"Experimental" South Dakota hunt to proceed despite opposition
Dear Friends, Family and Supporters of The Cougar Fund-
Yesterday, South Dakota Circuit Judge Max Gors ruled against the suit filed by the
California-based Mountain Lion Foundation to stop the cougar hunt slated to
begin Saturday, October 1.
Prior to the decision of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission to begin a hunt on this small and isolated population in July, The Cougar Fund collaborated with the grassroots Black Hills Mountain Lion Foundation, started by veterinarian Sharon Seneczko.
Working on the ground to back Dr. Sharon's efforts, The Cougar Fund presented a three-part
series on cougars at the Rapid City Civic Center to inform and educate the general public about the realities of coexisting with Puma concolor and ran a follow-up full-page ad (funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation) in the Rapid City Journal to inspire further citizen action.
In spite of strong local opposition, none of these efforts have stayed the South Dakota hunt. Just three years ago, the cougar in South Dakota was list as a state threatened species.
The very nature of cougar lends to both its allure and its misconception in the eyes of many. Secretive, elusive, living in low densities and roaming home ranges on average of 100 square miles, actual population numbers are difficult to monitor. The consequences of hunting such a small population in the Black Hills remains unknown, as well as the impacts to the genetic make-up of the population as a whole.
We at The Cougar Fund believe this lays but one more stone in the path of the mounting challenges this species faces in light of habitat fragmentation, increased human impact on their
territory, and scientifically unjustified hunting quotas across many states in the West, especially the killing of females who are either pregnant or raising dependent cubs for 75% of their lives.
The cougars in South Dakota are certainly no exception.
With gracious thanks for your ongoing support,
Cara Blessley Lowe & Tom Mangelsen
Founders, The Cougar Fund
www.cougarfund.org
Protecting America's Greatest Cat
___________________________________________________
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005509300333
Judge lets cougar hunt stand
First-ever season to begin Saturday
JARETT C. BIES
jbies@argusleader.com
September 30, 2005
On Saturday, the mountain lions of the Black Hills will need their eagle-sharp eyesight, all their cagey, elusive instincts, and their ability to remain invisible as South Dakota's first-ever mountain lion hunting season gets under way.
A judge's ruling late Thursday, after an all-day ourt hearing, clears the way for hunting to begin Saturday as scheduled.
Circuit Judge Max Gors said the Mountain Lion Foundation and other opponents who had sued to stop the season failed to show that hunting will cause irreparable harm to the Black Hills lion population.
The opponents argued that there was insufficient data to justify a lion season - warning that
hunting could result in extinction of the big cats in South Dakota.
As the largest - and often most misunderstood - predator in the state, the Black
Hills mountain lion will now go from stalker to stalked.
The season, which was approved earlier this year, has created more controversy than
excitement in the state. Wednesday, the Mountain Lion Foundation, a national conservation agency, filed its lawsuit to stop the season before it began.
"The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department commission does not have enough information to justify a hunt," said Lynn Sadler, executive director of the Mountain Lion Foundation.
But George Vandel, assistant wildlife director for the department, said: "The last thing that's going to happen under my watch ... is to do things that cause mountain lions to leave the
state.
"If it appears like we're harming the mountain lion population, we'll make adjustments," Vandel said.
'Domesticated' cats
Around the state, opinions vary on the need for a hunt of these big meat-eating
creatures.
In the Black Hills, many see the need for a season on mountain lions - also called pumas or cougars - as a necessity because more of the big cats are wandering into towns and cities. A mountain lion was shot and killed Sept. 21 in Rapid City. Reports of sightings have become more common, and for many, this shows the cat population has reached capacity.
For ranchers, pet owners and others who keep livestock both in the Black Hills and in western
South Dakota, the threat is real. Reports of mountain lions spooking cattle and horses are common.
"I'm all for hunting them," said Jacob Sharp of rural Interior. Sharp said the predators prey on colts and horses. "We have one that hangs out close by, probably behind the cabin on our property. You can tell when they're around - the deer disappear and the horses come up to the
corral."
Deer are the primary prey of mountain lions. The animals use their sharp hunting skills to ambush mule and white-tail deer.
While Sharp, who operates the Badlands Ranch and Resort, has noticed "signs" of the mountain lion, he said actually spotting one is rare. "The ones out here on the prairie are wild, but it seems like the ones in the Hills are becoming 'domesticated' and coming into town more," he said. "There's getting to be too many."
Sharp said friends and neighbors have reported seeing more mountain lions. He's heard reports from Pine Ridge, Kyle and Wanblee from folks who have spotted them.
Jerry Vander Esch, an employee at Gary's Gun Shop in Sioux Falls, said there's not much buzz about this new season. He said since most hunters already have firearms for deer or other big game, there's no real need to purchase another rifle for mountain lions.
State added to list
South Dakota joins a group of western states that already permit mountain lion hunting. Other than California, it's a legal season in most of the western United States. Unlike most of the other states that allow this sort of hunting, South Dakota hunters will be hamstrung: no dogs can be used to hunt mountain lions in the state.
Vandel said so far, 1,589 residents have obtained licenses for cougar hunting. Of those, 1,467 are for hunting only in the Black Hills; 122 of them went to landowners in other parts of the
state.
The season, which continues through Dec. 15, will close once 25 mountain lions are harvested or when five breeding-age females are taken. The open season is for the Black Hills only, though landowners throughout the state can take one mountain lion on their property during the season. The cost for a permit is $15 for residents hunting in the Black Hills and $10 for
landowners.
Vander Esch said he purchased a mountain lion permit because he's planning to hunt elk in the Black Hills. He will take a mountain lion if he comes across one while hunting elk.
Tastes like pork
Across the western border of South Dakota, Wyoming's mountain lion hunting season is under
way, and Wyoming Game and Fish Department information officer Jeff Obrecht said hunters such as Vander Esch will need a lot of luck.
"It's extremely rare that someone hunting deer or something else will take a lion," Obrecht said. "It's like a needle in a haystack."
Most Wyoming mountain lion hunters take their quarry after snow falls in early winter, Obrecht said. "Most are taken for rugs or mounts, but they are good eating, with a white, porklike
meat," he said. "The thrill of the hunt is in the chase, but the kill is often anti-climactic."
When using hounds, hunters will search for a mountain lion trail and then release their dogs. The pack will chase the animal until it is trapped, usually in a tree or rocky area without exit. Many hunters opt to harvest the big cats with large-caliber handguns at close range.
Obrecht said last year, 181 mountain lions were harvested in Wyoming. Overall, it's a
small portion of big-game hunting in Wyoming: More than 21,000 elk and almost 37,000 mule deer were harvested there in 2004.
"Large carnivores create lots of passion on both sides of the fence," Obrecht said. "But I'd be
surprised, with the limits described, that hunters will have much impact on the population in South Dakota."
Sadler fears the hunt, even with its imposed limits, could wipe out the entire South Dakota population. "Some people feel if they see them more often, there must be more lions," she said. "But it's equally likely, if not more likely, that the population is stressed. They make their
lives staying out of sight."
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Reach reporter Jarett C. Bies at 977-3925.
Yesterday, South Dakota Circuit Judge Max Gors ruled against the suit filed by the
California-based Mountain Lion Foundation to stop the cougar hunt slated to
begin Saturday, October 1.
Prior to the decision of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission to begin a hunt on this small and isolated population in July, The Cougar Fund collaborated with the grassroots Black Hills Mountain Lion Foundation, started by veterinarian Sharon Seneczko.
Working on the ground to back Dr. Sharon's efforts, The Cougar Fund presented a three-part
series on cougars at the Rapid City Civic Center to inform and educate the general public about the realities of coexisting with Puma concolor and ran a follow-up full-page ad (funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation) in the Rapid City Journal to inspire further citizen action.
In spite of strong local opposition, none of these efforts have stayed the South Dakota hunt. Just three years ago, the cougar in South Dakota was list as a state threatened species.
The very nature of cougar lends to both its allure and its misconception in the eyes of many. Secretive, elusive, living in low densities and roaming home ranges on average of 100 square miles, actual population numbers are difficult to monitor. The consequences of hunting such a small population in the Black Hills remains unknown, as well as the impacts to the genetic make-up of the population as a whole.
We at The Cougar Fund believe this lays but one more stone in the path of the mounting challenges this species faces in light of habitat fragmentation, increased human impact on their
territory, and scientifically unjustified hunting quotas across many states in the West, especially the killing of females who are either pregnant or raising dependent cubs for 75% of their lives.
The cougars in South Dakota are certainly no exception.
With gracious thanks for your ongoing support,
Cara Blessley Lowe & Tom Mangelsen
Founders, The Cougar Fund
www.cougarfund.org
Protecting America's Greatest Cat
___________________________________________________
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005509300333
Judge lets cougar hunt stand
First-ever season to begin Saturday
JARETT C. BIES
jbies@argusleader.com
September 30, 2005
On Saturday, the mountain lions of the Black Hills will need their eagle-sharp eyesight, all their cagey, elusive instincts, and their ability to remain invisible as South Dakota's first-ever mountain lion hunting season gets under way.
A judge's ruling late Thursday, after an all-day ourt hearing, clears the way for hunting to begin Saturday as scheduled.
Circuit Judge Max Gors said the Mountain Lion Foundation and other opponents who had sued to stop the season failed to show that hunting will cause irreparable harm to the Black Hills lion population.
The opponents argued that there was insufficient data to justify a lion season - warning that
hunting could result in extinction of the big cats in South Dakota.
As the largest - and often most misunderstood - predator in the state, the Black
Hills mountain lion will now go from stalker to stalked.
The season, which was approved earlier this year, has created more controversy than
excitement in the state. Wednesday, the Mountain Lion Foundation, a national conservation agency, filed its lawsuit to stop the season before it began.
"The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department commission does not have enough information to justify a hunt," said Lynn Sadler, executive director of the Mountain Lion Foundation.
But George Vandel, assistant wildlife director for the department, said: "The last thing that's going to happen under my watch ... is to do things that cause mountain lions to leave the
state.
"If it appears like we're harming the mountain lion population, we'll make adjustments," Vandel said.
'Domesticated' cats
Around the state, opinions vary on the need for a hunt of these big meat-eating
creatures.
In the Black Hills, many see the need for a season on mountain lions - also called pumas or cougars - as a necessity because more of the big cats are wandering into towns and cities. A mountain lion was shot and killed Sept. 21 in Rapid City. Reports of sightings have become more common, and for many, this shows the cat population has reached capacity.
For ranchers, pet owners and others who keep livestock both in the Black Hills and in western
South Dakota, the threat is real. Reports of mountain lions spooking cattle and horses are common.
"I'm all for hunting them," said Jacob Sharp of rural Interior. Sharp said the predators prey on colts and horses. "We have one that hangs out close by, probably behind the cabin on our property. You can tell when they're around - the deer disappear and the horses come up to the
corral."
Deer are the primary prey of mountain lions. The animals use their sharp hunting skills to ambush mule and white-tail deer.
While Sharp, who operates the Badlands Ranch and Resort, has noticed "signs" of the mountain lion, he said actually spotting one is rare. "The ones out here on the prairie are wild, but it seems like the ones in the Hills are becoming 'domesticated' and coming into town more," he said. "There's getting to be too many."
Sharp said friends and neighbors have reported seeing more mountain lions. He's heard reports from Pine Ridge, Kyle and Wanblee from folks who have spotted them.
Jerry Vander Esch, an employee at Gary's Gun Shop in Sioux Falls, said there's not much buzz about this new season. He said since most hunters already have firearms for deer or other big game, there's no real need to purchase another rifle for mountain lions.
State added to list
South Dakota joins a group of western states that already permit mountain lion hunting. Other than California, it's a legal season in most of the western United States. Unlike most of the other states that allow this sort of hunting, South Dakota hunters will be hamstrung: no dogs can be used to hunt mountain lions in the state.
Vandel said so far, 1,589 residents have obtained licenses for cougar hunting. Of those, 1,467 are for hunting only in the Black Hills; 122 of them went to landowners in other parts of the
state.
The season, which continues through Dec. 15, will close once 25 mountain lions are harvested or when five breeding-age females are taken. The open season is for the Black Hills only, though landowners throughout the state can take one mountain lion on their property during the season. The cost for a permit is $15 for residents hunting in the Black Hills and $10 for
landowners.
Vander Esch said he purchased a mountain lion permit because he's planning to hunt elk in the Black Hills. He will take a mountain lion if he comes across one while hunting elk.
Tastes like pork
Across the western border of South Dakota, Wyoming's mountain lion hunting season is under
way, and Wyoming Game and Fish Department information officer Jeff Obrecht said hunters such as Vander Esch will need a lot of luck.
"It's extremely rare that someone hunting deer or something else will take a lion," Obrecht said. "It's like a needle in a haystack."
Most Wyoming mountain lion hunters take their quarry after snow falls in early winter, Obrecht said. "Most are taken for rugs or mounts, but they are good eating, with a white, porklike
meat," he said. "The thrill of the hunt is in the chase, but the kill is often anti-climactic."
When using hounds, hunters will search for a mountain lion trail and then release their dogs. The pack will chase the animal until it is trapped, usually in a tree or rocky area without exit. Many hunters opt to harvest the big cats with large-caliber handguns at close range.
Obrecht said last year, 181 mountain lions were harvested in Wyoming. Overall, it's a
small portion of big-game hunting in Wyoming: More than 21,000 elk and almost 37,000 mule deer were harvested there in 2004.
"Large carnivores create lots of passion on both sides of the fence," Obrecht said. "But I'd be
surprised, with the limits described, that hunters will have much impact on the population in South Dakota."
Sadler fears the hunt, even with its imposed limits, could wipe out the entire South Dakota population. "Some people feel if they see them more often, there must be more lions," she said. "But it's equally likely, if not more likely, that the population is stressed. They make their
lives staying out of sight."
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Reach reporter Jarett C. Bies at 977-3925.
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