Mountain Lion Foundation

Cougar Comment Article Cougar Comment is the editorial voice of the Mountain Lion Foundation.   Back to List of Articles Date: 1/8/2010 Article Title: California's lions are "Special" creatures! Media Source: MLF Staff Author: Tim Dunbar With the passage of Proposition 117 in 1990, California voters changed the status of mountain lions in that state from game animal to "Specially Protected Mammal". One might think such a designation would mean special treatment and protection for these magnificent creatures-NOT SO! Even today, almost twenty-years after that initiative's passage, approximately 100 mountain lions are killed in California each year from trying to cross the numerous freeways which bisect their territories; for eating domestic animals which are left unprotected outside at night; for innocently wandering into developed areas while looking for new territories; for the hundred or more different reasons lions run afoul of mankind while trying to live in the steadily declining space we leave them to survive in. All the above mentioned threats are dangerous to mountain lions in California, but possibly the greatest threat they face today is the arbitrary way in which the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) manages those lions who come into direct contact with humans. At this time, it appears that CDFG works under a "hands-off" policy for lions. If the errant lion, who has innocently wandered into town, can wander back into the wild on its own-without threatening the safety of humans-then it is allowed to do so. If, on the other hand, it has climbed up a tree to escape harassing humans, it is often shot with a tranquilizer, removed from the sight of the public, and then euthanized. Right now it seems that too many "public safety" decisions are being made because the "on-the-scene" CDFG representative either can't control the situation, (i.e. can't get the lion out of the tree before it gets too dark, or before kids are released from a nearby school) or because there are no "authorized" animal care facilities in the state which are allowed (by CDFG) to house adult lions for the short time necessary for them to recover from being tranquilized. Whether the present situation has arisen because the Department is afraid of potential liability issues, or because it doesn't know how to manage lions without killing them, lions are being killed unnecessarily in California. If you believe as we do that this can not be allowed to continue, write a letter expressing your concerns to Assemblyman Jared Huffman, Chairman of the California Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee. Tell him that you want CDFG to create and implement directives and policies which emphasize the need to conserve and protect these "specially protected mammals." Assemblyman Jared Huffman Chairman California Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee State Capital 1020 N Street, Suite 160 Sacramento, CA 95814 P.O. Box 94249 Sacramento, CA 94249-00119 Office: 916-319-2096 Fax: 916-319-2196 Assemblymember.Huffman@assembly.ca.gov www.assembly.ca.gov Back to List of Articles

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