We want to thank the editor for apologizing to proponents of Proposition 127 for failing to interview us before abruptly issuing an opinion.
We are 27 locals, including seasoned wildlife biologists, supporting Proposition 127 to protect native wild cats from unethical and unscientific killing, as expertly defined by the former Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Dan Ashe, a hunter and scientist who strongly encourages a “yes” vote on Proposition 127.
The Western Slope and the Front Range are both lion country – it’s not an urban-rural divide. We know and have coexisted with this solitary predator for more than a century.
It’s well past time to stop maligning lions and recognize their vast ecological value as keeping herds healthy from maladies because of human causes, including disrespectful trophy hunting and fur trapping.
The Durango Herald and The Journal readers have a healthy respect for wildlife, science and ranching; we worry about the future of ethical hunting when just 5% of 5.9 million citizens hunt anymore. Proposition 127 weeds out what ruins public support: unsightly commodification of wildlife and cruel, unsporting methods of killing unoffending native animals we value alive as nature prescribes.
As usual, we saw 500 unoffending mountain lions killed last year, and 47% were female, inevitably orphaning kittens. These native cats have tremendous value to ecosystems alive but were killed by trophy hunters using packs of hounds with GPS collars that hold treed cats. Outfitters chauffeur clients to the site for an easy shot, and mounted head on a wall.
Lynx are included to avoid future exploitation and commodification from fur trappers.
Last year, fur trappers killed 900 bobcats by baiting them then bludgeoning them to preserve bodies from bullets and sell their fur to foreign markets for fabrication into coats. It’s highly unethical to pocket personal cash profit from our wildlife for frivolous reasons. Killing is driven by the fur market.
No one should take pleasure in prolonging the suffering of animals, which is what happens when you terrorize and slowly choke to death any animal.
No one should guarantee a kill, which is what outfitters do when they send dogs out to tree lions or bobcats. These are not animals in conflict, and should never be targets executed for no public good or value.
Our best science has well put to bed any notion that mass slaughter of cats is managing anything. These cat populations can and do regulate themselves and we know that lion populations will stabilize, not increase, once Proposition 127 passes.
Wildlife agencies can and will continue to be professionals to manage individual lions posing any threat to humans, as has always proved best safe and effective practice.
Today, the state instead manages for the trophy hunter and fur trapper to benefit alone. Our state statute and agency define it as another form of a “wildlife-related recreational opportunity.” Colorado is not managing lions, but managing abusive methods called recreation.
It’s 2024, not 1824, and time to see a new investment in the depth and wealth of benefits lions bring, including as a key solution to chronic wasting disease, which is at epidemic proportions among our deer and elk herds. Lions selectively target aged and infected ungulates, even before signs appear.
A “yes” vote supports our future of ethical hunting. Colorado values healthy populations of both predators and prey for the benefit of the whole ecosystem and biodiversity health.
California has not trophy hunted lions for 50 years, while having more lion habitat than Colorado, and being the nation’s top agricultural producers. Its lion population is stable, not increasing.
A letter by 22 wildlife scientists instructs us that killing peaceful lions will never result in making more deer to hunt, or make us, our livestock or pets any safer than we already are, in fact, research suggests it could make conflicts worse.
Our communities can best support healthy respect for wildlife, science, and ranching – and the bright future of ethical hunting for generations to come – when we vote a resounding “yes,” together, to pass Proposition 127.
Elaine Leslie is former chief of biological resources for the National Park Service and has conducted numerous research studies on mountain lions of Colorado. She lives in Durango. Margaret Mayer is a former ecology instructor, including field studies of carnivores, and worked as a ranger for the National Park Service. She lives in Durango. Kathleen Stachowski is a former environmental educator and retired high school English teacher in Mancos.
Sarah Musil, Michelle Herringer. Leslie Batchelor, Josh Batchelor, Sandy Lane, Judy Bierma, Rick Bierma, Alison Dance, Mimi Gillard, Daryl Oshiro, Alexandra Santos, Laura Bohachevsky, Melanie Head, Ralph Head, Doug Fults, Lora Fults, Julie Singh, Reet Singh, Nancy Foster, Sonya Walker, Polly Cisneros, Donna Safford, Calida Maischoss and Lynda Larsen live in Durango and Cortez.
