Mountain Lion Foundation

Cougar Clippings Look here for articles, opinions, and editorials about mountain lions and the Mountain Lion Foundation. Date Article 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... 6/24/2010 CK Cologne Attracts Cougars (no not those cougars, actual cats!)       Researchers at the Bronx Zoo have found that big cats are attracted to the smell of Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men cologne. They have been conducting research to see which scents the cats favor. The results are being used to aid field researchers tracking rare and endangered felines in the wild. By spraying the appealing cologne near motion-activated trail cameras, biologists can monitor cat populations without ever having to tranquilize or collar them. (Article #1193) To read the actual news story click here... 6/23/2010 Restaurant Serving Lion Meat       A restaurant in Arizona has begun serving African lion meat hamburgers. An even bigger surprise: the meat was purchased legally and claims to be from a humane free-range farm in Illinois. The restaurant owner thought the dish would be a good promotion for the World Cup game against South Africa. If even "Simba" isn't safe from exotic menus, cougar kabobs could easily be next. Where do we draw the line? (Article #1190) To read the actual news story click here... 6/23/2010 Bakersfield to Welcome Back Mountain Lions       The California Living Museum (CALM) has been working long and hard to complete their new mountain lion enclosure. The facility, located in Bakersfield California, expects to open the exhibit next month which will provide a home for two mountain lion kittens. CALM's very first animal was a beloved mountain lion named Whiskers. Unfortunately Whiskers died from valley fever back in the 1990s. For over a decade visitors have watched the museum adopt numerous other native wildlife species and have been asking for the return of their favorite cat. In just a few more weeks they will finally get their wish. Mountain lions are an important part of the natural ecosystem. With more than a hundred being orphaned in the American west every year by sport hunters, CALM has the opportunity to rescue two and give visitors a chance to learn about the cats up close. (Article #1200) To read the actual news story click here... 6/22/2010 Santa Monica Mountains (California) Welcomes First Litter of Kittens in Six Years!       Researchers have discovered three new kittens in California's Santa Monica Mountains. There are only a dozen or so lions left in this small patch of isolated habitat along the southern California coastline. This is only the second time researchers have found kittens in the mountain range; the first was in 2004. Usually females won't breed until they have established a comfortable home rage. Due to limited available habitat, mountain lion territories in the Santa Monica Mountains often overlap, leading to at least four lions killed (by other lions) in recent years over competition for space. Hopefully the three little ones and their mother will stay safe. (Article #1189) To read the actual news story click here... 6/18/2010 AZ Game & Fish Given Federal Permit to Capture Jaguars       Over a year ago the Arizona Game & Fish Department captured, and ultimately euthanized, the last known jaguar in the United States (recap). A lawsuit and investigation into the Department's intentions and actions quickly followed. This week the federal government granted the Arizona GFD a permit to "take" (capture, collar, kill) - whether on purpose or accidental - any jaguars that may turn up in the future. Before traps can be set, the Department must first submit its plans to the Jaguar Recovery Team for review. However, the recovery team does not yet exist, and so the AZ GFD will be reviewing its own plans. Or, as the Center for Biological Diversity points out, the fox will be guarding the henhouse! (Article #1191) To read the actual news story click here... 6/16/2010 Study Shows Protected Wolves Behave Better       A recent article about wolves by Sharon Levy is an important reminder that our top keystone species (wolves, bears, and cougars) are not being properly managed. Scientific results are twisted, and large carnivores are portrayed as dangerous eating machines. State game agencies are focused on either completely eliminating these animals from the landscape, or drastically constricting the population sizes to please ranchers. By only caring about "how many" wolves or cougars there are, management agencies overlook the significance of social structures and requirements for healthy ecologically-effective populations. Similar studies on mountain lions have shown killing adult males (through recreational trophy hunting) may actually increase conflicts between juvenile lions and people. Sport hunting is an extensive and unnatural removal of the strongest members of a wildlife community, and it seems ignorant to assume there wouldn't be any negative effects. As more and more researchers advise protecting top predators, many people are hoping accurate science will someday be incorporated into wildlife management policies. (Article #1187) To read the actual news story click here... 6/15/2010 AZ Game & Fish Kills Mountain Lion that may have Chased Man       Earlier this month a man in Prescott Arizona encountered a mountain lion, ran, and believes he was saved by diving under his truck. The lion hit its head on the towing hitch and took off (read more on the previous story). Nearly a week later, the Arizona Game & Fish Department received reports of a lion in the same area. They responded and killed an adult female mountain lion weighing around 75 pounds. They believe this could be the same animal that chased the man, and their lab will perform a necropsy on the carcass in the hope of finding out. The main worry is that female lions are either pregnant, nursing young kittens, or caring for older cubs until they are mature enough to disperse. A juvenile male would be about the same size as mom, occupying the same territory, and is more likely to have been the trouble maker. Unfortunately, Arizona GFD says it has no way to find out without first killing the lion. (Article #1185) To read the actual news story click here... 6/14/2010 Mountain Lion Activist Gets GF&P Commissioner to Resign       In April, South Dakota's Tom Huhnerkoch filed a lawsuit to get Game, Fish & Parks Commissioner Tim Kessler removed from the state commission (read previous article). Kessler had served more than twice the term limit and was annually increasing the cougar hunting quotas despite objections from both the public and scientific community. Last month, to avoid a lawsuit (and likely any more bad press), Tim Kessler resigned from the commission. While this is a "win" for South Dakota's wildlife, Governor Mike Rounds has made it clear he is looking to appoint a replacement commissioner with the same trigger-happy views as Kessler. (Article #1183) To read the actual news story click here... 6/10/2010 New Mexico Town Passes Resolution to Ban Cruel Traps       Citizens of Grant County, New Mexico, are speaking up on behalf of their wildlife. The state Department of Game & Fish currently allows people to use cruel steel-jaw leghold traps and wire snares on public lands, even in Gila National Forest, to capture wildlife. These animals are then often skinned for their "fashionable" fur. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, at least two endangered Mexican gray wolves have been caught in steel-jaw leghold traps - a clear violation of their protection under the Endangered Species Act. Even more concerning is the fact that the locations of the traps do not have to be labeled, which has many residents shocked and now concerned for their children and pets while spending time in public parks. The "No Cruel Traps on Public Lands" group is working to make public lands safer - for both people and wildlife - in New Mexico and recently in other states as well. Their story was featured in the Spring 2010 edition of the Animal Welfare Institute's newsletter. (Article #1182) To read the actual news story click here... 6/9/2010 Vancouver Lion Population Believed to be Healthy       The cougar population on Vancouver Island has dropped since the mid 1990's, but conservation officer Steve Ackles believes it may finally be beginning to rebound and stabilize. The wildlife agency uses a variety of information, including sightings reports, radio collared cats, and mortality statistics to estimate the cougar population size. Currently, they believe there are approximately 400 to 600 cougars on the island, which also means there may only be one cat per 50 to 100 square kilometers of habitat. Many states in the American West do not conduct research on the ground to figure out how many cougars they have, and somehow defaulted to assuming one cougar per 10 square miles. While density does depend on habitat quality, in even the most lush, deer-filled areas, studies show cougars are not that densely packed. Thus, these states may be drastically over estimating the number of lions they have and are allowing hunters to kill for fun. (Article #1180) To read the actual news story click here... 6/9/2010 New Mexico Declares "Cougar Smart" Day       On Saturday, June 12th, New Mexico will be celebrating its "Get Outdoors Day." As part of encouraging people to spend time outside and appreciate nature, Governor Bill Richardson also wants to teach residents to be safe in cougar country. Whether there are cougars, bears, poisonous plants or dogs off leash, being aware of one's surroundings is always a wise tip. Cougars are valued as part of the state's wildlife heritage, and in this spirit, Governor Richardson proudly signed the "Cougar Smart New Mexico Day" proclamation. On Saturday, educational signs about cougars will be posted in parks throughout the state (example). (Article #1181) To read the actual news story click here... 6/9/2010 Arizona Man Runs from Mountain Lion       On Sunday, a man from Prescott Arizona got into a scuffle with a mountain lion. Outside of his home just after dark, the man was surprised to find a lion rustling around in his bushes. Both of them appeared startled by the other, and in a panic, the man made the mistake of running. As he fled towards the house, he triggered the cat's instinct to chase. A few strides later, he realized he wasn't going to be able to out run the lion and make it back to the house, so he dove under the back of his truck. The lion apparently didn't get low enough and hit its head on the truck's towing hitch. In pain and confused, the lion ran off. Because of this negative encounter, some researchers suggest the mountain lion will avoid people in the future. The man experienced some minor cuts and bruises from sliding on the gravel. Arizona Wildlife Services was called in to kill the cat, but were unable to locate the lion with tracking hounds, and has called off the search. Young lions are always on the move and will travel hundreds of miles in a short amount of time while looking for an available home range. Encountering a lion is rare, but if a people come across a mountain lion, they should remember not to run and follow these safety tips. (Article #1184) To read the actual news story click here... 6/7/2010 "Celebrating the American Lion" Begins!       The Celebrating The American Lion campaign is an ad hoc coalition of conservation organizations and individuals joined together to celebrate and promote the American lion for a 117 day period - June 7 through September 30, 2010. Celebrating the American Lion's goal is to raise the national awareness of the plight facing lions in America today and to showcase the advocacy and public education work of the coalition's partner organizations. While all the organizations participating in the CTAL campaign can, and sometimes do, differ in their approaches to specific issues, they all share the common goal of advocating for lions in America. Please visit AmericanLion.org to learn more about participating in the celebration. (Article #1179) To read the actual news story click here... Next Page >>

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