What’s better than controlling your coyote population? Controlling your coyote population while giving to cancer research, that’s what.
Larry Frank has spent the last 12 years donating his time and energy for a great cause.
For every coyote that a hunter brings him, he skins it, sells the pelt at auction, and donates the entire amount to cancer research.
In the 12-year span that Larry has been generously giving his time and effort, he has donated more than $45,000. That’s an impressive amount cash anyone can appreciate.
It all started back in 2004 when a group of Frank’s bird-hunting buddies started coyote hunting in the winter for something to do. After a successful hunt, and five coyotes later, Frank decided not to let the animals go to waste so he harvested the pelts and sold them.
“We didn’t know what to do with the money,” Frank said. “We didn’t want to use it for gas or buying food or something, so we decided to just give it to charity.”
Since everyone involved in the hunting all had someone within their families battling cancer, it was an easy decision where the money was going to go.
Frank’s son was diagnosed with cancer when he was a sophomore at North Miami High School.
“No family is immune to cancer,” he said. “Everybody is affected by it, so it was a natural place to go to with our charitable giving. If you can do something to help fight cancer, that’s a good thing.”
Frank and his hunting buddies weren’t the marketing types but word was spread about their project. The second year, a few hunters came aboard and donated the pelts from their kills. The next year there were 34 furs. It kept growing until hunters had harvested 130 coyotes and raised $4,500 for the American Cancer Society.
“Once the community became aware of what we were doing, farmers were more willing to let us hunt on their land,” he said. “The whole thing just started feeding on itself.”
It’s a win-win situation, predator population stays in check, and money is going to good cause.
“Now that we’re all donating to the same common cause, we’re all in it together,” Frank said. “It’s a lot of comradery among the hunters. We’re all in the same boat with this.”
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