Appeasing Oregon Hunters Is Not a Cougar Management Plan

Diana Bober “lived her life her way, and loved being in the outdoors,” said the older sister of the hiker who was purportedly killed by a #cougar while traversing through Oregon’s wilderness. As tragic as it is and as we theorize why this happened and mourn for the family, we must keep this incident in perspective.

Historically, #cougars attacking and killing humans is a virtual nonissue. If this fatality is cougar inflicted, it will be the first of its kind in Oregon’s history. Across #NorthAmerica, from 1890 through 2017, there have been 25 #cougar/#mountainlion fatalities. To put that in perspective, over the past decade an average of 27 #Americans were killed annually by lightning strikes. The knee-jerk reaction to send out a blood-lusting, #trophyhunting “mob squad” to randomly track down a cougar reeks of mismanagement and unjustified vengeance designed to appease hunting interests.

Last week, #Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials used hounds (banned by Oregon voters in 1994) to stalk and bay a female cougar, whose last breaths came while trapped and staring down from her tree perch at the rifle that killed her. Whether this female cougar was behind the attack or not, does this vengeance kill bring relief? Is there a level of satisfaction comparable to the “witch” being burned in the town square?

As humans — the “most intelligent species” — we have a higher degree of responsibility to recognize potential dangers and act responsibly, particularly when walking onto another’s property. Perhaps this hiker was on a designated path and did nothing wrong, and yet with that comes risk because this is supposed to be wildlife’s home. It’s our obligation to understand and respect that, yet far too often we pollute and pillage through development and encroachment, ranching privilege, ATV use, drilling and mining, and hunting interests that include trophy hunts and barbaric #wildlife killing contests.

We will never see a fully harmonious #planet in our lifetimes and yet, should we not strive to live a #peaceful existence and respect life outside of our own? As someone who enjoys #hiking through the serenity and beauty of #nature—and Oregon is arguably blessed with lush magnificence and tranquility above all others—I find far less joy trekking city streets than I do reaping the cathartic benefits of wilderness immersion. The only interruption that improves upon that solitude is when I am blessed to see wildlife. And that means the overall public’s wildlife, not that of Fish and Wildlife, nor its hunting constituents that are far outnumbered by those who don’t hunt, such as #birdwatchers. Wildlife agencies consisting of political appointments and Safari Club-type trophy hunting ties serve to put the con in #conservation and manage wildlife through dollars and blood.

Studies show that #apexpredators, such as the cougar, self-regulate their own population densities. By hunting these animals we disrupt their family structure, often causing chaos within our world and theirs.

Leave the cougars alone and overhaul state #wildlifemanagement.

(Written by Don Scott as a published op-ed)