Another Mountain Lion Shot

[ollie]

Would like to know more details on this one.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110906/NEWS01/110906027/-1/rss

[troutfiend1985]

At some point in time MDC needs to press charges. You cannot possibly tell me that every single one of these shootings was justifiable. What the hell? I see thus I shoot? This is a black eye to MDC that is the size of Jupiter, and something needs to be done. Either enforce the law or take it off the books to make room for the felt ban.

[junkman]

The last one I heard of around here shot had had the three S's done to it. Shoot, shovel, and shut up. But it must have had a tracking device in it for the MDC found it and dug it up. They are a pretty impressive cat to see, buy for many they are intimidating as well.

[RSBreth]

I think the MDC is probably between a rock and a hard place on these shootings - but it does seem like they are really against investigating them thoroughly.

[ollie]

I don't want to judge this person, but yea, I'm just a wee bit curious as well as to why it was shot. Pretty vague article on it with not much facts.

[Kayser]

This is getting ridiculous- the cats are coming back to their native range, but people of the same sort that originally eradicated them are still around. The MDC needs too issue a statement that the cats are coming back, and unless you are in immediate danger, then the cats are off-limits, with either a hefty fine or jail time for those that don't want to follow the rules. With so much emphasis and money spent on reintroducing extirpated species (read "ELK"), you would think they would be tickled pink to not have to spend any money on reintroducing another species.

At least educate people about the cats- all they know is that it's a big predator that "can" kill a person or livestock. But with all the guns, cars, and deer in the woods, they would rather just be left alone. Honestly, with all the sightings, shootings, and ones we haven't seen, how many attacks have there been? Oh, right- zero. People are more in danger of their gun blowing up than getting attacked by the cat they're sighted on.

Rob

[Tim Smith]

This is getting ridiculous- the cats are coming back to their native range, but people of the same sort that originally eradicated them are still around. The MDC needs too issue a statement that the cats are coming back, and unless you are in immediate danger, then the cats are off-limits, with either a hefty fine or jail time for those that don't want to follow the rules. With so much emphasis and money spent on reintroducing extirpated species (read "ELK"), you would think they would be tickled pink to not have to spend any money on reintroducing another species.

At least educate people about the cats- all they know is that it's a big predator that "can" kill a person or livestock. But with all the guns, cars, and deer in the woods, they would rather just be left alone. Honestly, with all the sightings, shootings, and ones we haven't seen, how many attacks have there been? Oh, right- zero. People are more in danger of their gun blowing up than getting attacked by the cat they're sighted on.

Rob

I saw a pair of mountain lions on Labor Day in Colorado. They were well over a quarter of a mile away walking along the edge of a stock tank. I pulled over to get a better look and even from that distance they saw me and took off for the hills...just like they do almost every single time they see a human.

I work and recreate around mountain lions (or jaguars) every week. Millions of people are out among mountain lions every day and over the last 10 years the grand total of incidents is 80. Your neighbor's dog is a much bigger threat to you than one of these big cats. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than being harmed by these animals. The level of fear directed toward these animals is completely inappropriate (although if you want to talk gizzly bears then maybe there's a conversation to be had there).

I thought outdoorsmanship was supposed to make us more courageous. Shooting a mountain lion is exactly the opposite of that.

And although I'd like to agree that education is needed, I think you can't say much to the kinds of people who are doing this. Their ears and minds are closed and they're beyond hope.

[Flysmallie]

I seriously doubt that any of these shootings was a result of being scared of the animal. Just another thing to brag about at the local coffee shop.

[ozark trout fisher]

I know plenty of people around here who would just love to shoot a mountain lion. For no reason, other than it would be cool and it would give them something to talk about for the rest of their life. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the case here, and probably it has been the case in nearly all of the recent mountain lion shootings. The MDC needs to take a stand on this now. This should be thoroughly investigated, and if the circumstances are in fact what we all suspect, then charges should be filed. These sort of "shoot everything that moves" people need to have a healthy fear of prosecution, and heavy fines and/or jail time. Otherwise this will just keep happening over and over.

I would encourage folks to email the MDC and tell them (respectfully) what they think about this. It is high time that they do something to protect mountain lions.

[Tim Smith]

I seriously doubt that any of these shootings was a result of being scared of the animal. Just another thing to brag about at the local coffee shop.

You're probably right, although the fear factor gets expressed here on the boards pretty regularly.

I'm beginning to agree with OTF and Kayser and the others that it's time to make a concerted effort to ask the state to take this seriously. It's time to start prosecuting.

Has there been any organization toward that goal yet?