Conservation First? Lemonade-and-Learn with Washington Wildlife First and Northwest Animal Rights Network

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is supposed to “protect…and preserve” wildlife on behalf of all Washingtonians—an increasingly crucial role in the era of climate change and global biodiversity loss. Instead, it focuses on serving hunters and anglers. As one former Commissioner commented: “What we do is produce animals for harvest, we plant pheasants and fish, we’re producing crops.” Meanwhile, the Department permits the killing of wildlife essential to healthy ecosystems, including allowing beavers to be trapped and drowned for their fur. Can a the proposed conservation policy finally put “conservation first”? Join Washington Wildlife First and Northwest Animal Rights Network to discuss how you can help create a Department of Fish and Wildlife that prioritizes conservation over consumption.