SD Commission cancels plan to reduce mountain lion population
Faced with public opposition, state committee gives up a plan The mountain lion population target in South Dakota’s Black Hills will drop by 50 on Thursday in Lake Huron.
The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission passed 2024-2028 Mountain Lion Action Plan The lion population target is 200-300, rather than the proposed lower target of 150-250. The plan, which is re-evaluated every five years, sets population goals and outlines strategies for monitoring, controlling and managing the animals.
Lower population targets trigger hundreds of comments Support and oppose the proposal. Written comments last month were mixed, with a majority opposed and a minority in support, according to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
public opposition
Julie Anderson of Rapid City criticized the reduction proposal during the meeting, saying it would primarily benefit a small group of trophy hunters who would be able to hunt the animals in large numbers to reduce their numbers.
“The senseless cruelty to the bloodthirsty minority needs to end,” Anderson said earlier in written testimony. “The majority of the public disapproves of hunting any animal and killing apex predators for bragging rights.” Hounds or not) are an abomination to nature.
Kathleen Schmidt said she has never seen a mountain lion in the Dalton Lake area of the Black Hills where she lives, but she would love to see one.
“The increased quota makes hunters happy, we just want to know why this committee seems to be more favorable to hunters than wildlife watchers,” Schmidt said.
Some hunters also oppose lowering the population target, including Dave Goodwin of the Black Mountain Mountain Lion Foundation.
“We feel strongly that the mountain lion action plan is great because it was presented in draft form at the last committee meeting,” he said, citing the higher population goals in the earlier draft.
Paula Von Weller of Spearfish confirmed that mountain lions play a vital role as predators in the Black Hills, helping to reduce disease by preying on sick, weak animals.
“Lions provide essential ecosystem services by eliminating chronic wasting disease in deer and elk populations,” Weller said.
Support lower numbers
Patrick Weimer of Spearfish submitted a comment in support of lowering the population target.
“This could have a huge positive impact on our deer, elk, turkey and goat populations, which have declined dramatically over the past few years,” he said wrote.
Some ranch owners believe mountain lion populations will lead to increased livestock losses and increased safety risks. Leslie Thorin of Whitewood commented Last spring, her sister lost a three-week-old foal worth $10,000 to a mountain lion.
“If mountain lions become less afraid of humans and continue to feel comfortable killing livestock and wandering into cities, it will only be a matter of time before they harm others,” she wrote in support of the change. “Unfortunately, their habitat is shrinking and it’s not their fault. But it’s happening, so our conservation efforts need to adapt to it.
According to the Mountain Lion Plan, incidents of mountain lions predating livestock are rare.
“Fortunately, few landowners interact with mountain lions due to their secrecy and relatively low densities,” The plan says.
Mountain lions are native to South Dakota and were abundant in the Black Hills until bounty and unregulated hunting drastically reduced their numbers. In 1978, the species was listed as threatened. As conservation measures were implemented, they began to recover, and by 2003, breeding populations had been reestablished. The first regulated hunting season was introduced in 2005 to manage growing numbers.
Differences remain
The debate over how best to manage cougars in South Dakota is likely to continue.
Several wildlife advocacy groups, including the Mountain Lion Foundation, the Prairie Audubon Society and the Humane Society of the United States, preceded the proposal to reduce the population. warns The population target of 200-300 is too low, risks inbreeding, and threatens the long-term survival of mountain lions. The groups also urge countries to invest in non-lethal conflict prevention methods, such as livestock guard dogs, rather than hunting.
Hunters in the Black Hills Fire Protection Reserve, where most mountain lions live in South Dakota, must continue to report any lion kills within 24 hours, the plan says. The area’s annual harvest limit is 60 mountain lions, with 40 females taken if that number is reached first.
The state collects tissue samples from harvested animals to monitor population health. In other areas of the state, mountain lions are less common but are open year-round without any restrictions.
under the jurisdiction of South Dakota lawlandowners can kill a mountain lion if it poses an immediate threat to their livestock or pets, but they must report the incident to Game, Fish and Parks within 24 hours.
According to a survey mentioned in the plan, 80% of residents said it is important to them to know that mountain lions exist, regardless of whether they have seen them in the wild; 83% of residents believe that hunting is a way to manage mountain lions an acceptable way for the ethnic group.
This article was first published in south dakota searchlightis a sister site to the Nebraska Examiner, a Nebraska newsroom.
