Cougar Clippings Look here for articles, opinions, and editorials about mountain lions and the Mountain Lion Foundation. Date Article 1/13/2012 Washington K9 Officer Injured       K-9 wildlife officer Cash has helped save cougars (finding orphaned kittens and hazing adult lions who come too close to town to teach them to stay in the wild). Without his keen snout and fearless attitude, dozens of bears and cougars wouldn't be alive today. But unfortunately Cash was injured on the job and now needs help from all of us to cover his medical expenses. The Karelian Bear Dog program is not supported by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, and it survives solely on funding from private donations. Please thank Cash for all he has done for our wildlife by sending a donation to: WDFW KBD Fund Attn Cpt Bill Hebner 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. Mill Creek, WA 98012. In the memo line, please note the money is for Cash's vet bills. Thank you! See a video of the Karelian bear dogs at work Comments (Article #1345) To read the actual news story click here... 1/11/2012 Nebraska Senator Introduces Bill to Trophy Hunt Lions       Last month, one of Nebraska's rare mountain lions had to be euthanized after sustaining severe injuries from being caught in a steel-jawed leg hold trap. She was one of only a handful of female lions believed to live in the state. In a population of just twenty cats, breeding-aged females play a crucial role. Residents saw this loss as a huge setback in the species' recovery, with many wanting a statewide ban on the traps and an increase in protection laws for mountain lions. State Senator LeRoy Louden, however, has continued his push to kill off the cats. In 2010 Senator Louden introduced a bill to reclassify mountain lions as "predators" (on the same list as opossums, coyotes, and skunks, among other "unwanted animals") and to allow ranchers to freely kill mountain lions on their property without needing permits or having to contact the game agency first (more). It passed. Now, Senator Louden is taking it one step further with Legislative Bill 928. If passed, LB 928 would allow the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission to open an annual trophy hunting season on mountain lions. The public and even some Game & Parks employees are shaking their heads, saying it's far too soon to think about allowing the public to kill the cats for fun. There are only twenty lions after all, and less than 5% of Nebraska residents are hunters--with just a fraction of those interested in hunting a big game species. There is a massive pile of actual important issues the Senator should be focusing on such as job creation which, along with child welfare reform, are stated on his website as being the "top priorities in this year's session." By instead trying to push a bill that would promote the extermination of a species (and one that should currently be listed as state-endangered) Senator Louden is not only wasting time and resources, but he is showing a blatant disregard for the views of the people he was elected to represent. But then again, perhaps he is looking out for the public welfare... he felt it was necessary to write into law that a lion hunting tag shall not exceed $25. My, how nice of him! If you are also outraged by LB 928, please take a moment to share your thoughts with the Nebraska Legislature. Remind them that this bill is unnecessary and that the majority of residents do not want Nebraska's lions hunted for sport. Comment on this article (Article #1343) To read the actual news story click here... 1/3/2012 South Dakota May Give Lion Trophy Carcass Back to Poacher       In November, a ranch hand in South Dakota shot a mountain lion. To briefly summarize the situation, he shot a lion: * outside of the legal lion hunting trophy season * with the use of dogs, which is prohibited in the state * with a lesser caliber rifle than is allowed for killing lions * on land that he did not own or legally lease * with the cat posing no immediate threat to public safety Obviously illegal, right? Prosecute him for poaching; cased closed. Wrong. Not only did the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department not ticket him for the illegal kill, they are now considering giving him back the carcass so that he can have it mounted and displayed with his other hunting trophies. More than ever before, Game Commissioners in South Dakota are promoting the slaughter of the state's lion population. This year they've increased the kill quota on the annual lion hunting season beyond what the agency's own biologists recommend. Many residents are beginning to question how and why the Game Commissioners can in effect call for the eradication of a native wildlife species--and one which less than a decade ago was protected as a threatened species in the state. The mountain lion issue will likely be discussed at the next commission meeting, January 12-13 in Fort Pierre, SD. Even the president of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation (a pro-hunting organization) has spoken out in newspapers saying this ranch hand should not get the carcass back and should instead receive a ticket for breaking the law. Regulations are vague and if SD Game, Fish & Parks cannot enforce the few restrictions they have set forth on shooting lions, then perhaps the agency should not be allowed to manage the species at all. Contact the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Commission Or call SDGF&P Department Director Doug Hofer: (605) 773-3391 Comment on this article (Article #1342) To read the actual news story click here... 12/29/2011 Nebraska Lion Euthanized After Caught in Cruel Trap       On Monday, a female mountain lion was euthanized by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) officers after she was caught in a steel-jawed leg trap. The trap had been set legally by a Nebraska fur trapper, hoping to catch a bobcat. This cruel device is banned in Europe and 88 countries world-wide. Unfortunately, only eight states in the U.S. have outlawed or restricted its usage. "When an animal steps on the steel-jaw trap spring, the trap's jaws slam shut, clamping down on the animal's limb or paw. As the animal struggles in excruciating pain to get free, the steel vise cuts into his or her flesh-often down to the bone-mutilating the leg or paw. Some animals, especially mothers desperate to return to their young, will even attempt to chew or twist off their trapped limbs. [...] Not only are traps cruel, they are also completely indiscriminate. Every year, dogs, cats, birds, and other animals-including endangered species-are "accidentally" crippled or killed by traps placed in public areas across the country." Upon finding a mountain lion in his trap, the man immediately notified NGPC officials. They reportedly try to tranquilize and free any mountain lion that is accidentally caught, but in this case they felt her injuries were too severe for her to survive in the wild. In her attempt to get free, she had also nearly pulled the trap's stakes out of the ground and officers felt they had to act quickly to resolve the situation. Mountain lions were eliminated from Nebraska in 1890. It took a hundred years but over the last few decades individual cats have wandered in from western states. Some believe a small breeding population is forming in the north-western part of the state. But with only a few female mountain lions in the entire state of Nebraska, the loss of this cat (and any lion for that matter) is another setback in the species' road to re-establishing a population. Choosing not to ban the use of steel-jawed leg hold traps surely isn't helping either. Does your state allow the use of these inhumane traps? Reply / Comments (Article #1341) To read the actual news story click here... 12/22/2011 Kittens Rescued in Burbank, California       On Tuesday morning residents in Burbank, California, noticed two wild kittens hiding under a parked car. Some people attempted to shoo the cats back into their natural habitat. With no luck, the county animal control officer was called, who believed they were orphaned bobcat kittens. The cats were captured and transported to the Burbank Animal Shelter, where staff determined these were actually malnourished mountain lion kittens who hadn't been fed in weeks. Weighing only five pounds, the three-month-old scrawny kittens were taken to the California Wildlife Center in Calabasas which is permitted by the California Department of Fish & Game to care for rescued mountain lion kittens. Referred to, for the time being, as "Number 1" and "Number 2," the two kittens are doing well and improving in heath. They will soon be moved to a larger wildlife facility in Paso Robles. Wildlife officials are unsure what happened to the mother lion, but thankfully the community stepped up and rescued these two orphans. The Wildlife Center has continued to receive phone calls and emails from concerned citizens who want to donate money to help these cats get the best possible care. Happy endings like this are wonderful to see, but unfortunately they are all too rare. Every year in the U.S., sport hunters orphan hundreds of mountain lion kittens, most of which are left in the woods to starve to death. While Californians banned the trophy hunting of lions in the state in 1990, over a hundred lions are still killed in California every year by poachers, road-kill, poison, and depredation. Some of these females leave behind dependent kittens whose survival must now rely on the CA Dept. of Fish and Game, wildlife rescue centers, and the compassion of concerned citizens. If orphaned mountain lion kittens turned up in your neighborhood, what would you do? Reply / Article Comments (Article #1340) To read the actual news story click here... 12/8/2011 Folsom Zoo Annual Holiday with the Animals       Join the Mountain Lion Foundation this Saturday, December 10th at the Folsom Zoo for holiday festivities. Santa will arrive at 11am to give the animals their presents. Enjoy cookies and cider as you watch all the critters tear into their gifts. Be sure to stop by the cougar enclosure to visit MLF's education booth. We will have free mountain lion photo postcards, or make a donation and get a kid's t-shirt. The Folsom Zoo is located just east of downtown Sacramento at 403 Stafford Street, Folsom CA 95630. We hope to see you there! Click here for more information. (Article #1339) To read the actual news story click here... 11/24/2011 Mother Lion Snared by Researchers Dies       One of North Dakota's rare mountain lions has died -- or perhaps a more appropriate phrase is "has been killed" -- leaving behind a five to six month old cub, and no one cares to rescue it. On November 11th, researchers with the North Dakota Game & Fish Department (NDGFD) had a trail camera photo of a mother lion with one kitten in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. On the 12th, they set a foot snare trap to capture the adult with the intention of putting a tracking collar on her for their population study. When researchers checked the trap on the 13th, they found the mother lion dead. According to NDGFD wildlife division assistant chief Jeb Williams, "It had kind of wrapped itself around a tree limb." Though obviously tangled and stressed in the harsh winter climate over night, state biologists attributed the cat's death to a possible heart parasite. Williams also said the Department will not attempt to track down the now orphaned helpless kitten, saying they "felt that the cat had a good chance of surviving on its own." MLF's outreach coordinator Amy Rodrigues also spoke with the news reporter covering the tragedy. She pointed out this kitten still needs its mother and does not stand a chance at surviving on its own. In the wild, it would still be dependent on mom for at least another full year, learning how to hunt and to avoid people. The Department is now contributing to two lion deaths in a tiny population where every single cat plays a critical role in the species' long term survival. If you also feel North Dakota's actions are irresponsible and that their research methods (specifically the use of foot snares and trapping mother lions with dependent kittens) need to be reevaluated before any more captures take place, please contact the Department to voice your concerns: Wildlife Division Chief Randy Kreil: 701 328-6330 rkreil@state.nd.us Comment on this article (Article #1337) To read the actual news story click here... 11/4/2011 Washington Kitten Rescue UPDATE       After last week's story of two cougar kittens being rescued by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife wardens and biologists, a third kitten from the litter was found. Though only two kittens were discovered initially after the mother lion was shot, WDFW officers believed there may have been a third and even fourth kitten hidden some where in the brush. Officer Bryan Murphie was determined to find the remaining orphans. He returned to the site of the original rescue and began playing sounds of cougar kittens chirping. This bird-like noise is how kittens call to each other and communicate with mom. Just as he had hoped, his calls were answered by a kitten in the brush chirping back. Officer Murphie scooped up the spotted furball and loaded him into his truck. He searched the area a while longer just in case a fourth and perhaps quieter kitten was also still out there. No luck. The third kitten has since been reunited with the first two at the Oregon Zoo. In the wild all three would stay together for over a year. Unfortunately, no facility is able (read the full story) to house all three permanently. By the end of this December, two will be transported to a zoo in Tennessee and the other will be placed at the Houston Zoo in Texas. All three are lucky to have good homes and wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for the dedicated and caring officers of the WDFW. Comments (Article #1334) To read the actual news story click here... 11/3/2011 Lion Roadkilled in Oklahoma       Earlier this month the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation received reports of a large animal roadkilled on the side of highway 81, just southwest of Oklahoma City. The animal turned out to be a 130-pound mountain lion. This male lion appeared to be between one and two years old, which is the normal time for juvenile lions to begin leaving their mother in search of a homerange. Lions are solitary and require approximately one hundred square miles each of suitable habitat. Finding open real estate often means traveling far or kicking out an established resident--which is hard for a young lion to do. Oklahoma is on the outskirts of the eastern edge of the species' current range (aside from the Florida panther subspecies). The sport hunting season on mountain lions just began in Colorado and New Mexico. Perhaps this lion's mother was killed by a hunter, or he was simply ready to set out on his own in search of a homerange. Unfortunately he didn't make it. Although the death of this lion is sad, it is a reminder that the species is fully capable of re-establishing populations in the east on its own. If only we could stop shooting them and hitting them with our cars. Protection laws and habitat connectivity are crucial for the long term survival of the America lion. Comments (Article #1333) To read the actual news story click here... 11/2/2011 WDFW Karelian Bear Dog Helps Rescue Two Kittens       This week in a happy ending to a terrible situation, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife officers rescued two cougar kittens after their mother was killed by a deer hunter. The hunter said he saw the mother cougar with her kittens and decided to shoot her anyway, unaware that this is against the law. Luckily, another hunter reported the crime and managed to save one of the kittens. WDFW officers and biologists quickly responded. Cougar dens are well hidden and due to kittens' camouflaging spots, officers knew it would be difficult to locate any remaining in the brush. That's why officers brought in Mishka, one of the department's karelian bear dogs. Mishka was able to sniff out a second kitten and now both of the brothers have been transported to the Oregon Zoo and are being well taken care of. WDFW's karelian bear dogs are used not only to find orphaned kittens, but to catch poachers, help biologists track wildlife, and assist in the hard-release of relocated bears and cougars. The dogs and their handlers are a huge hit among the public. They exemplify how a management agency should utilize non-lethal methods and protect wildlife for all the state's citizens. They are miles ahead of game agencies in other states. Yet, despite all this good press, some department officials are not in favor of the karelian bear dog program. It is fully funded by donations--not using a single penny of the department's budget--but some still feel it may be a waste of time. If rescuing orphaned kittens and relocating cougars and bears that wander into town is important to you, please take a minute to tell WDFW Director Phil Anderson how you feel. Thank him for the amazing job his staff did to save these two orphaned kittens and that you would like to see the karelain bear dog program expanded. Personnel involved included Officers Bruce Richards, Matt Jewett, Dennis Flowers, and Biologists Bryan Murphee and Rich Beausoleil. Director Phil Anderson: director@dfw.wa.gov ; (360) 902-2200 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501 Thank you for helping us ensure this outstanding program continues to help Washington's wildlife and set an example for other states to follow. Comment on this article. (Article #1332) To read the actual news story click here... 10/29/2011 Mountain Lions Wrongly Blamed for Bighorn Sheep Decline       Bighorn sheep are a prized game animal for many hunters and unfortunately the species' herds are in decline throughout the West. Wildlife managers often blame mountain lions. To alleviate any unwanted sheep mortality, many states have initiated predator removal programs (killing lions and other wildlife). After all, every bighorn killed by a lion is one less sheep for a hunter to shoot and mount on his wall. Arizona for example, tried proposing a huge lion eradication program that would create "lion-free zones" within a national wildlife refuge to protect their state's bighorns. Research however, is showing that disease actually has a larger impact on bighorns than lions. Many of these illnesses are passed on by domestic sheep, which are often permitted to graze in bighorn habitat at a very low cost to ranchers. In South Dakota, Game Fish & Parks wildlife manager John Kanta commented on the state's bighorn research, saying "We're looking specifically to see what lions are doing to the herd, but what we found was that perhaps a bigger issue is the pneumonia complex." The deadly pneumonia is caused by a bacteria called mycoplasma ovipneumoiae and is highly contagious among species of goats and sheep. Kanta added, "We assumed that in the main Black Hills herd we didn't have any of that going on. Actually, as part of our research ... we found we are losing a lot of lambs to pneumonia up here." Yet, despite this finding, South Dakota will continue its plan to wipe out nearly half of the state's mountain lion population from January 1st through March, 2012. This recreational hunting season will likely devastate South Dakota's lions all in the name of fun and the misguided belief that less lions means healthier ungulates. Comment on this article. (Article #1336) To read the actual news story click here... 10/27/2011 Florida Panther Festival this Saturday!       This Saturday's Florida Panther Festival, hosted by Collier County Parks and Recreation at North Collier Regional Park, is a "purrfect" chance for nature and panther lovers alike to learn more about the elusive big cats of Florida. Biologists will be on hand to answer questions and provide tours concerning one of the most endangered species in the world. MLF's lion-proof small livestock enclosure will be on display in the Living With Wildlife pavilion along with information about how to protect domestic animals from wild predators. A flier with blue prints of the pen will also be available for free, or you can download it here. Saturday, October 29th 10am - 4pm North Collier Regional Park 15000 Livingston Road Naples, Florida 34109 Admission is FREE, more info: http://www.floridapantherfestival.com/ (Article #1331) To read the actual news story click here... 10/20/2011 House Cat Stares Down Young Cougar       Gail Loveman of Boulder, Colorado was trying to get some work done on her home computer when she was interrupted by rustling noises behind her. Assuming it was one of her house cats getting into mischief, Gail turned around to find Zeus, her Maine Coon cat, staring down a juvenile cougar through the sliding glass door. Zeus casually sat by the door watching as his larger cousin curiously pawed the glass and bounced around. Eventually the cougar got bored and returned to his mother on the other side of the yard. Loveman snapped a series of photos during the encounter and captured some great shots of the cougar duo as they passed through her yard. She said she felt "blessed" to have the rare opportunity to see cougars up close; "I was thinking what an amazing experience this was." Having trouble playing this video? Click here to view the photo slideshow instead. Comment on this story. (Article #1329) To read the actual news story click here... 10/19/2011 Orphaned Kitten May Soon Face the Same Fate as its Family       A five-month-old mountain lion kitten is wandering all alone near Susanville, California (about a hundred miles north-west of Lake Tahoe, just outside Lassen National Forest), and it's only a matter of time before it will be killed. The kitten was one of three liter mates; the other two and their mother were all killed in recent weeks by U.S. Wildlife Services and law enforcement officers. This kitten is not capable of hunting deer and as a result, may come close to town in search of an easy meal and be killed just like the rest of its family. In August, residents near Lassen Community College reported seeing a mother lion with three kittens. The mom had killed a deer and dragged it into the shrubs to feed her growing family. She had not threatened people or tried to attack a domestic animal. She was being a good lion, eating deer in the forest. Mountain lion kittens stay with their mother for nearly two years. During this time they pick up all the skills they need to become elusive hunters, capable of avoiding people and taking down full grown deer. Unfortunately, some of the locals were fearful of their lion neighbors and the close proximity of the deer to a daycare center. The California Department of Fish & Game responded, along with Wildlife Services (the national agency that kills nuisance wildlife) who set a trap to catch the lion family. The mother and one kitten were trapped, then killed, under the pretext of "public safety." Last month, residents reported seeing the two remaining siblings wandering near town. Still needing mom to provide all their meals, the two kittens were starving and desperately trying to get by on whatever food they could find. One of the cats stumbled upon a chicken coop. That now qualified him to be killed for "depredation" -- preying on a domestic animal. California Department of Fish & Game officials authorized the responding local highway patrol officer to shoot the cat. Now there is just one kitten left. Due to being orphaned at such a young age, the odds are slim that this cat will learn to hunt deer, avoid people, and establish a territory of its own without being killed by an older lion. The more likely outcome is that it will return to town, looking for an easy meal and be shot. The town's fear of wildlife will ultimately wipe out this entire lion family. It is hard to see how the mother lion posed an immediate threat to public safety that warranted her death. But we do know that by killing her, we may very well have sealed the fate of all her kittens. Tranquilizing this last kitten and finding it a permanent home in a captive setting like a zoo or sanctuary has not completely been ruled out. Because two of the three kittens were killed, many feel the California Department of Fish & Game will ultimately choose bullets over captive placement for the reaming lion, too. Hoping that doesn't happen, a few wildlife groups have stepped up and offered to not only give the cat a permanent home, but to make the trek to Susanville and help tranquilize and transport the kitten. One such group is the Animal Rescue Team Inc. of Solvang, California. Their Director, Julia Di Sieno, says she "will do whatever it takes to save this lion." For updates on this story, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Comment on this article. (Article #1327) To read the actual news story click here... 10/13/2011 South Dakota Game Commission Disregards Advice from Experts and Raises the 2012 Hunting Quota on Mountain Lions       With a 6-2 vote, the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGF&P) Commission voted last Friday to raise the limit for the 2012 mountain lion hunting season to 70 total lions or 50 females, whichever comes first. The quotas are the highest since South Dakota resumed mountain lion hunting in 2005, and the excessively high percentage of allowable female mortalities could orphan numerous kittens and seriously disrupt the natural behavior patterns of the Black Hills lion population. Despite the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department's best efforts to anticipate the Commission's wishes with a proposed quota increase from 50 lions to 60, this is the third year in a row that the Commission has upped the Department's recommendations based on what some refer to as overwhelming public testimony. While "overwhelming" might be a little exaggerated when describing a pro-hunting bias of 28 out of 45 respondents, exceptional consideration was given to the opinion of former SDGF&P Commissioner Tim Kessler. According to Mr. Kessler, SDGF&P's big-game biologists "work hard and are smart, but there seems to be something wrong with their data." His conclusion that the Department's lion population model is under-evaluating how many lions currently reside in South Dakota's Black Hills region fly in the face of what many of the lion researchers (including MLF) that question SDGF&P's numbers believe. SDGF&P's 2010 Lion Population model estimated there were 223 lions in the Black Hills--a decrease of 10 percent from the previous year. And though much of their raw data indicates the population is likely lower than 200, even with a 223 estimate, lion biologists do not advise allowing hunters to kill even 30 lions this season.* One of the lone voices of reason at the Commission hearing was Sharon Seneczko, President of the Black Hills Mountain Lion Foundation. "The commission needs to slow down and see more data from biologists before raising the kill once again," said Ms. Seneczko. "At this point, it really goes against good science to increase it every year. Rather than letting politics dictate this, I think we need to let the science show us what needs to happen. Mountain lions are important in the eco-system and yet we have to have a balance. The population has already been shown to be in decline base on the science." Referring to the artificially-created elk population crisis created by the Commission six years ago in an effort to assist landowners, Ms. Seneczko echoed the opinion voiced by SDGF&P researchers when she disagreed with speakers who cited a SDGF&P study on mortality of elk calves and declared a need to protect the state's elk herd from lions. The study's preliminary report found mountain lions responsible for the deaths of 14 elk calves. "It is way too early in the game," she said. "This is raw data. This is not the result of a study yet." South Dakota's 2012 lion hunting season is scheduled to run from January 1st through the end of March but could end earlier if either quota is reached. * To maintain a healthy and ecologically-effective population of mountain lions in a region, human-caused mortality should not exceed 14% of the adult lion population. View or write comments on this article. (Article #1324) To read the actual news story click here... 10/12/2011 Lions Skilled At Avoiding People       Mountain lions are shy and extremely stealthy when it comes to not being seen by people. Tracking collar studies have shown that even lions living on the urban edge in close proximity to millions of people are still almost never detected by us. Radio collars and motion-activated cameras are a common way for researchers to monitor lion populations, seeing when, where, and how far the elusive cats travel. Below are a few recent videos of mountain lions in the wild, but not too far from people. This first slideshow was captured by researchers in Peru (full story). A lion cautiously walks past the camera and appears to be sensing something in the distance. It turns out, two field workers were on their way down the trail for routine maintenance on the camera. Though they had no idea there was a lion nearby, the cat was well aware of the approaching people and quickly left the area. It is further evidence of how much better a mountain lion's sense of smell and hearing are than our own, and that the cats use these abilities to avoid people whenever possible. The second video is from the California Bay Area. Since motion-activated cameras have better luck than people when it comes to spotting lions, biologists at Stanford University decided to set up some cameras at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve to learn about the local cat population. Lions have occasionally been spotted by residents in the area and over the years a few lost cats have even wandered into town. Researchers assumed they would capture plenty of footage, but it took over a year before the first clip of a lion was recorded. To date, they have captured over forty sightings and are able to identify what appears to be one adult male, an adult female, and multiple kittens living in parts of the preserve. Even in California--the state with the most mountain lions and suitable habitat--lions are spread out and continue and regulate their own population in low densities. They are rarely seen but play an irreplaceable role maintaining the wild landscapes we love. Trail cameras and researchers are giving us an inside look at how they manage to survive in shrinking habitats on the urban edge, hopefully for many, many generations to come. View or write comments on this article. (Article #1322) To read the actual news story click here... 10/11/2011 Illinois Boy Admits He Lied About Story of a Lion Attack       A 14-year old Illinois deer hunter has now recanted his story of fighting off a mountain lion attack while out hunting alone last week. According to Chris McCloud, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, "apparently, it was a fall from his tree stand - not a mountain lion - that caused his injuries." Originally the youth's story was that he was lucky to still be alive and that the faint scratches on his face and tears in his camouflaged jacket proved that he had been attacked. As usual, reports of a lion attack generated fear among the public and fervor for retribution, as demonstrated by the boy's father when he stated "Regardless of what it was -- I don't care if it's a raccoon -- regardless, it's still out there. If it's going to attack a boy that big, what's next." Unfortunately, such spurious stories of lion attacks occur on a regular basis and perpetuate the false impression among many that just the existence of a mountain lion is cause for alarm and panic. According to the California Department of Fish and Game, which is responsible for the nation's largest lion population, more than 80 percent of all lion sighting reports are false, and fewer than three percent of all verified reports represent an actual public safety threat. Illinois' last indigenous lion was reported killed in 1855. Since the year 2000, there have been three confirmed lion sightings (two along Illinois' western border (2000 and 2004), and one outside Chicago in 2008), all of which resulted in the death of the animal. View or write comments on this article. (Article #1323) To read the actual news story click here... 10/5/2011 Young Frightened Lion Safely Relocated from CU-Boulder Campus       The male lion, estimated to be about a year old and weighing over 100 pounds, sat perched in a tree for several hours while interested students gathered nearby to catch a rare glimpse of the animal many describe as the "Spirit of the Rockies." "I just thought it was a stuffed cat in the tree that somebody had made but then when I turned it actually followed my gaze," said CU-Boulder housekeeper Tahnja Fernandez, who first spotted the lion. "The lion to me looked kind of frightened," volunteered Hannah Butler, a CU-Boulder freshman. "It was up there kind of curled up in a ball." "When they get kicked out of being raised by their mother, they tend to move very far and wide, actually looking for new territory." Colorado Division of Wildlife, which is currently conducting a lion study, had planned to place a GPS collar on the young lion but decided against it because of his age. (Article #1325) To read the actual news story click here... 10/2/2011 Residents Concerned for the Fate of Southern California's Lions       Last month a young mountain lion was roadkilled while trying to cross the 405 freeway in southern California. He was just one of a handful of lions left in the Santa Monica Mountain range (see full story). The incident caught the attention of local residents and numerous news outlets. People want to know what is being done to save these lions. Without corridors to connect their habitat and underpasses to help them cross freeways, roadkill, inbreeding, and intraspecies conflict (lions killing other lions for territory) will continue to threaten their survival. Noaki Schwartz of the Associated Press investigated these issues further in her recent newspaper article, "L.A.'s urban cougars under siege." She interviewed MLF's executive director Tim Dunbar, National Park Service's Santa Monica Mountains lion researcher Jeff Sikich, and Caltrans' senior environmental planner Barbara Marquez. Unfortunately, even with all these experts involved, the future still does not look good for lions in southern California. Habitat is shrinking and the long-term survival of Santa Monica's mountain lions may now hinge on a multimillion dollar grant for underpass construction work. To make matters worse and even more depressing, not long after the roadkill incident, the last male lion in the Santa Monica Mountains with a functioning tracking collar was found dead. The seven-year-old tom had been killed and mutilated by a poacher. The illegal killing of a mountain lion in California is punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. But in this region where every single lion is crucial to the species' survival, that sentence hardly seems severe enough. Researchers know there are a few uncollared lions in the region and hope there is another male left (or one capable of crossing a major freeway to get there). Otherwise, this may very well prove to be the last generation of mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains. Anyone with information about the poaching of this lion is urged to call the anonymous tipline at 888-334-2258. View or leave comments on this article. Follow MLF on Twitter and Facebook for updates. (Article #1320) To read the actual news story click here... 9/30/2011 SB 769 Passes!       allows museums and educational facilities to display deceased lions (lions that have died of natural causes or were killed legally under current California law) to teach the public about this magnificent keystone species. On Friday, September 30th, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 769. Background Info In 1990, California voters passed Proposition 117, making the mountain lion a specially protected Senate Bill 769mammal under California law. The trophy hunting of lions was banned, and to help enforce poaching, it also became "unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof..." (Read the full text of Proposition 117). Museums and educational facilities were still allowed to take in the carcasses of lions that had been killed under legal circumstances, until recently when state officials decided this was prohibited under the law. As a result of this new interpretation, any lion that was killed for public safety, hit by a car, or even died of natural causes was tossed in the trash. What a waste. Museums, colleges, and nature centers wanted the opportunity to work with these specimens to teach students and the public about mountain lions. SB 769, coauthored by Senator Fuller and Assembly Member Huffman, allows these deceased lions to help us further understand and protect the species. SB 769 does not open the door to poaching, and it preserves both the integrity and the strength of current lion protection laws. Thank you to everyone who followed our Action Alert and contacted Governor Brown to help us pass SB 769. View or write comments on this article. (Article #1319) To read the actual news story click here... 9/28/2011 Colorado Researching Cougars on the Urban Edge       Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife--the state agency responsible for managing cougars in Colorado--annually allows residents to kill about 350 cougars for fun. Yet ironically, the department has proven to be fairly humane (compared to agencies in other states) when it comes to resolving cougar-human encounters. CDPW collars and tracks cougars that live on the urban edge. They relocate young cats that accidentally wander into town and are even conducting research on the effectiveness of hazing cougars to teach them to avoid people. The radio collar study has shown that surprisingly, numerous cougars live close to town, yet they are seldom seen. The cats are skilled at avoiding people and very rarely pose a safety threat. CDPW kills about nine cougars annually for public safety. Some of these cases may be a result of the trophy hunting season. When hunters kill adult cats, orphaned juveniles may not have all the skills they need to hunt wild prey and are more likely to wander into human-populated areas. Though CDPW appears to have mixed feelings towards cougars and conflicting policies, it is refreshing to see a state agency conducting research and reminding the public how to coexist peacefully with their wild neighbors. Now if only they would reduce the cougar sport hunting quota... View or write comments on this article. (Article #1321) To read the actual news story click here... 9/12/2011 Lions Need Help in Missouri       During the past fifteen years there have been eighteen confirmed cases of mountain lion sightings in Missouri (not necessarily 18 lions since some may be multiple sightings of the same cat). Hunters eliminated mountain lions from Missouri in 1927. However, these new confirmations and increased media coverage have caused many residents take notice. There have been no lion attacks on people or domestic animals in the state. Sightings are very rare, but that hasn't stopped locals from setting up motion-activated cameras and occasionally capturing images of the shy dispersing juvenile lions. Increased trophy hunting in western states combined with shrinking habitats may be forcing young male lions to seek new landscapes in the Midwest. Females could eventually follow, allowing Missouri to once again have a healthy breeding population of the species. Unfortunately, the Missouri Department of Conservation (the state agency responsible for managing Missouri's wildlife) decided it would be "...undesirable to have a breeding population of mountain lions in Missouri [...] therefore, the Department of Conservation will not encourage the species to reestablish itself in the state." As a result, no hunter who has shot and killed one of these rare cats in Missouri in the last fifteen years has been prosecuted. On September 5th a landowner saw a lion on his property and promptly killed it. According to a news report, as usual "Conservation officials say they found no reason to charge the landowner in this case." Biologists are doing a great job of mapping each sighting, looking at potential lion habitat corridors, and processing sighting evidence, but it may all be in vain if top officials have already decided they will not allow the species to return. As a precursor to getting mountain lions more protection in Missouri, MLF has begun informing local residents about the American lion, its biology, history in the state, and why there is no need to be afraid of or kill this shy and elusive animal. After understanding mountain lions a little better, most people tend to appreciate the big cat and will step up to protect it. Please help by sharing our Mountain Lions in Missouri Brochure and by urging Missouri residents to contact their local legislators and demand more protection for the American lion. View or write comments on this article (Article #1318) To read the actual news story click here... 9/9/2011 Mountain Lion Shot Near Boise (Idaho) Angers Residents       Idaho law enforcement officers shot and killed a mountain lion that was seen on the edge of Boise, a large city about forty miles from the Idaho-Oregon border. With the same old line, officials justified the killing by saying this dispersing juvenile cat had been seen close to people and posed a threat to public safety. Boise residents were not pleased, to say the least. Locals complained to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, some residents even called MLF for help, and most wondered why there was no attempt to relocate the lion that was obviously lost and looking for a way back to the wild. Newspapers were all over the incident as well, with many reporters highlighting the public outcry over the state's "kill" policy. Sure, residents have every right to be upset about the needless death of this particular cat... but what about the 500+ lions that will be slaughtered in Idaho between now and next July as part of the state's sport hunting season? These lions have not posed even the slightest risk to human safety (most stay far away from our houses), nor have they threatened pets or livestock. These lions will be killed purely for the fun of pulling the trigger and watching an animal die. Idaho Department of Fish & Game no longer even bothers to regulate the number of male lions that can be shot each season. Where's the public outcry for these five hundred cats? Comments (Article #1316) To read the actual news story click here... 9/8/2011 Tell Governor Brown to Pass SB 769!       Senate Bill 769 allows museums and educational facilities to display deceased lions (lions that have died of natural causes or were killed legally under current California law) to teach the public about this magnificent keystone species. See the full Action Alert for more information and details on how to contact Governor Brown and what to say. (Article #1314) To read the actual news story click here... 9/6/2011 WDFW Relocates Another Cougar       Following in the wake of their recent hard-release success, this week Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife proved yet again that their hard-working officers on the ground know how to properly manage cougars. (Though unfortunately, their commission and some political entities are still pushing for cougar eradication programs.) WDFW biologists, wardens, and their immediate supervisors understand the importance of teaching the public about this unique keystone animal. Killing cougars--although easy-- does not make people, pets, or livestock any safer; and so the Department is finding new ways to resolve human-cougar interactions. Over the past few weeks, a cougar had been seen near homes in Sudden Valley. MLF's Washington Field Rep Bob McCoy discussed the sightings with WDFW Captain Hebner, who also mentioned the cat had buried a deer nearby. It appeared the cougar was becoming comfortable around people, being seen more often and not getting spooked when approached. Captain Hebner saw no reason to kill the cat but wanted to ensure the public's safety, and he determined it would be best to relocate the cougar away from town. After setting a trap, the young female cougar was captured, sedated, tagged, and moved to a more remote area. WDFW Warden Dave Jones was on the scene, allowing neighbors to see the sedated 75 lb cat up close and answering questions before he drove her back into the wild. This was a win-win for everyone, and neighbors (as well as MLF!) applaud WDFW Region 4 personnel for taking care of both people and wildlife. Great work! View or leave comments on this article. Photo courtesy of WDFW Region 4 Weekly Report. (Article #1313) To read the actual news story click here... Next Page >>