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Hunters and trappers may have full reign in Georgia if HB 1147 passes this legislative session. This heartless bill would permanently open hunting and trapping seasons for small animals like opossums and raccoons, leaving no safe time for them to birth and raise their babies. Stop HB 1147 from passing before baby season becomes killing season!

Opossums and raccoons would be persecuted with steel leghold traps, shotguns, rifles, handguns, airguns, bows and arrows, crossbows, and cruel wire snares. State law requires killing trapped raccoons who are shot, drowned, or a trapper stands on the hapless animal's chest.

Currently, hunting season for opossums and raccoons is March 1 – October 14, and trapping season is December 1 – February 28. HB 1147 would permanently open trapping seasons for both. Since there would be no closed season, these innocent animals would have no safe place or time to raise their families. Mothers and their babies could be brutally murdered together or babies could be left stranded without their mothers to care for them.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Vote No on HB 1147 to Protect Wild Animal Families

As your constituent and one of over 250,000 In Defense of Animals supporters concerned about wild animals, I respectfully urge you to vote no on HB 1147, which would permit year-round hunting and trapping seasons for small animals like opossums and raccoons.

Opossums and raccoons would be persecuted with steel leghold traps, shotguns, rifles, handguns, airguns, bows and arrows, crossbows, and cruel wire snares. State law requires killing trapped raccoons who are shot, drowned, or a trapper stands on the hapless animal’s chest.

Currently, hunting season for opossums and raccoons is March 1 – October 14, and trapping season is December 1 – February 28. HB1147 would permanently open trapping seasons for both. Since there would be no closed season, these innocent animals would have no safe place to raise their families. Orphaned young will be left stranded without their mothers to care for or protect them. 

Opossums and raccoons are valuable members of the ecosystem. Opossums eat ticks and snakes while raccoons eat carrion and wasps. Just like us, they need a safe time and place to rear their young without the added pressure of pursuit with deadly weapons. 

Please oppose HB 1147 for their sake and for your constituents who care about their wellbeing. Thank you for your consideration and your compassion.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.