“State in Crisis”: Washington
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20327_Newsletter:20327_Newsletter 7/18/08 4:44 PM Page 2 Orphaned 9th Annual Cougars Contest Kittens in Mountain Moving Winner 3 East 4 Jackson 6 11 Lion Hole Workshop the summer 2008 COUGAR FUND could serve, as cougar refugia that would serve as biological “State Crisis”: savings accounts for cougar populations. In point of fact, the in management plan contains no substantive discussion of how Washington WDFW plans to meet its goal of conserving cougar populations. by Chris Papouchis Furthermore, although the plan stated that “Science is the core of wildlife management, the basis for achieving the agency’s man- date, and the foundation of this plan,” key aspects of the strategy In Washington, as in many western U.S. states, the management for cougar management are not supported by the best available of cougars has become highly politicized. Since voters approved scientific information. Notably, the plan provided no scientific evi- a 1996 ballot initiative that banned the hunting of cougar with dence to support WDFW’s claims that hunting and other cougar dogs, a major turf war has been waged over cougar policy. population reduction techniques improve public safety, reduce The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, anticipating cougar-livestock conflicts, or enhance deer and elk populations. declines in hunting opportunities and revenues as a result of the Moreover, the plan does not incorporate or even mention the hound ban, increased the number and reduced the cost of cougar findings of several Washington State University studies that hunting tags and extended the duration of the hunting season. suggest WDFW’s management strategies are not meeting their Rural politicians led a backlash against the stated objectives. For example, one WSU initiative in the state legislature, arguing study found that at a time when some that the ban resulted in an increased rate residents and politicians in Northeastern of conflicts and compromised public safety. Washington thought that cougar popula- Today, public opinion surveys and media tions and conflicts were increasing articles indicate that Washington residents occurred during a period that cougar are strongly divided about how cougars numbers were in fact declining. This and should be managed, and who should be other studies in Washington suggests that allowed to influence cougar policy. there is a disconnect between the best available science, public perception of This past April, WDFW released its plan cougar populations, and current manage- for cougar management in the state ment strategies, which is highly problem- through 2015. One of WDFW’s stated atic for our prospects for conserving goals for cougar management is to “pre- cougar populations in Washington. serve, protect, perpetuate, and manage Photo: Kenton Rowe cougar and their habitats to ensure healthy, productive popula- In short, there is a pressing need to improve cougar management tions.” Yet, the plan provides no discussion or analysis of the in Washington so that it reflects the best available scientific impacts of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation on cougar information, addresses the diverse value demands of the public, populations in the state, or how the human-caused mortality will and ensures the long-term conservation of cougar populations influence cougar population viability and metapopulation dynam- throughout their range. ics. Moreover, it provides no inventory of areas that serve, or 20327_Newsletter:20327_Newsletter 7/18/08 4:44 PM Page 3 Dear Friends & Supporters of the Cougar Fund, With a very long Wyoming winter behind us, we are of a major online communications initiative that will finally enjoying our short-lived but brilliant summer be the definitive online resource for “All Things from the days. The elk are in the high country, visitors to our Cougar”. Incorporating a timeline and the natural his- President neighboring national parks are at their height, and tory of the species along with first person storytelling cougar mothers with new cubs are busy providing for and lesson plans to use in the classroom or homeschool Cara Blessley Lowe ...there is still much work to be done on the public relations, science and education front, the Cougar Fund’s primary areas of focus. their needy charges, keeping them fed setting are just the first few elements of this wide- and moving them every few days. reaching program. Imagine the 8 year-old girl in Oregon Listening to Cougar, the anthology fellow trustee and who knew not to run when a cougar friend Marc Bekoff and I edited, is in its third print- confronted her, and then watched ing, with a paperback edition due to come out this later when her father shot the animal, autumn. A Spanish language version is also in the or how the loss of cougars and other works. The success of this collection of writing top predators in Yosemite has dramati- exhibits the keen public interest in Puma concolor and Photo: Sue Cedarholm cally affected key plant and animal populations in this how the public, with greater and better information, popular national park. And then there is the image of can become active participants in conservation by the 150-pound cougar shot and killed in the Roscoe choosing to safely and consciously co-exist with this Village neighborhood of north Chicago, crime tape key carnivore. stretched across the scene as they assess the fatal result of several rounds of bullets fired by the police on this, With all the work that lies ahead of us, your contin- the first cougar sighted in the Chicago area since the ued support and contributions are more appreciated 19th century. than ever. Thank you for your concern, and for doing your part to Protect Americas’ News stories such as these remind us that there is still Greatest Cat. ™ much work to be done on the public relations, science and education front, the Cougar Fund’s primary areas Cara Blessley Lowe of focus. To that end, we are in the beginning phases Co-founder & President www.cougarfund.org 20327_Newsletter:20327_Newsletter 7/18/08 4:44 PM Page 4 Are Cougars Photo: Thomas D. Mangelsen Moving Over-hunting in some areas coupled with an ever By nature, cougars are reclusive, preferring to avoid increasing human presence in cougar habitat has resulted contact with humans at all costs. They even avoid other East? in cougars being displaced and venturing into areas—such cougars, except during mating season. Cougar and human as suburban or even urban neighborhoods—that they interactions are extremely rare, but may occur as humans Comments on would traditionally prefer to avoid. venture further into cougar habitat, despite the fact that viable cougar populations were hunted to extinction the Chicago Because cougars are an often misunderstood and misrepre- throughout the east. Cougars are a self-regulating species, Cougar sented species, the Cougar Fund strives to ensure the determined by food, habitat and social order. The greatest integrity of information dispersed on the species in cause of mortality amongst cougars is human-related. hopes of promoting a better understanding of the animal. by It is with these efforts in mind that the Cougar Fund Only 19 people have been killed by cougars since 1900. comments on media stories involving cougars. There Compare this with a statistic from the National Safety Emorie Broemel 3 have been several human encounters this year, some Council which averages around 50 deaths each year by & Sara Carlson of which ended with relocation, while others ended contact with “wasps, bees, and hornets” or the over 5,500 with the cougar being killed. pedestrian-automobile deaths each year. One of the most recent and nationally visible incidents Life, be it in the city or in the wilderness, is never with- involving a cougar in an urban area was the Chicago out risks. That such a reminder would be accompanied by cougar that was killed this April in the Roscoe Village this unfortunate outcome is not lost on those who value neighborhood. However, as many have expressed, this the presence of an intact and healthy ecosystem complete unfortunate scenario could have ended in a much different with large carnivores such as cougars. While we make way. The Cougar Fund agrees that in cases where a cat our choices and arrive at our conclusions as individuals, so is directly threatening humans, lethal removal is absolutely too do we as individuals contribute to a society that will appropriate and necessary to protect the people involved. collectively decide whether or not to leverage tolerance and understanding with the facts at hand. Yet, to pose an alternative scenario, when cougars are seen in California, a state with healthy cougar populations While there is the possibility of increased sightings in that does not allow sport hunting, local authorities work non-traditional areas, the Cougar Fund does not wish to Photo: Thomas D. Mangelsen with the state game agency and trained professionals propagate the sentiment that cougars are rapidly spreading such as local vets and animal control to remove the eastward or into urban areas as has been suggested by cougar from the area by tranquilizing and relocating it. some media coverage. Rather we would reiterate that The numerous sightings and reports to local Chicago cougars are a self-regulating and highly reclusive species. authorities in the hours leading up to the cougar’s death A single cougar requires a minimum of 50-100 square miles suggest that there was time to weigh alternatives that to breed, raise young, hunt and survive, however, that would have avoided ending the cougar’s life. With so need for space does not necessarily mean cougars many police officers available to offer protection to them- will continue to move eastward or into urban areas. selves and those around them, tranquilizing the cat should Sound cougar management policy and increased human have been considered first, lethal force second.