http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2015/09/cougar-advocates-file-appeal-wa-gov-091815.html
In response to dramatic increases in cougar hunting quotas, eight organizations and a wildlife research scientist have submitted an administrative appeal to Gov. Jay Inslee to return cougar hunting quotas to scientifically justifiable levels. The petitioners include The Humane Society of the United States, Center for Biological Diversity, Mountain Lion Foundation, Wolf Haven International, The Cougar Fund, The Lands Council, Predator Defense, Kettle Range Conservation Group and Gary Koehler, Ph.D., a former research scientist with the WA Dept. of Fish and Game.
At their April meeting, in a two-minute exchange and without prior notice to the public, members of the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to raise the cougar quota by 50 to 100 percent in areas of Washington also inhabited by wolves.
On June 30, the parties filed a formal petition asking the Commission to reverse its controversial decision. On Aug. 21, the Commission voted 7 to 1 to keep its decision in place, ignoring public outcry and a 13 year Washington-based scientific study that cost taxpayers approximately $5 million dollars. The study shows such quotas will harm cougar populations and increase mortality of cougar mothers and their dependent cougar kittens.
Washington-based cougar studies also show that killing cougars may exacerbate conflicts with people and livestock and does nothing to prevent future cougar attacks or make people safer. Furthermore, a 2010 poll of Washingtonians found that more than 90 percent of residents appreciate and value cougars.
Dan Paul, Washington state director for The HSUS, said: “Washingtonians care deeply about cougars and the role that these iconic animals play in maintaining healthy wild lands in our state. We urge Governor Inslee to reverse this misguided and arbitrary decision that is biologically unsound, has wasted millions of tax dollars and left stakeholders out of the public rulemaking process.”
In 1996, Washington voters approved I-655 with 63 percent of the statewide vote, to protect cougars and other wildlife species from inhumane and unsporting methods of trophy hunting. This expansion of cougar killing is contrary to the wishes of Washington voters for cougar protections.
Gov. Inslee has 45 days to respond to the filing.
Exposing the Big Game 
For all those (I have other choice words for them but I’ll spare you all) who believe trophy hunting benefits wildlife conservation:
Interesting article! So, Cecil was about at the end of his life anyway. I guess Dr. Palmer did him a favor–an aging lion with failing teeth who would have problems surviving in Africa. But over-the-hill hunters with failing teeth and big bank accounts can go home with trophies. (Yeah, those super-white crowns in Dr. Palmer’s mouth probably cover his own aging teeth.)
Yes, I don’t agree with the man’s culling suggestions, but it was interesting to note that he couldn’t find any wildlife, and what he did find were smaller animals. People like Palmer are taking advantage of a system that is inadequate and corrupt.
It doesn’t appear that we are much better here in America, with cougar quotas being increased with no or little notice to the public.
The fact that Inslee is a Democrat may help a little bit.
“In 1996, Washington voters approved I-655 with 63 percent of the statewide vote, to protect cougars and other wildlife species from inhumane and unsporting methods of trophy hunting. This expansion of cougar killing is contrary to the wishes of Washington voters for cougar protections. So? The majority of the people keep voting against trapping and wolf hunting too. We’ve seen who usually wins.
The West Side of Washington is liberal, and the animal-favorable votes come largely from there. The East Side of the Washington is conservative, with a lot of hunters and ranchers. End of story usually.
idaursine: Yes, it was sad to read that so many wildlife were missing in an area where they should have been flourishing. What else was missing was any real discussion of the affect of the human population on the missing animals. The author states that 15,000 people just in Bulawayo depend on the hunts for a livelihood. He also notes problems that occur when wildlife is allowed to breed without “management.” Hello! Whose population needs to be managed as much as or more than the wildlife population. There I go, being politically incorrect again.
Reblogged this on Coalition for American Wildbirds.
Of course, the story is more sordid than the press release indicates.
I-655 passed on both sides of the state, losing in only two legislative districts by narrow margins. I-655 did not need any votes from western WA to pass. It’s a common lie that I-655 was forced on eastern WA, usually used to cause division and dissension for political gain.
WDFW let the voters know who’s in charge, following I-655. They went from selling about 400-500 cougar tags annually to selling more than 60,000 tags per year after I-655 by devaluing a cougar life to about $5.00. The cougar population as determined by biologists is about 2,000 cats. (Young cats are not counted because mortality is so high for them.)
The EIS for the hunting package indicated that cougar season would remain as before, based on scientific studies as to maximum kill threshold in an area. Then, after the comment period closed, the Department put in a rule change to increase the season to eight months from seven (14% increase). There was a one week comment period between public press release and comment closure. The above conservation groups sent a letter to the Commission regarding insufficient notice to analyze the change. I attended the following Commission Meeting and spoke against the change, the lack of notice and the impact on ungulates–hunting in late winter and early spring . All ignored.
Then at the Commission meeting when the Commission was to vote on the season-length increase (while on notice there was insufficient time for public comment), Commissioner Wecker introduced the amendment to increase killing cougars where there were wolves to create social tolerance. (The Governor’s office had announced early in the year, that Wecker was leaving the Commission. She refused and is still there.) There was no public comment period on the amendment. After the Commission refused a formal a request to return the rule to what was specified in the EIS, the groups followed the rules to appeal to the Governor.
Wecker asserted that the Commission has to defend its ‘right’ to tweak hunting seasons. She may not have read the State Constitution:
“Article I Section 1 SECTION 1 POLITICAL POWER. All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established
to protect and maintain individual rights.”
Please take a few moments to call the Governor and follow with an email.
“They went from selling about 400-500 cougar tags annually to selling more than 60,000 tags per year after I-655 by devaluing a cougar life to about $5.00.” Excellent points; they did the same thing with bears.