For those that haven't seen it yet, Colorado Senate Bill 22-031 (creating a hunting ban on mountain lion, bobcats and the already protected lynx) was introduced on January 12, 2022. After strong initial blowback and opposition to the bill, only Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis out of district 17 in Boulder County, has not yet pulled her sponsorship. The bill is scheduled for hearing in the Senate Agricultural & Natural Resources Committee on February 3 at 1:30pm at the Capitol in Denver.
This bill continues the concerning trend of managing wildlife resources and policy through direct legislation, while recklessly stripping Colorado Parks & Wildlife of their authority to regulate hunting and wildlife management through a science-based decision-making process, which includes long-standing processes for public input.
Short on time?
We urge hunters, anglers, and fellow conservationists, even if you do not live in Colorado, to voice your opposition to this bill. Use Backcountry Hunters & Anglers' page for this bill to use a template form to quickly contact all of the relevant Legislators.
But I don't hunt wild cats, or hunt at all. Why should I care?
This bill would unravel Colorado's longstanding hunting traditions and undermine the proven North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, including the Scientific Wildlife Agencies that have sustainably and effectively managed these species for well over 100 years.
If this approach continues to be used to manage our wildlife, there is nothing to say that big game hunting, and yes, even fishing, couldn't be targeted with the same legislation tactics.
Mountain Lion data in Colorado
During the recent Colorado Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus meeting on January 20th, 2022, CPW Director Dan Prenzlow offered up the following interesting statistics regarding Mountain Lions and their historical management through Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
- Mountain Lion populations have been managed by CPW since 1965
- Latest scientific estimates and data put the Mountain Lion population at ~4000 adults
- Mountain Lions are not classified as a traditional predator, but as a big game animal, which means their numbers are actively managed closely and have set open seasons with statewide harvest limits and targets. To even obtain a mountain lion hunting license requires passing a special mountain lion education exam.
- At a state level, the mountain lion population is considered stable, and existing wildlife management strategies are considered a success.
- Only 13% of the state's mountain lion population is actively hunted every year.
- Over 40% of prime mountain lion habitat is already not hunted, due to urban proximity and private land closures.
- In 2020, there were 868 reported human/mountain lion incidences.
What long term impacts could this bill have?
We have not been able to determine, nor been provided, to date, what the reasoning or justification is for the introduction of this bill. Unfettered growth of wild feline populations will lead to over-predation of available wild prey, leading to significant localized prey population declines, which may already be stressed due to climate and CWD effects. Ultimately this will lead to wild cats turning to more domestic prey depredation, and ultimately an increase in human-wildlife conflict in the Wildland/Urban interface.
It is our belief that wildlife management in Colorado should be left to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the appointed Commission. We believe they will make science-based management decisions using the most accurate and up to date data available. This trend of wildlife management through Legislation needs to stop, and a show of strong opposition to this bill will help in that effort.
How you can provide your voice to oppose SB22-031
We urge hunters, anglers, and fellow conservationists, even if you do not live in Colorado, to voice your opposition to this bill by calling and emailing the following Legislators. While this is a subject many are passionate about, we encourage your messages to be concise and respectful.
Legislator emails are listed below if you prefer to copy and paste in one go:
rhonda.fields.senate@state.co.us, don.coram.senate@state.co.us, senatorsonnenberg@gmail.com, kerry.donovan.senate@state.co.us, jessie.danielson.senate@state.co.us, sonya.jaquez.lewis.senate@state.co.us, joann.ginal.senate@state.co.us, judy.amabile.house@state.co.us, monica.duran.house@gmail.com, leroy.garcia.senate@state.co.us, stephen.fenberg.senate@state.co.us, chris.holbert.senate@state.co.us, alec.garnett.house@state.co.us, adrienne.benavidez.house@state.co.us, daneya.esgar.house@state.co.us, hugh.mckean.house@state.co.us
Short on time?
We urge hunters, anglers, and fellow conservationists, even if you do not live in Colorado, to voice your opposition to this bill. Use Backcountry Hunters & Anglers' page for this bill to use a template form to quickly contact all of the relevant Legislators.
