Mountain Lion Foundation

Cougar Clippings Look here for articles, opinions, and editorials about mountain lions and the Mountain Lion Foundation. Date Article 8/31/2010 Mountain Lion Killed by Police in Berkeley, Calif       At approximately 2am on Tuesday, a Berkeley (California) resident saw a mountain lion crossing a vacant parking lot and called 911. The area is just west of the San Pablo Reservoir and Tilden Regional Park which is part of the East Bay Regional Parks District -- a chain of wild and open spaces that runs along the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay down to California's central coast. The hills provide quality habitat with dispersal corridors for deer and also mountain lions. Local police officers responded to the 911 call. They reportedly chased the cat through the neighborhood and due to their concerns for public safety, ended up shooting the lion with a patrol shotgun around 3:30am. A California Department of Fish & Game warden retrieved the 90 pound female carcass shortly after. In a public announcement, Berkeley Police Sgt Mary Kusmiss noted that while it is difficult to kill an animal, the officers did what they felt necessary to protect the community. In a later interview she also noted Berkeley Police officers are not trained to deal with mountain lions and they followed the advice given by CA Department of Fish & Game (video). Earlier this year, police officers in Gilroy (about two hours south of Berkeley along the same greenbelt of lion habitat) were able to frighten a wandering mountain lion back into the hills by shooting pepper balls from their riot gear at it (read more). Unfortunately, the Berkeley lion was not given this option for a second chance, but many residents are hoping that non-lethal measures will be considered in the future. (Article #1220) To read the actual news story click here... 8/25/2010 Wisconsin Debates Mountain Lions       Mountain lions were driven to extinction in the Midwest over a hundred years ago by hunters and ranchers who wanted to rid the landscape of any wild animals that might pose a threat to their livestock. During the past few decades lions have slowly begun to recover in some of these areas. The western edge of South Dakota in the Black Hills, for example, is now home once again to a small population of lions. The number of reported sightings east of the Mississippi is also slowly on the rise, though most of these are believed to be cases of mistaken identity. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources admits that proof is very rare but they have confirmed four dispersing male lions in the state during the past two and a half years. In 2008, one of these lions made his way down to Chicago where he was killed by police officers. Then earlier this summer reports of a mountain lion attacking livestock in Juneau County, WI, stirred some panic and hysteria in the state, but follow up investigations did not indicate a cat was responsible for the attack and officers admitted they may have jumped too quickly to conclusions (see confirmations). With expectations that more mountain lions will disperse into Wisconsin, the state's DNR officials have begun talking about a management plan and how to handle any negative encounters with the cats. The majority of residents support the return of the American lion but a handful of ranchers are not so thrilled, saying they enjoy having free-range cattle and don't want to take on the responsibility of protecting their herds from wild predators. Another resident mentioned that lions are important to the ecosystem and "if people use common sense, there is room for everything." And so the debate continues as to whether or not Wisconsin residents will allow the return of the cougar... (Article #1221) To read the actual news story click here... 8/23/2010 New Mexico Commission to Discuss More Lion Hunting       This Saturday, August 28th, the New Mexico Game Commission will have a meeting to hear public comments on the proposed increases to the state's mountain lion hunting quotas. Although no scientific evidence has been presented to prove the mountain lion population in New Mexico has grown, the NM Department of Game & Fish created a plan to substantially increase mountain lion mortality. Their plan calls for reducing the lion population in seven of the state's management zones. In presentations given to the community earlier this year, NMDGF specifically stated that one of their main goals was to increase opportunities for hunters. Many residents are now beginning to wonder if that's in fact their only priority. The meeting will take place at the Albuquerque Marriott, 2101 Louisiana Blvd NE from 9am to 5pm. (Article #1219) To read the actual news story click here... 8/20/2010 Cougars Not Welcome in Oregon's Gaddis Park       A few mountain lion sightings have been reported recently in Gaddis Park -- part of a small greenbelt that runs through the city of Roseburg and connects two major forests in southwest Oregon. Many of the locals are excited to possibly see an elusive cougar; two guys even joked about wanting to wrestle one. However, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is not as comfortable with the big cats. An ODFW biologist says if a sighting is confirmed and they find a cougar in Gaddis Park, the agency will euthanize it. He claimed relocating the cougar into the forest is not an option because it could place the cat into another's territory and cause them to fight. Although this is a common part of the cougar lifecycle when searching out a home range, ODFW seems to believe it's more humane to kill a wandering cougar than give it a second chance away from people. (Article #1218) To read the actual news story click here... 8/17/2010 Oregon Public Meeting to Discuss Safety and Cougar Hound-Hunting       Recent reported sightings of cougars in a rural part of Oregon have some locals concerned for public safety and livestock protection. One woman says she lost five ewes in recent months and has had a professional trapper come out and kill six cougars. She has even given her 12-year-old son a firearm to protect himself on the property. Many residents see this as a clear need for proper livestock husbandry information to be distributed, as well as reminding the public that cougars avoid people and have never attacked a person in Oregon. Others however, are twisting the hype to push a hound hunting agenda led by special interest groups who stand to gain a lot of money if the ban on using dogs to hunt cougars is overturned. Oregon State Representative Sherrie Sprenger is calling a public meeting to discuss the issue. It appears she is also a bit caught up in the hysteria since she has expressed serious concern for letting her son play on their property and believes something may need to be done to change the law before a person gets attacked and killed. The meeting will take place this Thursday, August 19th, at 7pm in the Lebanon Public Library located at 55 Academy St., Lebanon, OR 97355. (Article #1217) To read the actual news story click here... 8/14/2010 Submit Comments to SD on 2011 Cougar Hunting Quotas       South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Commission is accepting public comments on the 2011 mountain lion hunting season (based somewhat off the draft 2010-2015 mountain lion management plan that has not yet been approved). The Commission is calling for an increase in the hunting quota within the Black Hills, as well as opening Custer State Park to mountain lion hunting. To learn more about mountain lion issues in South Dakota, read the 2010-2015 draft plan, and view comments submitted by MLF and other groups, visit MLF's South Dakota State Page. Written comments must include the sender's full name and address, and may be submitted via email to wildinfo@state.sd.us. The deadline for comments is 5pm on October 6th. (Article #1216) To read the actual news story click here... 8/6/2010 South Dakota GF&P Commission is a Cheap Date       The South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department Commission (given federal guidelines as part of an official state agency and entrusted by the public to manage wildlife) was given a clear recommendation by the state's wildlife biologists for setting the limits on mountain lion hunting. But following limits and morals does not make for an exciting Friday night! The SDGF&P Commission decided to throw caution to the wind at last Friday's gathering and gave in to requests from local hunters wanting more fun. The Commission then increased the mountain lion quota beyond the maximum number put forth by state biologists -- a limit that was already considered by many groups as way too high to begin with. No longer following any shred of scientific advice or the overall public opinion, the SDGF&P Commission on an "I can do whatever I want" teenage-like power trip has decided it is only interested in pleasing its hunting friends. Unfortunately, the juvenile actions and poor decision-making may very well result in mountain lions being completely wiped out of the state. (Article #1213) To read the actual news story click here... 8/6/2010 Wolves Protected, Could Lions be Next?       On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy sided with numerous conservation groups and upheld the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when he ruled that the previous February 2008 delisting of the gray wolf was invalid. By reinstating the species' protection he upheld the principles that wildlife management should be based on science rather than politics and opportunities for sport hunting. More specifically, his decision points out that under the ESA, a listed species is entitled to protection throughout its entire range and cannot be divided into smaller populations for management. Previously, Montana and Idaho claimed their individual states had enough wolves and so they began trophy hunting seasons to allow residents to kill the canines for fun. However, because wolves were not doing well in the rest of their range, these hunts were adding significant pressure to the population as a whole and preventing a full recovery of the species. Sound familiar? The same issue is being debated in mountain lion management. Western states claim they have plenty of lions and are killing them off at an exceeding rate, while Midwest and eastern states have yet to see lions repopulate the eastern half (about 1 billion acres) of their historic range. By persecuting the species so heavily in the West, lions may never recolonize the remaining 34 states where they were exterminated by ranchers and hunters. Perhaps Judge Molloy's ruling can open some eyes to a broad-scale mountain lion management plan that looks at the entire country rather than each individual state or a specific town's game management unit. (Article #1214) To read the actual news story click here... 8/4/2010 North Dakota Increases Lion Hunting Quota       Winters are harsh in North Dakota, even for one of the world's most adaptable felines. The state is not believed to have a stable population of mountain lions, and ND Game & Fish Department biologists predict there's only enough suitable habitat in North Dakota to support a few dozen lions at most. Despite little evidence that more than a handful of the cats wander into the state each year, North Dakota allows a recreational hunting season (ie kill a cougar for fun, if your hunting dogs can find one!). Many of the mountain lions killed in North Dakota are found in poor condition with frostbitten ears, nose, toes and tail. Yet for whatever unspoken reason, North Dakota Game & Fish has now decided to increase the mountain lion hunting quota, allowing more lions to be killed during their upcoming September through March season. A large portion of the state is theoretically unsuitable mountain lion habitat, and so NDGF allows unrestricted hunting of lions in that region. Whether they could biologically survive there or not, without any protections in place, we may never know. (Article #1211) To read the actual news story click here... 8/4/2010 Three Florida Panther Kittens Killed       As much as 50% of the time an adult female puma is killed, she leaves behind orphaned kittens too young to survive on their own. This "invisible" mortality often goes unnoticed... but cases where pregnant females are killed are harder to ignore, and much more heartbreaking. On Tuesday, an endangered female Florida panther was hit by a car. Luckily, she survived. Veterinarians determined she had some minor injuries but no serious broken bones or internal bleeding. However, the three unborn kittens she was carrying were not so lucky. Before Tuesday, ten Florida panthers had been killed by vehicle collisions so far in 2010. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is currently looking for an appropriate place to release the female back into the wild, farther away from any roads, and expects she will make a full recovery. UPDATE: Tragically, the adult female did not survive. Vets say it was likely a combination of her injuries and being under sedation for a long period of time that led to her death. (Article #1212) To read the actual news story click here... 7/29/2010 New Mexico Pushing to Increase Cougar Hunting       The New Mexico Department of Game & Fish will be hosting pubic forums and taking comments on their recommended changes to bear and cougar hunting. The Department wants to increase the killing of these animals to expand "fun" hunting recreational opportunities for the public. Some residents also have spoken up that they want even more cougars killed due to the cats eating wild prey like deer and sheep. Not only are cougars given a bad reputation and killed for occasionally preying on free-range domestic animals, but now they could be slaughtered for staying away from people and eating their natural prey. New Mexico is one of the few states that is still believed to have a viable cougar population, yet unfortunately, they seem determined to exterminate it. Click here for information on the schedule of meetings, to read the proposed plan, and/or for NM Game & Fish's contact info. (Article #1208) To read the actual news story click here... 7/26/2010 Wild Cat Populations Declining       In a shocking new publication "Fading Call of the Wild" coauthored by wildlife researchers around the globe, studies show 80% of the world's feline populations are in trouble. Nearly all are experiencing population declines and some are in immediate danger of going extinct. Although the report focuses primarily on the "big cats" such as African lions and tigers, numerous United States legislators have signed on to a related act that would help protect these rare keystone species. The publication's foreword points out top predators "maintain healthy functioning places, and their absence negatively affects wildlife and people. Not only would losing these species have drastic ecological impacts, I believe their loss will impact us in ways we aren't even able to yet articulate." Hopefully this report and surrounding discussions will help promote the conservation of our own struggling American lion. (Article #1209) To read the actual news story click here... 7/23/2010 Radio-Collared Lions are Roving Laboratory       Last month, articles about a radio-collared research lion killed in California made the headlines (read more). The public was outraged that this particular lion, known as M56, was killed simply because a resident was not properly informed on how to protect his livestock, and wildlife officials appeared to prefer killing a lion over helping a homeowner coexist with wildlife. Unfortunately, more and more of the radio-collared lions in this region are turning up dead. In fact, more than half of the studied lions are killed due to human-related causes. During just the past few months, at least one lion was hit by a car while a few others were shot -- one of which, killed by a poacher, left helpless kittens orphaned and the research team was unable to locate them (more). From the lions that are able to survive in the shrinking and ever-dangerous habitat, the researchers are learning a great deal about how far mountain lions roam, what they eat, and how southern California residents can better coexist with this important keystone species. (Article #1210) To read the actual news story click here... 7/20/2010 Fake Mountain Lion Warning Signs Posted       Earlier this week, warning signs about an aggressive mountain lion popped up in Montana's Two Moon Park. However, the signs were not put up by park staff nor had the local wardens received any reports of mountain lion sightings. In an interview with the Billings Gazette, Montana game warden Harold Guse mentioned that mountain lions are generally afraid of people and avoid park visitors. Gruse also said that most sightings - cases where a lion doesn't immediately run off - are just the cat being curious. Sometime they want to see what people are up to, but this does not mean the lion is aggressive in any way. Guse doesn't know who put up the signs, but hopefully visitors will take the time to learn more about the park's wildlife and coexisting with mountain lions. (Article #1206) To read the actual news story click here... 7/16/2010 Mississippi Panther Actually Just a Coyote       Last week, residents in a Mississippi neighborhood and even some local wildlife officials were convinced a Florida panther was roaming through backyards (read previous article). After a pet dog was attacked, the hunt was on to catch whatever animal was responsible... apparently even if that meant capturing one of the few Florida panthers left in the wild, and the first to travel anywhere near that far out of the everglades in a long, long time. A professional wildlife tracker was brought in and examined the tracks. He also spoke with the pet owners about the attack and has concluded it was in fact a coyote. Coyotes are much more common and account for a significantly larger portion of pet and livestock attacks than lions. This incident serves as just another example of mistaken identity and how mountain lions (also commonly called panthers and cougars) are often the first ones to blame for any problems with wildlife. (Article #1207) To read the actual news story click here... 7/15/2010 Idaho Wildlife on Clearance?       Idaho - the state that currently kills the most mountain lions every year (see stats) - is making it even easier and cheaper for hunters to shoot mountain lions. Non-residents who purchase an elk tag will now be able to also shoot a mountain lion, black bear, or gray wolf... should he happen to come across one. Each lion, bear, or wolf tag costs a whopping (please note the sarcasm) $11.50, and an elk tag - which is now good for lion, bear and wolf - is about $30. The new law changes also note that children may start hunting turkey at age 10. For more information on the state's hunting rules and regulations, visit the Idaho Fish & Game website. (Article #1204) To read the actual news story click here... 7/14/2010 Mississippi Officials Hunting for Possible Florida Panther       An unprotected pet was recently killed in Mississippi. While domestic dogs and coyotes account for drastically more kills than cougars, locals are saying they think a large cat is responsible. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks officers are now on the hunt for what they believe may be a Florida panther. Whether it's a released pet cougar or a far-dispersing panther (at least a 750 mile trek if he took a straight route along western Interstate-10), it is not clear if a mountain lion of any origin would be protected in Mississippi. Florida panthers are federally protected, but MS may not recognize them as a native species since they were extirpated so long ago (as we saw with the panther killed by a hunter in Georgia in 2008). There is also a chance it dispersed from Texas, or of course the most likely conclusion: not a lion at all and simply a case of mistaken identity. But if Florida panthers are ever to recover from being endangered, southern states will need to get their policies in order ahead of time. Perhaps this could be a wake-up call. (Article #1203) To read the actual news story click here... 7/8/2010 Mountain Lion Presentation Offered to Law Enforcement Officers       After public outcry over the recent shooting of a mountain lion in San Luis Obispo by police officers, the Mountain Lion Foundation and Animal Rescue Team Inc have teamed up to help local law enforcement and wildlife officers prepare for future wildlife encounters. On Friday, July 23rd, MLF field volunteer Robin Parks will brief local officers on how to handle mountain lion calls with non-lethal techniques. The presentation will be hosted by the Animal Rescue Team Inc at their facility in Solvang, California. Police, Sheriffs, Animal Control and CA Fish & Game officers are invited to attend, and many have already RSVP'd. (Article #1202) To read the actual news story click here... 7/7/2010 Saturday Breakfast with a Lion       This Saturday (July 10th), visitors to the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary in Prescott, Arizona, can have breakfast with a mountain lion. Starting at 9am guests will be served a continental breakfast while Jade the mountain lion enjoys her morning meal as well. Zoo staff will teach visitors about mountain lions and offer some craft projects. To register for this interactive breakfast event, or for more information, visit HeritageParkZoo.org. (Article #1199) To read the actual news story click here... 7/7/2010 Officers Shoot Lion in San Luis Obispo       On Tuesday evening a mountain lion was shot and killed in San Luis Obispo (California central coast). Police officers responded to a resident's call about a mountain lion lounging in his backyard tree. Animal Control and CA Fish & Game officers also arrived. They attempted to tranquilize the lion - although it has not been confirmed whether they intended to relocate or simply euthanize the cat off site. A few minutes after being hit with a tranquilizer dart, the mountain lion fell out of the tree. Lightly sedated and scared, he tried to jump over the backyard fence to get away. Officers felt the cat posed a risk to public safety so they shot and killed him. (Article #1201) To read the actual news story click here... 6/30/2010 CA Senator Fran Pavley Commemorates MLF and Proposition 117       On June 30th inside the California state capitol, Senator Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica) presented Mountain Lion Foundation Board Chairman, Toby Cooper with a Senate resolution commemorating the Foundation's "significant contributions" to the passage and implementation of the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 (Proposition 117). The resolution recognizes the accomplishments achieved through Proposition 117, a landmark initiative passed by California voters twenty years ago. The initiative was the first to qualify for the statewide ballot strictly through the efforts of unpaid volunteers, it labels mountain lions a "specially protected mammal" in California, and created the Habitat Conservation Fund which acquires and protects habitat for all wildlife. (Article #1198) To read the actual news story click here... 6/29/2010 Idaho Cougar Relocated Because 'He Feared People'       A wandering cougar that passed though a residential area in Rupert, Idaho, was relocated on Saturday. A homeowner sipping his morning coffee noticed the cat walking down the street. He called police who notified the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. IDFG Officers showed up and tranquilized the cougar. He was a young dispersing male and was released into a forested mountain area away from town. While the officers handled the situation perfectly, they misinformed the public by telling them cougars fear people because they are hunted by Idaho residents. Killing a cougar does not teach the rest of them anything. It's like saying, "I burned an ant with a magnifying glass once as a kid, now all ants know to fear people and stay away from us." The truth is cougars naturally avoid people whenever possible, but our housing tracts are popping up everywhere and an occasional encounter with wildlife is inevitable. Cougar attacks on people are extremely rare, even in places where the cats have not been hunted in decades, yet Idaho's supposed "educational" cougar hunt will begin again in the fall. (Article #1196) To read the actual news story click here... 6/25/2010 Cougar Traveled Through Five States       A young male cougar was radio collared by Colorado biologists back in October. Apparently he's still looking for a suitable home range with food, water, and single ladies. That, or he just needed a vacation, because his GPS collar indicated he recently completed a 5 state tour. Starting out in Colorado, he traveled east into the northern-most part of Kansas, then over 300 miles south through Oklahoma, into Texas, then west into New Mexico. Mountain lions dispersing into the Midwest have been known to travel hundreds of miles. Some research suggests they may not settle into a home range until there are potential mates nearby. This lion was the first recorded in Kansas in over 100 years... perhaps he turned back west to find a date. (7/10/2010 update) (Article #1192) To read the actual news story click here... 6/25/2010 Coexisting with Florida Panthers       After a recent sighting in a residential area, and trail camera snapping a photo of a mama panther with her three kittens walking near a livestock pen, Examiner writer Renee Wilson felt it was time to offer some advice. Her article points out the growing human population and developments in southwest Florida. The endangered panthers are not the ones to blame for conflicts. People moved into their habitat and the best way to coexist is to protect domestic animals. Wilson reminds readers that if the food source is taken away (easily achieved by building a covered pen and securing animals after dark), panthers are more likely to avoid our neighborhoods. To learn more, visit Protecting Pets & Livestock at MountainLion.org. (Article #1194) To read the actual news story click here... 6/25/2010 California Tax Dollars Used to Kill Radio Collared Mountain Lion       A radio collared mountain lion (named M56 by researchers) living in one of the small patches of mountain lion habitat left in southern California was recently killed by the US Department of Agriculture. M56 was part of a study that looked at how mountain lions navigate around our urban areas and how far they'll disperse in search of habitat. M56 was the first lion in the study to successfully cross Interstate 15 - the ten lanes of heavy traffic that run from San Diego up through eastern Los Angeles County then over to Las Vegas - and he was heading away from populated areas. Unfortunately, after all his efforts, M56 was killed for going after someone's hobby sheep left unprotected overnight. No matter how careless a livestock owner is, if a lion preys on a domestic animal, the pet or livestock owner can legally have the lion killed at the tax-payers' expense. This, along with roadkill deaths, has killed off about half of the radio collared lions in the study. While many are outraged that someone had M56 shot, habitat loss continues to kill a large but unrecorded number of mountain lions in the state. (Article #1195) To read the actual news story click here... Next Page >>

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