Gruesome find: Nearly 40 coyotes slaughtered near Las Cruces

The carcasses of nearly 40 coyotes were discovered in the desert just west of the Las Cruces airport. An ABC-7 viewer says one of his friends ran across the remains, some with wooden blocks in their mouths displaying numbers, presumably the date when they were shot.

“These coyotes were undoubtedly the result of a wildlife killing contest,” said Ken Bixby, the executive director of the Southwest Environmental Center. He said the contests are held at least once a month.

“They receive prizes for killing the most animals, sometimes they receive prizes for killing the largest animal sometimes they even get prizes for the smallest animal,” he said.

In New Mexico, coyotes are not a protected species which means killing them is not regulated.

“These contests are a waste,” Bixby said. “They promote an attitude of disrespect for life. It’s people that basically like to kill living things using animals as live targets. It has nothing to do with ethical hunting. The coyotes aren’t eaten, in most cases the fur is not taken.”

However, hunting organizations like the New Mexico Desert Dogs, which holds hunting contests, say hunters pour hundreds of thousands of dollars a year back into habitat management with the purchase of licenses and permits. They also say they contribute millions into the local economy when they buy hunting and camping supplies, and by staying and eating at local hotels and restaurants.

A member of the group said they in no way feel the disposal of those coyotes was right and they take pride in respecting the animals they hunt.

Bixby told ABC-7 he is concerned the killing contests are having an impact on the local environment.

“It’s really robbing everyone else of value from wildlife and healthy ecosystems,” Bixby said.