Feature image of Nevada mountain lion. | Photo credit: BLM Nevada

On Friday, January 24, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners voted to deny a petition that sought to change trapping regulations to protect mountain lions from injury and death. The petition–supported by the Nevada Wildlife Alliance, WildEarth Guardians, and the Mountain Lion Foundation–included eight recommended changes to Nevada’s trapping regulations based on the best available science, professional trapper advice, and public polling. Eight commissioners, representing hunting and agriculture interests, voted against the petition. Furthermore, the Commission failed to meaningfully consider a single recommendation offered in the petition.

The petition recommended shortening the trap check window to 24 hours in accordance with recommendations from the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians. The window is currently 96 hours, which is the longest in the continental American West. Other recommendations included limiting trap sizes, requiring trap-chain swivels, prohibiting drags (attaching traps to rocks, logs, or other moveable objects), and requiring trapper education. 

Mountain lions are a “non-target” species in Nevada but still frequently fall victim to traps. Lions are injured, maimed, and even killed because of Nevada’s lax trapping laws. According to Nevada state data from just 9 years (2002-2004, 2007, 2010-2015), at least 278 mountain lions were caught in traps that were set for other animals. 11 of those lions were injured and 24 died. Only 19% of trappers report their non-target catch, so it’s likely that the number of mountain lions killed or injured by traps is higher.

Mountain lions are Nevada’s only extant apex carnivore, and studies show that species like lions have substantial and measurable benefits for ecosystems including river-corridor health, increased biodiversity, disease control, and even carbon sequestration.   

In the big picture of wildlife stewardship, the changes that we and our partners brought to the Commission were modest and common-sense; they could have been implemented easily to help bring Nevada more in line with other Western states. Although we’re deeply disappointed in the Commission, the Mountain Lion Foundation and our partners are undeterred. We will continue to fight for Nevada’s native cats especially as they face opposition by the people supposed to be protecting them.