A coalition of anti-hunting activists is attempting to have a ballot measure qualify for the 2024 election that would prohibit the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx in Colorado. This proposed measure intends to circumvent the authority of wildlife biologists and scientists at Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), who for decades have utilized permitted hunting as a crucial tool in Colorado’s wildlife management and conservation plans.
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Proposed initiative 91 seeks to completely ban mountain lion and bobcat hunting in the state of Colorado.
Read the full text here.
This ballot measure is nothing more than ballot box biology attempting to trick Colorado’s voters into supporting a ban that will have detrimental impacts on our wildlife, including deer and elk populations. Out-of-state interests—including Tiger King star Carole Baskin—are pushing this harmful measure in the absence of scientific research. This measure DOES NOT belong in Colorado!
As mentioned above, mountain lion and bobcat populations are both presumed to be growing according to wildlife experts. Should proposed initiative 91 pass, mountain lion population growth will become more intense, creating significantly more hostile environments for their prey species (elk, deer, moose, bighorns). Population or habitat changes for these prey species may also impact the ecosystems of smaller mammals and rodents through changes to the food chain.
Proposed Initiative 91 would establish a dangerous precedent for citizens overriding authority of CPW to make decision on wildlife management. Colorado’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) currently has authority to make these decisions. However, if this ban passes, it would put wildlife management authority in the hands of citizens as opposed to the wildlife biologists and experts at CPW. Our SWAP aligns with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which outlines the mechanism of using the sales of hunting permits and licenses to fund state parks and conservation programs.
Hunting has been tied to the identity of our region far before Colorado became a state. It has long been a source of sustenance, recreation, and spirituality for those who make Colorado their home. Today, it is one of the only ways Coloradans can truly be one with nature in an era where the world is turning largely digital and virtual. And as you’ll see below, it is the primary driver of funding for our state parks system and CPWs’ conservation programs.
CPW oversees hunting of predators, like mountain lions and bobcats, as part of wildlife population control efforts. Wildlife biologists at CPW manage species’ populations to promote ecological harmony in our wildlife areas. It’s about maintaining optimal population balance between different species to ensure a healthy co-existence.
Research shows that mountain lion and bobcat populations are stable and healthy in Colorado. According to CPW, there are 3,800-4,400 independent lions across the state, while bobcats are the most common wild cat species in North America. Research indicates that—at minimum—there are anywhere from 1.4-2.6 million bobcats across the country. According to CPW, bobcat populations are also stable and healthy in the state of Colorado. Science-based regulations in Colorado have helped to ensure that these wild cat populations are able to remain strong over time.
Consuming mountain lion and bobcat meat are common practices. In fact, Colorado state law requires hunters to prepare all edible parts of a harvested mountain lion for human consumption to ensure parts of the animal are not unnecessarily wasted.
You would have to ask the group who brought this initiative. Wild cats tend to evoke more empathy from humans since they’re a part of species that we have forged a close bond with. While the thought of any animal being killed can be disturbing to many, hunting remains a crucial component to science-based approaches to wildlife management. Nature can be ugly, and that’s why these decisions should be left to the experts.
See what wildlife experts at the CPW have to say about the hunting of these animals” Bobcat-Lion-Lynx-Management-FAQ