less than a month away.

---

Tomorrow Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We believe that. We’re bending that arc.

But it doesn’t bend on its own. It takes people like Lois—a Raging Granny, standing at a festival, educating her neighbors.

It takes legal challenges. Legislative campaigns. Community organizing. Media pressure.

It takes money.

---

Lois Showed Up Today. Can You Show Up Now?

We sent out a press release this morning. We documented what happened today. We’re building the case for why these contests need to end.

But we can’t do this work without your support.

---

What You Can Do Right Now

1. DONATE: https://speakforwildlife.org/donate
2. CONTACT THE MARSHALL LIONS CLUB: Ask them to stop sponsoring killing contests. Lions Clubs are supposed to serve their communities—not sponsor the mass killing of wildlife for entertainment.
3. CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS: Demand they reintroduce legislation to ban wildlife killing contests in Wisconsin. Ten states have done it. Wisconsin can too.
4. SHARE THIS EMAIL: Forward it to friends, family, neighbors. Post it on social media. The more people who know what’s happening, the harder it becomes for these contests to continue.
5. PASS A RESOLUTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY: We have a model resolution. We’ll help you. Contact us at [email protected].

---

We’re Not Backing Down

Today, Lois Lehmann—a retired teacher and Raging Granny—stood at a family festival and educated her community about killing contests.

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A day to reflect on justice, on moral courage, on the long fight to bend the arc of the universe toward what’s right.

Lois is bending that arc.

We’re bending that arc.

And we’re asking you: will you help us?

Every dollar matters. Every voice counts. Every action brings us closer to ending wildlife killing contests in Wisconsin.

Thank you for standing with us.

Melissa Smith
Executive Director
Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance
[email protected] | 608-234-8860
www.speakforwildlife.org