South Central Reporter

Wayne Rosenthal, candidate for Illinois State House District 108, has voiced his opposition to House Bill 2900 (HB2900), stating, "Yesterday, I pushed back against HB2900 which will ban wildlife competitions that help manage the overpopulation of coyotes and raccoons." Rosenthal, who is campaigning for re-election, further commented on the bill's potential impact on local events: "This bill also impacts the Squirrel Bowl that's conducted in Carlinville that raises $200,000 for local charities."

"Yesterday, I pushed back against HB2900 which will ban wildlife competitions that help manage the overpopulation of coyotes and racoons," said Wayne A Rosenthal, State Representative, according to Facebook. "This bill also impacts the Squirrel Bowl that's conducted in Carlinville that raises $200,000 for local charities. In Illinois, you can legally hunt coyotes year-round but local competitions are somehow considered inhumane."

During a speech on the House Floor, Rosenthal expressed his concerns about HB2900. He said, "Hunting competitions help control the overpopulation of coyotes and raccoons, but HB2900 labels these competitions as inhumane. Hunting coyotes is legal year-round in Illinois, yet holding competitions that raise funds for local charities is frowned upon by those who live in the suburbs who are not adversely affected by coyotes. I get calls every year from my constituents telling me they lost their livestock to coyotes, and they want something done and their concerns are valid."

Screenshot of Rep. Wayne Rosenthal's May 16 Facebook post | Rep. Wayne Rosenthal's Facebook page

House Bill 2900 was introduced by Rep. Anna Moeller on Feb. 16, 2023. After a brief debate on May 15, 2024, it passed in the House and was moved to the Senate for review. According to information available on the Illinois General Assembly’s web page dedicated to this bill, it "prohibits contests or competitions with the objective of taking any fur-bearing mammal." The bill does allow an exception for field trials but imposes penalties for violations: "a violation is a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $5,000 in addition to other statutory penalties."

Rosenthal has been serving the 108th House District since 2022; however, his involvement with state government dates back to 2010 when he was first elected. He resigned in 2015 to serve as the Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a position he held until 2019. A retired brigadier general, Rosenthal is also a graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons Instructor Course and has logged more than 3,000 hours in the F-4 Phantom. According to his official biography, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Sangamon State University and has been managing a family farm with his three sons since 1990.