The frontier mentality of kill all large predators that may pose a threat to man or his property is alive and well in Oregon. The state Fish and Wildlife Commission announced plans to expand its cougar hunt beyond the counties of Heppner, Ontario, and Jackson. So far it has paid $310,000 to professional hunters to cull the number of indigenous big cats. The state estimates up to 22 have been killed each year since the program began in 2006. Wildlife officials are recommending four more areas to hunt cougars and wants to kill 90 a year in these areas. The rationale is to increase numbers of prey species that man also hunts--elk and mule deer. A staff report said that the "administrative removals" in Jackson County, location of the small city of Medford, did not cause a decline in human conflict reports. The perception is that the population of mountain lions is increasing, characterized by the report as "more robust than at any time in recent history". The total population is estimated a 6,000. Apparently, the people of Oregon enjoy seeing big cats, but only if they are safely locked up in a zoo. Stumptown zoo's new "Predators of the Serengeti" exhibit is getting raves. But allowing a beautiful predator to exist unmolested in the wild makes too many ordinary folks plain nervous. Eventually the only domestic mountain lions to be seen will be in a zoo display next to there extinct African relatives.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Oregon Expands Puma Persecution
The frontier mentality of kill all large predators that may pose a threat to man or his property is alive and well in Oregon. The state Fish and Wildlife Commission announced plans to expand its cougar hunt beyond the counties of Heppner, Ontario, and Jackson. So far it has paid $310,000 to professional hunters to cull the number of indigenous big cats. The state estimates up to 22 have been killed each year since the program began in 2006. Wildlife officials are recommending four more areas to hunt cougars and wants to kill 90 a year in these areas. The rationale is to increase numbers of prey species that man also hunts--elk and mule deer. A staff report said that the "administrative removals" in Jackson County, location of the small city of Medford, did not cause a decline in human conflict reports. The perception is that the population of mountain lions is increasing, characterized by the report as "more robust than at any time in recent history". The total population is estimated a 6,000. Apparently, the people of Oregon enjoy seeing big cats, but only if they are safely locked up in a zoo. Stumptown zoo's new "Predators of the Serengeti" exhibit is getting raves. But allowing a beautiful predator to exist unmolested in the wild makes too many ordinary folks plain nervous. Eventually the only domestic mountain lions to be seen will be in a zoo display next to there extinct African relatives.