Victory: Wyoming bill that would allow ‘unlimited’ hunting of mountain lions is defeated
The controversial legislation aimed to replace the current science-based management of the species with unrestricted hunting including trapping.
A bill to allow the unrestricted hunting of mountain lions in Wyoming has failed to be introduced after it faced significant opposition.
House Bill 0286 (#HB0286), known as “Mountain lion hunting season-changes”, aimed to overhaul the current management of mountain lions in the state by giving significantly increased powers to hunters to kill the species.
If passed, the legislation would have dismissed any seasonal or calendar restrictions on the hunting of mountain lions, and would have removed any limit on how many cats could be killed.
Under the bill, hunters would also be granted permission to use trapping to capture mountain lions.
But in a significant victory for mountain lions and their supporters, the bill did not advance during a Committee Hearing on February 4.
The measure faced “overwhelming opposition” during the hearing, according to local news outlet WyoFile.
“In the end, we came to the conclusion that wildlife management is better left in the hands of wildlife managers,” Lee Livingston, president of the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association, told the committee.
Livingston was one of the more than 40 people who attended the hearing.
But only two people spoke in support of the proposed legislation. This included the bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Mike Schmid, who said that mountain lion killing could help protect the population of mule deer.
Many rejected this notion and Schmid was accused of “storytelling”, with critics of the bill arguing that deers are facing more significant threats than mountain lions including habitat loss.
Mountain lion supporters also told the hearing of the benefits the animals bring to ecosystems and the importance of protecting them.
“Without regulated limits or oversight, the potential for overharvesting poses a significant risk to cougar populations, disrupting ecological stability and threatening the long-term sustainability of the species in Wyoming,” said a representative of advocacy group The Cougar Fund, which was represented at the hearing.
Wildlife experts say that mountain lions, which are known by a variety of names including pumas and cougars, play a vital role in ecosystems and foster biodiversity. Studies have shown the mountain lions act as so-called “ecosystem engineers” which can feed hundreds of species.
This is because when mountain lions kill their prey, they typically only eat a third of the body and leave the rest to be fed on by scavengers, flora and fauna. As a result, mountain lions have been found to maintain relationships with up to 485 living species.
“Each study and glimpse into the secret lives of pumas reveals that their behaviors and contributions to nature are far more complex than imagined,” Dr. Mark Elbroch, director of Panthera Puma, said of recent scientific findings into the species. “Pumas contribute over a million kg of meat to ecosystems every day, improving the quality of soil and plant life, feeding hundreds of species, and supporting the health of their ecosystems and our planet’s overall web of life.”
Despite their importance, mountain lions in the US face continued threats to their population including habitat loss, road mortality and disease. Some populations also are impacted by legal hunting.
We Have A Favor To Ask…
Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.
At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.
We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.
