Author: Lace Thornberg

Adapting to Their Nature

A reflection from the Mountain Lion Foundation’s first Coexistence Camp
By Lin Due, Coexistence Ambassador

Spirit animal. Ghost cat. Apex predator. Loner. Marauder. Protector of the North.

Puma concolor has more names than any other animal in the Americas: mountain lion, puma, catamount, cougar, panther. Those identifiers signify the space mountain lions inhabit in our psyches. We revere and fear and admire them. We write books about years spent trying to see them. They inform our travels through life. And some of us make spiritual journeys to them, drums beating hypnotically in the background.

They come to us in dreams. I once followed a mountain lion and a polar bear through downtown Berkeley. The animals prowled up streets, past stores, weaving through crowds of people effortlessly as I trailed behind. When the mountain lion crossed Oxford Street into the UC Berkeley campus, the polar bear disappeared. Mountain lions take precedence over even a fearsome polar bear.

But mountain lions are something else: flesh and blood animals living perilous existences in the wild. They are often blamed for kills of livestock and pets when the neighbor’s dog is a more likely culprit; they are shot from trees simply because someone spots them crouching in the branches. Like Greta Garbo, they just want to be alone, but they inevitably attract a crowd, some equipped with firearms.

Mountain lions are silent. They would always win at hide-and-seek. Many of us, even those desperate to see one, have been within yards of a mountain lion without realizing it. It is possible to live safely and comfortably with lions; we’ve done it for millennia. If we are to do it for millennia more, we need to learn to see what’s real. This was the purpose of the Mountain Lion Foundation’s Coexistence Camp, held on California’s Mendocino coast over the glorious weekend of August 12-13, 2023.

The host farm sits on the east side of Highway 1, overlooking the ocean. The land sports sheep, chickens, ducks, dogs, fruit trees and high tunnels filled with vegetables. Ospreys circled overhead as we sat down at long tables in the sun. About twenty strong, we came from all over the West: California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah and Texas. We had applied for a pilot program to train coexistence ambassadors.

 

A very pregnant Gowan Batist, who is the Mountain Lion Foundation’s coexistence programs manager and a Fortunate Farm steward, pointed out that coexistence benefits more than lions. The livestock, pets, and produce on their farm attract not just mountain lions, but also bears, raccoons, foxes, opossums and more. Yet due to good management practices, the farm has lost no animals for years.

I used to lecture at county and state fairs about how to safely house poultry. It astounded me how often people would blame the skunk that got into the pen rather than their slapdash excuse for a coop. How does one advocate for sane practices? Not by preaching.

“You need to support people where they’re at,” said Brent Lyles, the foundation’s executive director. “You need to be part of the journey communities are taking.”

Batist puts this into practice on Fortunate Farm. Neighbors call her to examine a kill. Was this the mountain lion someone had seen a week ago? Batist explained that her role is to observe and tell a story that fits the observations. A deer with trauma to the neck and head, an open abdominal cavity with no organs is likely a lion kill. Lions are precise surgeons; they remove the organs, which they may not eat. The kill may be stashed under leaves and grass. Bears are sloppier; they tend to kick dirt on a carcass and eat the organs. Coyotes are messier still, leaving feces around an unburied kill, eating everything and anything. Dogs may leave a similar chaos of scattered pieces yet eat nothing, instead ripping randomly at the victim’s fur or fleece. Those who lose animals are often disappointed to discover the villain is the neighbor’s dog. An unpleasant conversation must follow; it’s simpler if a wild animal is at fault.

 

Our group spent much of the weekend examining deterrents. We constructed a compound encircled by a solar-powered electric fence. We talked about livestock guardian dogs—their plusses and minuses. We handled battery- or solar-powered lights that flashed, alarms that emitted a high frequency whine or one so grating that everyone at the table cringed, banging their palms over their ears. We discussed putting talk radio shows on a timer, moving lights around, the tactic of going hard with multiple deterrents for a short period of time to convince an animal to move elsewhere. Wild animals do not want to hear human voices, be bathed in flashing lights, or spooked by alarms. Family dogs are habituated to these things. If an animal keeps coming, that unpleasant conversation may be close at hand.

Our paradisiacal weekend was overshadowed by the catastrophe on Maui. Several of the farm’s stewards are native Hawaiians. Pathos and reverence chased each other through morning chants. Since that weekend, fires scorched drought-stricken Louisiana during a time when deluges are common; thousands of downy Emperor penguin chicks drowned when an ice sheet collapsed; fires in Canada decimated vast stretches of forest and prairies.

We live with bliss and joy and dread. We stand on the precipice of consciousness of our communal journey with all creatures. That journey informs us in mundane ways (don’t leave out garbage that attracts bears) while at the same time limning the connections that exist between every living thing.

When we seek to coexist with predators, to adapt to their natures rather than trying to impose ours, we begin a dialogue. We need to connect, through a solar fence, hypnotic drumming, or listening with empathy to a neighbor struggling with anger and fear.

Lions live in our psyches. We need to make room in our hearts not just for lions but for all of life.

About the Author

Lin Due is an editor and writer who divides time between Berkeley and Mendocino County’s Laytonville.

Meet a Puma Protector: Nora Parker

The Mountain Lion Foundation welcomes members from across the country. Today, we’re pleased to introduce you to one of our members from the East Coast.

Meet Nora

Nora Parker is a New Jersey native and an avid animal lover, both wildlife and domestic. Nora also has close family in the Los Angeles area who’ve long shared their affinity and concern for the beloved cougar population in that area. Their concern piqued Nora’s interest in helping ensure the safety of mountain lions and that led her to find the Mountain Lion Foundation.

After signing up for a few of the Living with Lions webinars this summer, Nora was one of the first people to join our new monthly giving program. As a Puma Protector, Nora is enabling the Mountain Lion Foundation to encourage more people to consider the irreplaceable role that pumas — also known as mountain lions — play in our ecosystems.

Nora, what inspired you to become a Puma Protector?

I believe in the mission of the Mountain Lion Foundation and a monthly gift is a great way to help them be able to bank on a reliable monthly source of income outside of the many other ways in which people give. It’s easy and convenient for me as well.

Why are mountain lions important to you?

Mountain lions are majestic and incredibly adaptive animals who have endured great destruction of their natural habitats at the hands of humans.  I believe they have as much right to the environment as we do—we’ve come into THEIR homes, and we owe it to them now to ensure that they can continue to live among nature despite our encroachment having made it more difficult for them.

How can the Mountain Lion Foundation put your gift to the best use?

I have trust in the organization’s mission and expertise and so I also trust and rely on them to use my gifts in whatever way they consider to be a priority at any given time.

What do you want other people to know about the Mountain Lion Foundation?

I’m happy that they are working so hard to educate and provide support for projects and legislation to preserve the mountain lions in our country before the situation reaches a point of no return and we lose them altogether.  In a crisis-oriented society, they are “out there” before it becomes too little, too late. The educational opportunities they provide are invaluable in encouraging people to understand and appreciate this beautiful native species, while providing scientific and rational approaches to living in harmony in shared environments and dispelling unnecessary fear of generally peaceful animals. Even if you may never have the chance to see them yourself, the Mountain Lion Foundation provides so many wonderful ways for you to enjoy their natural lifestyles and be motivated to keep them safe.

Becoming a Puma Protector

If you are interested in becoming a monthly donor, please visit us our Puma Protector page or email EMathews@mountainlion.org.

We can’t reach our goals without the support of people like you who recognize the importance of preserving our natural world and protecting the wildlife within it. With your monthly donation, we can continue to educate the public about the importance of cougars, fund research to better understand their behavior and needs, and advocate for policies that protect their habitats and promote coexistence.

With a pledge of $25 per month or more, you will receive a limited edition print titled Protected Serenity by artist Debra Winruth. Every new monthly donor will receive a logo sticker.

Banner photo: Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve near Newton, New Jersey. Credit: Nicholas T.

Hiking in Lion Country

During our August 2023 Living with Lions webinar, we shared practical advice for how to coexist with wildlife while exploring backcountry hiking trails, and discussed ways that hikers can translate their experiences on trail into effective advocacy for wildlife.

Our event host is Lace Thornberg, Director of Communications for the Mountain Lion Foundation and our guest presenter is Renee Patrick, an accomplished long-distance hiker who is always exploring public lands.

Coexistence In Practice – Klickitat County

EVENTS & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Aug. 25-27, 2023 | Klickitat County, Washington

Join the Mountain Lion Foundation for “Coexistence in Practice” – a weekend of educational talks and hands-on activities that will promote peaceful coexistence with cougars.

Cougars of Klickitat County
      • Date + Time: Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, 7 p.m.
      • Place: Mountain View Grange, White Salmon, WA

 

What would you like to know about cougars? Mountain Lion Foundation Executive Director R. Brent Lyles will briefly cover cougar biology and the state of cougar conservation in Washington, followed by a community Q&A session. Photo: David Willingham

This free event is open to the public. Registration is not required, but is appreciated. Let us know you are interested. 

Carnivore-Safe Barn Retrofit
    • Date + Time: Saturday, August 26, 10 am to 4 pm
    • Location: White Salmon, WA

 

Volunteers will assist a local youth vocational agriculture club in making their existing barn structures cougar-proof and coexistence ready. We will discuss the important elements of safe shelters and how to adapt existing infrastructure from a coexistence mindset.

Registration is required and participants will be notified of the location. Register now.

Wildlife Tracking Walk
    • Date + Time: Sunday, August 27, 9 am – 10 am
    • Location: near Trout Lake, WA

 

Learn wildlife-tracking skills from an expert. This short hike will finish in time to allow participants to be back to White Salmon in time for the Carnivore-Safe Chicken Coop Build.

Limited to 6 participants. Registration is required and selected participants will be notified of the meeting point. Register now.

View/download the Coexistence in Practice flyer

Hiking in Lion Country

Basic knowledge to ensure safety on the trail

As rare as a lightning strike is, you still wouldn’t set out to summit a peak with thunderheads rolling in. That’s simply not good practice.

Although encounters with mountain lions are quite rare, and attacks are even more uncommon—you’re actually much more likely to be hit by lightning — it’s still important to be equipped with knowledge.

Just as an understanding of mountain weather is important for your safety, anyone who recreates in mountain lion habitat should also have a good understanding of the biology and behavior of mountain lions.

To ensure your own safety and protect mountain lions, develop good outdoor habits that keep these behavioral traits in mind.

Mountain lions tend to spend the day in dense cover, and to hunt when deer are active, most often at dawn and dusk. While these are also the times that people like to take a walk — avoiding the midday sun — we have a responsibility to be sensible when we do so in mountain lion country.

Lions have keen eyesight, but they do not see the same way we do. They look for the shape and movement of their natural prey. With deer being lion’s preferred prey, it’s easy to see how a dog could be mistaken for prey. Keep pets on a leash and keep them close to you. It’s also important for people to look as human as possible. Wearing brightly contrasting clothing can help a lion distinguish you from its natural prey. Although lions do not see colors as we do, dark, mid-tone or drab woodsy colors will make you look more like a deer.

Additionally, be very alert when leaning down or bending over to play hide and seek, pick berries, or use the bathroom.  Crouching or bending down in mountain lion country could make you look like prey. Before crouching, scan the area you are in carefully first and make some noise.

Lions cache their prey. If you run across a dead animal in the brush, steer clear. Don’t investigate or disturb the area. Lion will defend their cache and may stay in the area for weeks at a time.

Lions chase by instinct. If you are lucky enough to spot a lion, do not run away. Lions can sprint at speeds approaching 45 miles per hour, so outrunning them is not likely to happen and your running away could trigger a lion’s instinct to chase. Once a chase has begun, the lion is no longer able to think rationally or assess whether their target is a deer.

To be cautious, you can avoid jogging or mountain biking at dusk and dawn when mountain lions are most active. You can also sing, talk, give the occasional shout-out, or play a podcast on your phone’s speaker while you bike and jog to alert wildlife to your presence.

Lions rely on stealth and do not take unnecessary risks. If you encounter a mountain lion and it doesn’t run from you immediately, don’t jump to conclusions about the meaning of its behavior. Our brains are wired to be fearful of large felines, but a mountain lion is a lot like a house cat and wants the same thing that you do: to get away safely. On rare occasions it may view you as prey, but most likely sees you as a curiosity or threat.

Because mountain lions are ambush predators, most likely any time you see one, it isn’t hunting you. It may simply be curious about you or it may be preparing to defend offspring or a cached food source. Either way, your next steps will be to show that you are too scary to fight and that you are not an imminent threat to it or its babies.

Mountain lion body language is similar to that of a house cat. Look at its ears and eyes and body posture. If you saw a cat doing the same, would you be afraid it was about to scratch you? If so, be sure you’re far enough away that the lion can’t reach you. Back away, maintaining eye contact and shouting. Wave your arms and a towel, jacket, handkerchief, or walking stick to look bigger and scarier. Mountain lions will not turn their back on you if they view you as dangerous, because they know from their own hunting behavior that predators attack from behind. Give them room to run away.

A lion not backing down immediately doesn’t mean it is a threat to you. It is looking for an opening to leave safely, which can be a sign that you have the advantage.

Predators like the mountain lion cannot afford an injury. If they are hurt they cannot hunt effectively, defend their territory, or seek water and shelter. When injured, wild animals starve. But a sick or injured animal also may seek out easy prey and become much less interested in anything that looks like it will fight back. By making one big aggressive move early on — a loud shout or clap, even an aggressive step toward the lion when it’s undecided about its next step — you can give the lion the excuse it needs to exit. Mountain lions are generally scaredy cats and want exactly what you do: to exit an encounter quickly and safely.

Research has shown that mountain lions go out of their way to avoid other mountain lions, and humans — relying on wariness as their first defense, resorting to fights only when necessary to defend a territory or a litter of kittens.

The best way to ensure that both you and the lion may leave safely is for you to back away slowly while continuing to look as big and intimidating as possible, leaving the lion avenues of escape.

It’s important that a lion not feel cornered or separated from its kittens, or a cached kill. It will fight to reach — and protect — either. If a lion doesn’t take an easy exit, kittens or a cache may be the reason.

You may love mountain lions, but, if you see one, it’s important that you behave aggressively. Not only does being hit by a thrown rock hurt, but it makes it very clear to the cougar that you are not a deer or coyote. Like most wild animals, lions want to avoid humans. Their fear is healthy and should be encouraged, for their own safety.

While hiking in cougar country, keep their traits in mind and develop good outdoor habits to avoid an encounter that neither you, nor the cougar is keen to have.

Learn More

For more safety tips, visit Safety – On the Trail on our website.

And check out this Living with Lions webinar from August 2023, Hiking in Lion Country, with long-distance hiker Renee Patrick. A dedicated conservationist with more than 11,000 miles under her boots, Renee shared practical advice on how to hike safely through lion country and how to advocate for the protection of wildlife and wildlands.

Threats on the Edge of Expansion

Before the eastward expansion of mountain lions can take hold, we need stable populations at the leading edge

by Josh Rosenau, Director of Policy & Advocacy

In the first week of June, state wildlife commissions in Nebraska and Montana voted to approve significant increases in mountain lion hunting. Both states’ policymakers argued that these increases would do little harm to the species as a whole since mountain lions exist as a metapopulation spanning multiple states.

The scientific premise of the claim is valid, but the simultaneous actions highlight the risk that uncoordinated state actions can pose to the species.

The term “metapopulation” was coined by the late ecologist Richard Levins (Incidentally, my father met my mother when he was hired to feed fruit flies in Levins’ lab, but that’s another story). A metapopulation is a population of populations, a scenario where some populations of a species might persist, and even seem to thrive at high population numbers, simply because of influx from more productive populations. The interplay of population sinks — those sustained by immigration — and population sources — where excess reproduction permits high emigration — can allow these metapopulations to persist in patchy or inconsistent environments. For a species like mountain lions, where individuals have large home ranges, females tend to stay in the area they were born, and males can disperse hundreds or thousands of miles to find open territory, it makes a lot of sense to use this framework to understand populations and their management.

The problem is that a growing number of states are managing mountain lions with the goal of allowing their state to serve as a sink, and none have a goal of maintaining their lions as a source for neighboring states’ populations.

    • Utah this year passed a law removing many limits on mountain lion hunting and trapping. Learn more about Utah.
    • Montana’s policy — adopted in June — aims to reduce the overall population of mountain lions statewide, with a whopping 40% reduction in the state’s northeastern region. Learn more about Montana.
    • Wyoming has long managed their cougars with a goal of maintaining a population well below carrying capacity, and is now seeking comment on a significant increase in hunting in the state’s western hunting regions. Learn more about Wyoming.
    • Nebraska’s new hunting policy maintains hunting on the small population in the Pine Ridge, and adds a new hunt for two mountain lions in the Niobrara Valley. Learn more about Nebraska.

 

That new hunt in Nebraska may seem small, but as the Nebraska Game and Parks staff note in their recommendation to the state Game and Parks Commission:

“Mountain lions in Nebraska are part of a larger regional population where animals are continually mixing. Mountain lion populations in Nebraska are not genetically isolated; they are connected to populations in South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado through immigration and emigration of individuals.… Since mountain lions interact and move between states, it is important that management decisions fit within what is happening in the larger region.”

The Niobrara is one of the U.S.’s easternmost breeding populations of mountain lions. Any hope of further eastward expansion of the species requires that those populations at the leading edge of the expansion be healthy enough that young females will emigrate into unoccupied regions. High hunting pressure at that leading edge will slow or prevent the return of mountain lions to their historic range in the Midwest, Appalachia and eastern seaboard. If the populations at that leading edge are managed as population sinks, it will delay or prevent that much-needed restoration of apex carnivores.

This summer, North Dakota and South Dakota will revisit their mountain lion hunts, and Mountain Lion Foundation staff and members will be submitting comments urging those states to resist increasing their hunting quotas. We will also work to prevent Wyoming’s move for even higher hunting and to reverse Montana’s shift to establish itself as a population sink.

Beyond that advocacy state by state, this trend highlights a need for greater efforts to bring consistency to state management of mountain lions.

In their 2022 article “Analyses of national mountain lion harvest indices yield ambiguous interpretations,” researchers Mark Elbroch, Lisanne Petracca, Connor O’Malley, and Hugh Robinson found themselves hindered in assessing the state of the mountain lion metapopulation because of inconsistencies in what data states collect on mountain lion populations and the demographics of mountain lions killed by hunters. Three of six metrics they could assess suggested a metapopulation-wide decline in population, two suggested population growth, and one indicated a stable population. Given these ambiguous results and the inherent limits of the data states collect, they end the paper with a plea that we wholeheartedly join:

“Currently, mountain lion management is not conducted at the national scale, but maintaining an awareness of metapopulation trends may be useful for wide-ranging species that occur at low densities. As hunting metrics provide ambiguous or unreliable indicators of mountain lion population dynamics or abundance, we suggest that state wildlife managers consider collaborating on an integrated population model approach to monitor U.S. mountain lions. … To build such a model, analysts would require states to collect the same harvest data – specifically age- and sex-specific harvest metrics, and consistent metrics for hunter effort and success (while accounting for variation due to local hunting regulations) – in combination with survival probabilities for representative individuals tracked in ongoing research projects across states.”

We echo this plea for greater coordination of how states gather population data, how they use that data to model populations, and how they manage this shared metapopulation to ensure the health of the species and its restoration to its historical eastern range.

Without that consistency, we risk turning all of mountain lion country into a population sink, and seeing our precious wilderness go down the drain.

2023 Member Survey Recap

“Keep up the good work!”

That was the most common response to this open-ended question in our most recent supporter survey: “Do you have any additional comments or suggestions that you’d like to pass along to the Mountain Lion Foundation’s staff and board?”

This sentiment also came through in several other variations, including “Never quit!” and this enthusiastic endorsement: “the platinum organization for mountain lions!”

In the United States, there are 16 states with breeding populations of mountain lions. Calculating the total land mass of those 16 states brings us to just a notch over 1.4 billion acres that we need to keep an eye on.

As you can imagine, tracking the opportunities and issues that can arise across that much land takes perseverance, prioritization and planning.

The member survey we conducted in May 2023 was one of several steps in a comprehensive strategic planning process for our organization. With hundreds of our current supporters responding, this survey gave us a great pulse on the work that our members want us to focus on, which is: everything.

We asked you to rank 11 different aspects of mountain lion protection on a scale of 1-5, and nothing received lower than an average of “4.”

Okay, we’re on it!

Seeing your passion for lions, your willingness to get involved, and your appreciation for the hard work that predator protection can entail has offered so much inspiration.

You expressed your strong and enduring love for mountain lions in many ways, including:

    • “Mountain lions are beautiful, intelligent, and powerful creatures. I love everything about them.”
    • “I believe that mountain lions are an important part of the ecosystem, and I want to do everything I can to protect them.”
    • “I am a huge fan of mountain lions, and I am always excited to see them in the wild.”

 

You saw the need to work in three key areas: (1) advocating for species and habitat protection, (2) changing perceptions about mountain lions, and (3) encouraging people to adopt coexistence strategies.

    • “We need to advocate for mountain lion protection at all levels of government.”
    • “Education is key to changing people’s perceptions of mountain lions.”
    • “We need to find ways to coexist with mountain lions so that both humans and these majestic creatures can live safely.”

 

Your willingness to get personally involved in mountain lion protection efforts was impressive. Here are just a couple of examples:

    • “I believe that mountain lions have a place in our world, and I will do everything I can to protect them.”
    • “I have been writing articles for our local papers and am very impressed with the positive feedback I am getting. I credit your foundation for giving me the courage to speak out and become an advocate for these creatures.”

 

And, finally, we appreciated the hope and optimism in so many of your wishes for the future of mountain lions and our natural world:

    • “The hand of humanity is everywhere but it would be good to teach our children that nature, separate from human intervention, has a process of its own that creates beautiful things.”
    • “I am hopeful that the Mountain Lion Foundation’s work will ensure the future of these amazing animals.”
    • “I believe that mountain lions can coexist with humans if we all work together.”

 

To everyone who participated in our survey, thank you for the valuable and insightful feedback.

Watch this space as we look forward to sharing our new strategic plan later this summer. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to support and engage in the Mountain Lion Foundation’s important work in the coming years — we can’t do this work without you!

To support the Mountain Lion Foundation and its work for imperiled mountain lions, become a Puma Protector.

Ten Ways to Celebrate National Cougar Day

June 12 is National Cougar Day and that’s a major cause for celebration. But, how exactly to celebrate?

Try one of these ideas. The five “entry level” ideas are suggestions that most folks could tackle with a few minutes of attention and the five “next level” suggestions will take a bit more time and investment, or are more relevant in particular geographies.

How many ways will you mark National Cougar Day? However you decide to mark this special day, we’d love to hear about it! Email your National Cougar Day tale to info@mountainlion.org.

Entry Level Celebrations

Learn a new cougar fact

Cougars are incredible, no doubt about it. Amaze yourself and your friends and family. On our About Mountain Lions page, you’ll find a wide array of information about their biology, behaviors and ecological role.

Color a cougar

We have a variety of downloadable coloring pages that you can print and color. Great for kids, or anyone who would enjoy a little mental health break.

Become a Puma Protector

When you donate to the Mountain Lion Foundation, you’ll ensure this organization can represent your interests wherever important decisions about this species are made. This National Cougar Day marks the much-anticipated debut of our new monthly giving program. Many loyal fans are already contributing monthly. Now, with Puma Protectors, we are inviting more people to play a vital role in protecting mountain lions and educating people about coexistence with these remarkable animals. Become a Puma Protector today.

Sign up for a Living with Lions webinar

Each month, we invite a different journalist, biologist, explorer or another knowledgeable person to have a conversation with Mountain Lion Foundation staff about various facets of coexisting with mountain lions.

Register for an upcoming talk to attend live event and engage with the presenters, or subscribe to our YouTube Channel to be alerted when these conversations are posted.

Watch an episode of California Mountain Lions

As top predators, mountain lions contribute greatly to a stable ecosystem in California. Most native Californians have never seen a mountain lion because they are so elusive, and yet they are a revered member of the wild community. This series of eight episodes, running 7 to 8 minutes each, illustrates how mountain lions – specifically the populations in wild lands around Southern California – struggle for survival, and how anyone interested can help to conserve them.

Next Level Celebrations

Wear your lion love

If there is Mountain Lion Foundation shirt in your closet, National Cougar Day is the perfect day to wear your shirt out on the town. Each year, we produce a special t-shirt featuring a unique mountain lion design, and the sales of this shirt help us raise awareness about the need to coexist with mountain lions. We’d love to see you in your shirt, so please send a picture of yourself to info@mountainlion.org or post a selfie on social media and tag us and use the hashtag #NationalCougarDay.

Send a Letter to the Editor

Tweeting is a great way to influence legislators quickly, but don’t forget the old-fashioned letter to the editor. This simple tactic can be quite powerful, as legislators and other decision-makers still read letters to the editor to take the pulse of their constituents.

In this recent post, we offer seven steps to follow and a helpful list of papers where you could submit your letter.

Make your property unappealing to predators

If you live in a Western state, in an area near wild public lands, you could put these coexistence tips into practice to make your residence safer for wildlife and yourself.

Spend the day in mountain lion habitat

Head out on the Mountain Lion Loop Trail in the beautiful Golden Gate Canyon State Park, an hour outside Denver, Colorado, or explore the Puma Hills in Central Colorado.  Pitch your tent at Cougar Rock Campground in Mount Rainier National Park. As those names suggest, these places are all in cougar country, but they are certainly not the only places where cougars thrive. Mountain lions inhabit a wide variety of terrain and can be found in much of the western United States, as well as in small pockets in Florida. Whenever you venture into mountain lion habitat, follow these coexistence tips to keep yourself and the lions safe.

Name the Mountain Lion Foundation in your estate plans

This is the most enduring way to celebrate that we can think of. You can find useful estate planning information on our website, or send a note to emathews@mountainlion.org and we’ll be happy to assist you.

 

 

A Letter Goes a Long Way for Lions

You’re passionate about protecting our magnificent mountain lions and ensuring their survival for generations to come. You want to make a real difference in the conservation. But how?

One tried and true tactic is writing a Letter to the Editor. If you’re not an avid Letter to the Editor reader, you might not realize just how powerful this tool can be. Rest assured that legislators and other decision makers read these letters to take the pulse of public opinion. Your words – or lack of them – will influence their decisions.

For inspiration, check out this great letter from Mountain Lion Foundation member Scott Parker, published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

To help you make your voice heard, follow these seven steps on crafting effective and persuasive letters. At the end of this post, you’ll find links to major newspapers in mountain lion habitat.

Grab Attention with a Strong Open

Begin your letter with a compelling and attention-grabbing opening statement. A thought-provoking sentence or two will pique the interest of both the readers and the editorial staff. Use vivid language or share a personal anecdote to draw the reader in and create an emotional connection.

Be Concise, Stay Focused

Most papers have a limit between 150 and 300 words, so it’s crucial to keep your letter concise. Stay focused on one topic — in this case, mountain lions — and avoid going off on tangents that may dilute your main point. Use clear and simple language to convey your message effectively.

Present Facts and Statistics

Back up your arguments with solid facts, statistics, and credible sources. When discussing the importance of protecting mountain lions, provide information about their declining populations, habitat loss, and the critical role they play in maintaining ecosystem balance. Feel free to use anything you find on this website, or email us if you’d like a review of your letter. Well-supported arguments add credibility to your letter and make it harder to dismiss.

Be Respectful and Constructive

Maintain a respectful and constructive tone throughout your letter. Avoid personal attacks or aggressive language. Instead, focus on educating and informing readers about the importance of mountain lions and the potential consequences of inaction. Present alternative solutions or policy recommendations that can help address the challenges they face.

Personalize Your Letter

Add a personal touch to your letter to make it stand out. Share your own experiences or encounters with mountain lions and explain how these encounters have deepened your understanding of these animals and the challenges they face. Personal stories evoke empathy and can inspire others to take action.

Add a Call to Action

End your letter with a clear call to action. Encourage readers to join you in supporting legislative measures that protect mountain lions. Provide information on how they can get involved, such as contacting their local representatives, signing petitions, or supporting organizations like the Mountain Lion Foundation. Head to our Action Alerts page to find current calls to action.

Proofread and Submit

Before sending your letter, proofread it thoroughly for grammar, spelling, and clarity. A well-written and error-free letter is more likely to be taken seriously. Check that you haven’t exceeded their word count and that you’ve followed all other submission guidelines. Then hit send! The best letter is a sent letter.

If you’ve submitted a letter, let us know so that we can amplify it on social media or share it directly with decision-makers in your area. You can mail your letter, or a send link to the published letter, to info@mountainlion.org.

The Mountain Lion Foundation can only protect these iconic creatures and their habitats because you are willing to use your voice. By expressing your concerns and sharing your knowledge through a Letter to the Editor, you can play a vital role in influencing public opinion and improving decisions.

Together, we make a difference.

You can find more letter-writing advice on our Become an Advocate page. 

Where to Submit Your Letters

 

In the Pacific Northwest
In California
In the Intermountain West
In the Midwest
In Rocky Mountain Region
In the Southwest