Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Gray fox hearing slated for elementary school

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Elementary school children lobbying to keep Delaware’s state wildlife animal from being hunted will have home field advantage next week.

Fourth graders at Joseph McVey Elementary School in Newark have been urging state lawmakers to let up on their efforts to allow the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to regulate the hunting and trapping of the gray fox.

Already passed by the House, the bill now goes through the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which will hold the hearing at McVey Monday night. Legislative hearings are typically held at Legislative Hall in Dover.

Teacher Paul Sedacca led his class to help establish the gray fox as Delaware’s wildlife animal in 2010 and has rallied new students to fight this and similar bills introduced in the past

Supporters say the proposal will cover hunters and trappers who accidentally kill the animal, which DNREC says is currently illegal. It would also legalize the sale and possession of gray fox pelts.

Several amendments to the bill are awaiting votes that would effectively prevent any open season on the animal – including one from Senate Majority Leader David McBride (D-Hawks Nest) who chairs the committee. Gov. Jack Markell (D) says he will sign the bill in its current form.

The hearing begins at 6 p.m. Monday night at the McVey Elementary auditorium.

Related Content