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IEC Blog

Illinois Bobcat Hunting Program is Flawed

By Jennifer WallingExecutive Director, IEC Governor Rauner’s Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently increased the number of bobcat hunting permits from 500 to 1,000 for the upcoming season. The announcement of an increase in the number of permits was issued despite the fact that there is currently a bill sitting on the Governor’s desk that would restrict the location and number of bobcats that can be hunted. Governor Rauner has two weeks to sign HB3399, which would ban bobcat hunting in over 35 counties and restrict the number that can be hunted to 350 in the upcoming hunting season. This announcement concerning the increase in permits is especially troubling now, considering this past legislative session Senator Don Harmon secured an agreement between the IEC, Humane Society of the United States, the Trappers Associations, IDNR, Republicans, and Democrats that offers protections to bobcats in vulnerable areas. IDNR is actively advertising its

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September 13, 2017

The High Cost of Cheap Meat

As an organization that has been working to solve the pollution crisis caused by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Illinois for years, we applaud the Chicago Tribune’s recent in-depth investigative report on large hog confinements. Few could read this piece without gasping at the stories of environmental pollution, animal abuse, and destruction of rural life and property rights. Fortunately, our Governor and state legislators can fix many of these issues with common sense approaches, and they should start today. First, Governor Rauner and the Illinois EPA (IEPA) could immediately propose and seek to pass rules that require registration of all livestock operations. As reported, there is no way in Illinois to even tell where these facilities are located. The IEPA could also – under existing laws – begin requiring water protection permits (NPDES permits) from more CAFOs. In addition, legislation and regulations should be enacted to require all large

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August 9, 2016