Yes, the nearly 85% of Mainers who do not hunt or trap should have a say in how wildlife is managed here (“Outdoors in Maine: Should anti-hunting activists be included in shaping wildlife management strategies?,” Aug. 12).

This is not about inclusivity, but about good governance, as it helps to ensure that our wildlife decisions take account of the best available science, evolving public attitudes and the substantial economic contributions and perspectives of non-hunters in respect to wildlife management.

Wildlife biologists were among those on the state’s wildlife management planning committees who supported L.D. 814 to establish a closed season for coyotes while they are raising their pups. They did so because they agreed that it was the right thing to do.

The killing of coyotes during late spring can orphan dependent young, leading to their deaths from starvation, predation or exposure. Research shows that year-round killing of coyotes will not reduce their populations, because they change breeding and immigration strategies to fill the void. Nor does killing prevent livestock conflicts or increase numbers of deer or other prey species.

Coyotes contribute to a healthy ecosystem by keeping rodent populations in check, which protect crops and gardens and curtail the spread of diseases like Lyme — for which Maine is listed among the top 10 states for infections by the Centers for Disease Control.

Mainers who take a broader view deserve a seat at the table when crucial decisions are made about the fate of wildlife in their state.

Katie Hansberry, South Portland, Maine state director of the Humane Society of the United States

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