The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission delivered some mixed news about coyotes earlier this month.
First, commissioners said no to a petition to outright ban contests that offer prizes for killing coyotes. But in the same session, they directed Fish and Wildlife staff to begin drawing up rules that would lead to a ban "in a way that is consistent with [ODFW]'s legal authority."
Jill Fritz is the senior director for wildlife protection with the Humane Society of the US. We bring her in for a conversation about why coyotes are considered fair game, and how long a process this has been.