Rep. McNamara Introduces Legislation to Ban Importation of Animals for ‘Canned Hunting’ in Rhode Island

STATE HOUSE — The House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard legislation Thursday introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) that would ban the practice of importing non-native animals into the state for the purpose of canned hunting.

Canned hunting is a trophy hunt that occurs in a confined area where the animal cannot escape or flee, thereby increasing the hunter’s chances of success. The legislation (2021-H 5058) would also prohibit the use of genetically altered or cloned animals in canned hunting.

“Deer and elk that have been imported into the state have been known to spread extremely contagious diseases to our wild deer herd,” Representative McNamara told the committee. “Canned hunting is neither sportsmanlike, nor humane. I would recommend that anyone interested in canned hunting should put on their camo hunting jackets, go to the closest Showcase Cinema and trade their Ray-Bans for 3-D’s and watch ‘Jurassic Park.’ Maybe they will understand that introducing non-indigenous species to a natural environment is never a good idea.”

A representative of the Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, spoke to the committee to testify in favor of the legislation.