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Notable figures endorse proposition to ban big-cat hunting in Colorado
https://kdvr.com/news/local/notable-figures-endorse-proposition-to-ban-big-cat-hunting-in-colorado/
File photo of a cougar (Getty Images)
Notable figures endorse proposition to ban big-cat hunting in Colorado
Posted: Sep 12, 2024 / 05:09 PM MDT
Updated: Sep 13, 2024 / 09:47 AM MDT
DENVER (KDVR) — Several notable figures from Colorado and out-of-state have endorsed Proposition 127, which would ban trophy hunting of big cats like mountain lions, bobcats or lynx.
Some notable people who are in favor of the proposition include Academy Award-winning actor Robert Redford, international conservationist Jane Goodall and former Colorado politicians Tom Tancredo and Mark Udall, according to a press release from Cats Aren’t Trophies, a coalition behind the effort that includes multiple Colorado organizations.
These endorsements follow a similar one by Carole Baskin. Channel 2 was able to sit down with her for an exclusive interview about her thoughts on Prop 127.
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Robert Redford, known for his roles in “The Sting” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” is experienced in playing a cowboy and rugged man on screen. Offscreen he has taken a softer stance and is advocating to preserve life for big cats in Colorado.
Redford has ties to colorful Colorado and attended the University of Colorado Boulder in his youth. He worked locally at The Sink on University Hill. His children also attended CU Boulder, so he knows what Colorado culture and wildlife are all about.
“Preserving the natural balance of Colorado’s wilderness means respecting all its inhabitants,” Redford said. “Mountain lions and bobcats are vital to the ecosystem, and their lives should not be reduced to trophies or pelts. Banning trophy hunting and fur trapping is not just about protecting these magnificent creatures, it’s about safeguarding the integrity of our natural world for future generations.”
The world-recognized Goodall has also taken an interest in Prop 127. With decades of advocating for the conservation of animals globally, Goodall’s word will come with weight.
“These magnificent animals are sentient beings and like us can feel happy, sad, nervous and fearful. This means they can suffer mentally as well as physically. They are not out there to be shot for trophies or to make money,” Goodall said.Track Breckenridge’s fall colors from your phone with new ‘Leaf brief’ tool
Normally on opposite ends of the political spectrum, former Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo and former Democratic U.S. Rep. and U.S. Sen. Mark Udall agreed in their support of the proposition.
“Nor do I like the unsporting nature of shooting a lion or a bobcat out of a tree for a trophy or strangling a bobcat in a trap to take the fur and send it to China,” Tancredo said. “I far prefer that Colorado Parks and Wildlife handle wildlife management matters, but Coloradans have petitioned the Colorado Wildlife Commission and appealed to the General Assembly to enact these popular reforms and have been turned away. The ballot initiative should be used very sparingly, but this to me is a proper application of this constitutional option given that other channels of decision-making have been exhausted. I recommend my fellow Coloradans to join me in voting YES to combat cruelty to animals.”
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Tancredo was joined in his sentiments by Udall.
“As a Coloradan, avid outdoorsman and someone who has a proven track record of working to protect our state’s magnificent healthy landscapes and wildlife within, I am pleased to support Prop 127. This measure conserves our ecologically valuable apex feline predators, by protecting both lions and bobcats from commercial trophy hunting. The sole purpose of such hunting is to sell the heads and fur of these remarkable and inspiring animals for selfish profit. There have been no legitimate reasons to continue the commercial killing of cats and lions for many decades. Now is the time to enshrine that undeniable truth into law.”
Prop 127 received approximately 188,000 signatures gathered by 900 volunteers to appear on the ballot in November.
Patt Dorsey is the director of conservation operations for the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Western division.
“We have really healthy wildlife populations because of all the hard work and all of the expertise and all of the stuff that has gone into wildlife management in the past,” she said. “And any change can potentially change the outcome for wildlife and conservation.”
CPW said they are staying neutral on the ballot initiative.
“Colorado state agencies, like Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources, are prohibited by Colorado law from having positions/opinions or using state resources in support of or against ballot initiatives,” CPW said in a statement. “Colorado Parks and Wildlife is neutral, which means we take no position for or against Proposition 91 and will diligently implement all laws duly passed by the legislature, the Governor, or Colorado voters.”
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3rd reintroduced wolf found dead; 2nd this month
by: Heather Willard
Posted: Sep 12, 2024 / 12:53 PM MDT
Updated: Sep 12, 2024 / 05:51 PM MDT
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Editor’s note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect the tribe and timeline of the rescinded wolf reintroduction agreement.
DENVER (KDVR) — A third reintroduced gray wolf has died in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
That means only seven of the 10 reintroduced wolves are surviving, although the Copper Creek wolf pack includes four pups that were born here.CPW report details capture and release, first few months of wolf reintroduction program
CPW said the agency received a mortality signal from the wolf’s GPS collar on Sept. 9 and confirmed the wolf’s death on Sept. 10.
“While this is sad news, these types of restoration efforts consider anticipated mortalities in our planning and a degree of wolf mortality, just like for any wildlife, is expected both during restoration efforts and on an ongoing basis,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis in the agency’s announcement.
The wolf’s death will be investigated by CPW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because gray wolves are a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act. CPW did not include any indication in its Thursday announcement of what led to the wolf’s death, but previous wolf deaths were connected to injuries.
Two wolves suffered injuries before death: Reports
The first of the reintroduced gray wolf deaths was announced on April 18 in Larimer County. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service necropsy was completed, and found that the wolf died of trauma consistent with predation, and said the puncture wounds in the wolf’s skull were consistent with those “typically inflicted by a mountain lion.”
The second wolf death was announced earlier this week and occurred in captivity. That wolf, the male adult in the Copper Creek pack, was taken into captivity on Aug. 29 after repeated livestock depredations in the area caused conflict between CPW’s restoration efforts and livestock producers.
CPW reported that this wolf had several injuries to his right hind leg, which had been inflicted before capture efforts. CPW said the wolf’s body weight was also almost 30% below what he weighed when released in December. The agency said staff members administered antibiotics to address the infections, but four days after he was transported, the wolf’s collar transmitted a mortality signal.CPW working to ‘eradicate illegally introduced invasive fish’ in Gypsum Ponds
Biologists confirmed the wolf died on Tuesday, Sept. 3, and said they did not believe the wolf would have survived for long in the wild, either. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was contacted and a third party will conduct a full necropsy, according to CPW.
Reintroduction plan calls for more wolves to be released
Colorado’s wolf reintroduction plan calls for the transfer of 30 to 50 wolves over a 3-5 year time frame. CPW has released 10 so far through an agreement with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The agency had established an agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, but the original agreement was rescinded. Joseph Livingston, a CPW public information officer, said on Aug. 2 that the rescinded agreement doesn’t preclude the possibility of a future arrangement. He said the council and the Tribal Government and Natural Resources Committees had concerns regarding tribal relations but the groups will continue to address those concerns together.
“Naturally, the decision made by the Colville Business Council and the Tribal Government and Natural Resources Committees is disappointing, but we have a strong relationship with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and hope to continue these conversations in the future,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis said in early August.Colorado bear breaks into Domino’s Pizza car but leaves behind evidence
“We will continue working with other potential sources for wolves to further our efforts to restore wolves to Colorado,” Davis added at the time. “We are not contemplating halting our implementation of the plan and will continue in our efforts to restore a sustainable population of wolves to the state while avoiding and minimizing impacts to our critically important agricultural industries and rural communities.”
CPW has said previously that it will not share the active locations of the wolves, including where the Copper Creek pack is being held at this point, and will not share the location of the wolves’ re-release once the time comes.
