News Archives - The Cougar Fund

A Victory for Lions. The Cougar Fund’s long serving Directors help defeat Wyoming’s notorious cougar bill

February 16, 2025/in Cougar News, News, Blog, Policy, Policy Comments, Wyoming legislation, WYOMING

Spirit and her cubs taught us to be passionate and compassionate about protecting cougars, and to tell their story of mystery and vulnerability, especially mothers and their kittens.

In Cheyenne Wyoming, on a chilly late Saturday afternoon, January 26th 2025, one of the most devastating wildlife bills ever to reach the floor of the State Legislature was introduced.

HB0286, if passed, would have heralded a new standard of legislative overreach in a state rich with wildlands and the wildlife that lives there.

The Cougar Fund Board of Directors, staff, and fellow professionals leapt into action to start a campaign to bring awareness to this grave injustice.

HB0286 proposed the following changes and threatened the overall survival of mountain lions in Wyoming.

It all came from the unsubstantiated notion that it would bring back mule deer.

If passed, there would be no hunting zones and geographic boundaries for cougars.

It would remove statewide and local mortality limits, and would allow unrestricted killing of cougars.
It would authorize cougar trapping and snaring, practices that are neither selective nor humane.
It was slated to cut off an existing revenue stream from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department and pass on the ability to freely hunt cougars with other game licenses, such as antelope, deer, or elk.
A specific and regulated cougar license would no longer be needed!

Experts used targeted social media outreach to help spread information: the calm and experienced presence in the Capitol of Director Corey Rutledge provided the human factor in talking to politicians; while our working group partners provided insight and support.

Press releases were sent out and Corey was the absolute showstopper point of contact for interviews and follow up.

After HB0286 was introduced to the floor of the House of Representatives, everyone had to wait on pins and needles for what might come next. A long week went by, we kept our supporters and those Wyoming residents who were anxious to talk to their representatives in the loop with every day that passed.

Finally, the bill was assigned to a committee, but would it be heard? would it remain in the chairman’s drawer and time out? or would it be discussed and opposed, or pass and go back to the chamber for a vote? It was hard to tell.

February 4th. 2025: The day came, the Travel, Recreation, and Wildlife Committee hearing was scheduled and commenced.

(February 4th reminded us that it is just ten days short of twenty six years, when on St. Valentine’s Day 1999 the idea for The Cougar Fund was born. A similar awakening to the plight of cougars took place on the National Elk Refuge, just outside the town of Jackson Wyoming. Co-Founders Cara Blessley-Lowe and Thomas D Mangelsen were privileged to see into the life of Spirit and they realized the terrible and unacceptable risk that hunting posed to mothers and kittens. They became passionate advocates for cougars)

Director Cara was already signed up for her ZOOM testimony and Corey was in a front row seat to be the voice of The Cougar Fund in person.

State Capitol. Cheyenne, Wyoming

Rarely do so many diverse stake-holders share one voice either for or against something. This was one of those rare times. Advocates with the same compassionate values as The Cougar Fund spoke out. Hunters, houndsmen, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and mule deer specific groups testified. The resistance to HB0286 was united. the Chairman was efficient, he kept testimony brief and on point.

HB0286 died for want of a motion to even be considered.

The bill also failed for reasons other than the diversity of opposition. The Cougar Fund believes that HB0286 failed because a story could be told. A Story about the lives, the hardships and the value of lions in the wild, and why they need protection. Stories come so easily to our founders, either in beautifully crafted words or in breathtaking images. Today advocacy has the advantage of being able to communicate rapidly through technology which can mobilize people quickly and effectively. They can respond just as fast. Our hearts are full of thanks that they did.

This is a success story, that many groups are sharing in. Thank you for supporting The Cougar Fund’s efforts. Hard work is always done by more people than you can imagine. Please always remember that we could do none of it without you.

Cara Blessley Lowe

Please help us continue our work!

September 6, 2024/in News, Uncategorized, Cougar News, Blog, Policy Comments

We don’t ask for your help very often and that is because there is so much to do to educate, advocate, and support sound science in our mission to ‘Protect Americas’ Greatest Cat’

Every summer we give many programs and have a presence at community events. To date we have brought our message, in person, to more than 2500 people. 1000 of those have been children; in the local school system; at summer camps; from the Fort Washkie Reservation; and from the area surrounding the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho.

Here are three short stories to help you understand how much we impact the public in their attitudes towards mountain lions, This leads to enthusiasm and willingness to stand up and be counted when it comes to participating in policy discussions with decision makers.

At the end of April, we were invited by the City of Pocatello to participate in their Environmental Fair. We had never been asked before and this opportunity came out of the blue. Pocatello is quite a trek-nearly 200 miles each way-and the weather was grim…overcast mixed with showers, heavy rain and very cool temperatures. We are nothing if not indomitable!

When we arrived and set up our booth we were told there had been a mountain lion in the local city park a few days earlier.

Perfect timing for our message to be undeniably relevant in everyday lives.

That day, more than 1000 people came out in the pouring rain (yes, it got worse the closer we got to our destination) and we were thrilled that for more than 6 hours our display continuously hosted folk interested in and receptive to the information we had about cougars. Everyone was incredibly interested in the natural history, behavior, ecological benefits, and social structure of mountain lions. They came to us with questions and the answers left them happier and more confident about living safely near lion country.

We provided our fun bear or cougar mask craft for children, and as they happily cut around the template and added the pipe cleaner whiskers, we were able to chat at length with their parents and other adults. We went through 300 masks and the accompanying friends and family members increased our outreach to more than 800. Such an amazing chance to turn local news into sound information and advocacy for our magnificent wild cats.

Three hundred more people came to our display in Kemmerer, Wyoming in September They were all so very excited to hear our message

This year has seen a possibility that hasn’t happened for nearly 30 years when trophy hunting of mountain lions was banned in California. Partner advocates in Colorado were able to secure enough signatures for a referendum that would ban trophy hunting there. We will let Cougar Fund co-founder Tom Mangelsen tell this story.

“There are numerous reasons not to “trophy” hunt mountain lions or trap bobcats. Reality is, science shows there is not one reason to kill cougars for fun in order to manage mountain lions.

So, why do we as citizens allow this to happen? A beautiful cat, a public resource, killed mostly on public lands for fun, one person with one bullet, stealing the maybe once in a lifetime opportunity for others to enjoy seeing a cougar in the wild.

In most states where cougar hunting occurs it’s nothing more than “a good ole boy” sport supported by “good ole boy” Game and Fish Departments still operating in the Dark Ages of Game Management. Some, as in Wyoming, simply state that “we are mandated to provide hunting opportunities for our constituents.” Yes, killing for fun, it’s not hunting, it’s not sport, it’s not putting food on the family table.

The killing of cougars in Colorado results in 50% of the deaths being females and seventy five percent of those will be either pregnant or have kittens that will be dependent on their mothers for up to two years. When the mother is slaughtered for sport, the vast majority of those kittens will die from starvation in a den waiting for her to come home.

We can no longer condone this cruel and barbaric behavior, we can do better, do the humane thing and please support the Cats Initiative!”

We spend a lot of time tirelessly on the road going to policy meetings, offering well researched and substantive public comments.

The advocacy happening in Colorado will be the ultimate ‘public comment’-available at the ballot box and subsequently written into law, a compassionate law of conservation.

And lastly, we support sound science. Many researchers avidly seek answers to the ‘next question’ that is the foundation of good science. These questions help to measure the ecological contributions of large carnivores. What occurs to the detriment of the landscape and its inhabitants when it is contaminated by thoughtless anthropogenic interference? This includes increasing the human footprint exponentially and without holistic planning. What effect do myriad activities, from building walls to trophy hunting, have on our native wildlife? We are currently in discussion to help an extremely valuable area of research, and will hopefully be able to tell you more very soon.

We cannot stress enough how much we need your help through your gift to The Cougar Fund. When you to extend your heartfelt support of us, you give us your confidence in what we do and your willingness to keep us going inspires us every day. Please don’t hesitate.

We need your help with our education programming and more. Supplies are expensive and we will be in classrooms from now until the end of the school year. One of the biggest investments we have made is the continuation of our remote camera initiative. Media, especially video, is the language of today. We have embraced that and the results have been excellent. Most people, especially those visiting locally will not see a mountain lion, but through technology we are able to bring mountain lions, wolves, and bears and all other animals to the people, without harming, capturing, or otherwise interfering with their Wild Lives!

Our videos show that animals are indeed co-thriving, existing together in a shared habitat.

The animals are living their best lives, by giving here https://thecougarfund.nationbuilder.com/ you will help The Cougar Fund help those best lives to keep going.

Your gift can be given at https://thecougarfund.nationbuilder.com/ Please don’t wait, we can’t and the mountain lions certainly can’t.

Killing a predatory animal for humans to have the opportunity to kill its prey.

June 29, 2024/in Uncategorized, News, Policy

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/06/28/gun-club-gets-ok-to-shoot-pelicans-eating-all-the-prized-trout-in-wyoming-lake/

No, we are not talking about terrestrial large carnivores. This is about the majestic American White Pelican. The pelican is federal protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 . Thats right! More than a century ago when utilitarianism was rampant, Congress recognized the needs of migrating birds and reined in the diabolical clear cutting of many natives species. And yes, we digress a little by posting about pelicans, but it is a fact that pelicans are another example of the contributions of a large predatory species that serve the ecological needs of maintaining a healthy landscape.

Ironically, their feeding behavior is similar to the teamwork of wolves.

They also forage cooperatively: groups of birds dip their bills and flap their wings to drive fish toward shore, corralling prey for highly efficient, synchronized, bill-dipping feasts Source

The notion that killing one species to protect another is endemic and pervasive, and has recently been challenged by sound scientific research. In this case, it is not even the protection of prey, but simply for the satisfaction of humans.to fish in a private water resource

Here is just a little information about what those ecological services are.

They used to be shot for sport or because it was thought that they competed with humans for fish—though they are now understood to take fish of little commercial value. Source
As top predators in aquatic ecosystems, American White Pelicans help to regulate fish populations, contributing to a balanced and healthy ecosystem. The presence of American White Pelicans can serve as an indicator of water quality and ecosystem health, as these birds rely on clean water and abundant fish populations for their survival.
American White Pelicans play a role in nutrient cycling within their habitats, as their guano (droppings) provides a rich source of nutrients that support plant growth and the overall productivity of the ecosystem. By attracting birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, American White Pelicans can contribute to local economies through ecotourism, fostering an appreciation for the natural world and promoting conservation efforts.
American White Pelicans can also serve as a flagship species for conservation, drawing public attention to the need for habitat protection and restoration efforts in aquatic ecosystems. Source

Predation is a fact of life in nature. It is vital to the health of prey species and the environment. We must work hard to nullify the old cultural values that seek to slaughter predators whether they are fur, feathers, aquatic species, or invertebrates.

https://wyofile.com/steeper-penalties-were-available.../...

June 29, 2024/in News, Policy, Links

In this is sad and disturbing revelation we discover that the Wyoming Game and Fish Department did have the option of taking wolf abuser Cody Roberts to court. This undermines all trust in the department. One observation that The Cougar Fund has is that the questions that led to this admission came from the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association Executive Vice-President. Agricultural interests are at the forefront of lack of respect for predators and the resulting unbelievably cruel practices they use to eliminate them. Perhaps these questions by Jim Magagna indicate a strategic liaison between WGFD and the Stockgrowers to show that there are in fact greater consequences, and that Legislative changes to the statutes that allow and even promote such inhumane treatment of sentient animals are not necessary.
https://wyofile.com/steeper-penalties-were-available…/…

Thomas D. Mangelsen

Respected scientists identify that the historic value of predators has largely been ignored

June 19, 2024/in News, Research, Uncategorized

The News

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19062024/missing-apex-predators-often-neglected-in-ecological-research/

An article released today by https://insideclimatenews.org identifies a study of long term trends in wildlife ecology that seem to obviate the historical contributions of large carnivores in research of other species. This could not be further from the truth.

The Study

A shifting ecological baseline after wolf extirpation

In this peer reviewed, published analysis led by Drs. Ripple, Wolf, and Beschta scientists track how the presence of wolves and other large carnivores has not been viewed from the perspective of their historical ranges and ecological impacts.

This is a fascinating study of years of prior scientific papers and provides insight into tangible holes in that research. By excluding the effects of and changes to the environment that keystone species make, it has led to studies of other species as segregated instead of part of the overarching ecology of an ecosystem.

“A shifting ecological baseline after wolf extirpation Studying an altered ecosystem without recognizing how or why the system has changed over time because of the absence of a large predator could have serious implications for wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration, like diagnosing a sick patient without a baseline health exam.”

Seeing the results

A view of riparian vegetation along a portion of Yellowstone’s Blacktail Deer Creek in May 1991. Suppressed heights of willows and alders along the valley illustrate the effects of decades of intensive elk herbivory that occurred following the loss of wolves. Stream bank erosion is also occurring along the outside of each meander bend. Credit: D. Garfield.

A repeat of the 1991 photo is taken in September 2023. Extensive recovery of riparian willows and alders have occurred following the return of wolves—stabilizing stream banks, shading the stream with canopy cover, and providing improved habitats for terrestrial and aquatic biota. Credit: R. Beschta

Photos courtesy of Thomas D Mangelsen unless otherwise credited.

A cougar and her three kittens. Copyright: Thomas D. Mangelsen.

NATIONAL COUGAR DAY, JUNE 12TH 2024

June 12, 2024/in Cougar News, News, Blog

Cougar, puma, catamount, panther – all names for one of the most mystical animals of the Americas, the mountain lion. The allure of this cat has captivated the imagination of field biologists, hunters, animal lovers, and wildlife watchers all over the world. Once the largest ranging mammal in the Western Hemisphere, mountain lion sightings today are rare as these animals struggle to maintain a wild existence as human development encroaches into their habitat at an ever increasing rate.

In the winter of 1999, an event occurred that would cast light on the collision of two worlds. The arrival and six-week stay of a mountain lion and her three cubs on the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming would forevermore change how these elusive predators are perceived by those who hunt them and those who argue for their protection. This spectacle marked the first time in history a mountain lion has been documented in the wild for an extended period of time.

Wildlife watchers, photographers, and filmmakers came from around the world to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event. The weekends were particularly popular. Every day, there were around 20 to 30 or 40 people at that one spot taking photographs. Thousands of people, possibly between 10,000 to 15,000 people that winter came out to see the mountain lions.

But less than three months later, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department would more than double the quota of mountain lions to be killed in the area, a decision that shocked the residents of the town of Jackson, pleasing only a few.

The Cougar Fund was founded in 2001 by writer Cara Blessley Lowe and wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen after their firsthand experience observing the mother lion and her three cubs on the National Elk Refuge. Frequent collaborators, Blessley Lowe and Mangelsen produced a book titled “Spirit of the Rockies: The Mountain Lions of Jackson Hole” and a subsequent short film documentary on the historical event.

These two pieces went on to garner major national media attention, broadly publicizing the principal issues facing cougars at the dawn of the 21st century: Lack of scientific data on cougar populations within state game agencies, inadequate regulations to protect female cougars and their dependent young, and a dwindling natural habitat further fragmented by human development.

The Cougar Fund was founded to help ensure the conservation and protection of cougars throughout their range in the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. Scientific research has shown that healthy cougar populations help to maintain healthy landscapes and biodiversity which humans depend on for clan water to drink, clean air to breathe, fertile soil in which to grow our food, for medicines derived from plants and other species, for personal and cultural inspiration, for physical and spiritual renewal and more. Our well-being and prosperity is inextricably linked to the health of natural landscapes, the myriad species that live in them and the intricate web of interdependent relationships that binds it all together. Conserving healthy and well-connected cougar populations not only helps us fulfill our moral obligation to protect nature but also yields immeasurable benefits to humans.

Although viable cougar populations continue to exist throughout much of the western United States, decades of suppression through predator control and sport hunting are likely keeping them at levels at which they no longer play their crucial ecological roles. The Cougar Fund works to conserve cougar populations so they can continue to play their vital ecological role and therefore provide innumerable benefits to human society.

The mission of the Cougar Fund is to protect the cougar and other carnivores throughout the Americas by educating children and adults on their value, and by monitoring state policies and advocating for management based on sound science, to assure a lasting place for these creatures.

Thanks to Thomas D Mangelsen for his amazing photos and his continued passion and dedication to the protection of cougars, wolves, and bears
To learn more and to support the work of the Cougar Fund go to https://thecougarfund.nationbuilder.com/

Wild Nature Media

The importance of Mountain Lions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

June 6, 2024/in Uncategorized, Cougar News, News, Blog, Links, Wyoming news, WYOMING, IDAHO

This article https://buckrail.com/why-coexistence-with-mountain-lions-matters/ is a journalistic exploration into the VALUE of mountain lions on the landscape. The article also identifies how we can reduce our negative impact on them. To co-thrive with lions, bears, and wolves, we must change the interpretation of their presence from public distrust and lack of knowledge to appreciation and respect.

Many apex predators are also keystone species, they are not pests and vermin. They are animals with a key role to play in sustaining the environment for the benefit of all inhabitants.

The big picture for The Cougar fund is for humanity to segue from an attitude of utilitarianism to one of a duty of care for the animals themselves. Utilitarianism comes from the perspective of wildlife being present for human ‘use’. They are then managed for sport or for the over exaggerated threat to livestock growing, or even to reduce competition for prey resources that humans view as a ‘right’.

Predation is hunting and hunting is predation. These are not two different concepts. The ecological contributions made by puma con color far outweigh the attitude of ‘ownership’ of wildlife that is prevalent in states’ policy making.

Credit for photo, Wild Nature Media with thanks to David Neils.

SMNRA

What does it take to really connect with Nature?

March 8, 2023/in Uncategorized, News, Blog, California

For people to care, especially about things they may rarely see, there must first be a ‘connection’, a bond, an indelible knowing that our mutual existences depend very much on the cognitive decision making of the human animal.

P22 shone a light on exactly how habitat loss impacts a single animal, yet represents every animal that will face the repercussions of unchecked encroachment, fragmentation, and the effects of anthropogenically accelerated events such as fire and flood caused by climate change.

P22 lived through every human caused experiment we could throw at him in the lab of LA, from rodenticide poisoning, vehicle strikes, pet conflict, tennis ball machine assault when he was only trying to hide, virtual incarceration in a territory probably only one tenth of what he would command in the wild, and yet he kept resisting our attempts to squeeze him off the face of this precious earth that is his as well as ours.

There are many who will say we should not name or identify a single wild animal for fear that we will care. But if we are to truly expect people everywhere to connect, there has to be a mechanism for caring. If naming an animal can get us involved in preventing harm to all of them by addressing habitat loss, climate change and unilateral stakeholder decision making, then P22’s suffering through all those trials will not have been for nothing.

jhdaily-wy.newsmemory.com

A President’s Unexpected Legacy

February 20, 2023/in News, Blog, California

As we celebrate Presidents’ Day 2023, let’s take a look at the history of mountain lions in California over the last century. We’ll see why that state has come to be the best example of having both the worst challenges for lions in the form of huge development, and some of the most progressive solutions to help them thrive.

Mountain lions have long been an iconic symbol of the wild landscapes of California. However, in the early 20th century, their population was in sharp decline due to unregulated hunting, habitat loss, and conflicts with humans. It wasn’t until the latter half of the century that concerted efforts were made to protect them, thanks in large part to the efforts of conservationists, politicians, and activists.

In the mid-20th century, mountain lion hunting was widespread and largely unregulated in California. By the 1960s, it was clear that the population of mountain lions was in rapid decline. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that meaningful steps were taken to address the problem. In 1971, Governor Ronald Reagan signed a temporary moratorium on mountain lion hunting, marking a turning point in the conservation of these animals.

In the following years, conservation groups and animal welfare advocates worked to build on Reagan’s efforts to protect mountain lions in California. One of the most significant milestones in this effort was the passage of Proposition 117, a ballot measure that permanently banned the hunting of mountain lions in California. This proposition was led by the efforts of conservationists, including Sharon Negri, and a range of animal welfare groups who argued that the hunting of mountain lions was unnecessary and cruel.

Proposition 117 was approved by California voters in the November 1990 election, with 52% of voters in favor of the ban. This measure was the culmination of years of advocacy, political action, and scientific research aimed at protecting mountain lions from harm. William Newsom, former California appeals court judge and attorney, played an instrumental role in leading the campaign to pass the proposition and make the ban on mountain lion hunting permanent.

Today, mountain lions in California are protected under a range of regulations and conflict management policies.

The conservation of mountain lions in California is an ongoing success story, thanks to the work of dedicated advocates, researchers, and policymakers. The temporary moratorium signed by Ronald Reagan marked an important first step in protecting these animals from hunting, and subsequent efforts to make the ban permanent demonstrate the power of political action and advocacy in support of conservation.

Heightened public awareness of how mountain lion encounters are handled by authorities led to more successful advocacy following a sad incident at Half Moon Bay in 2019.

A law enforcement officer fatally shot two mountain lion kittens that were found near a residential area.

Two kittens were first discovered in a backyard in Half Moon Bay and were reported to authorities. A game warden was dispatched to the scene, but when he arrived, he found that the kittens had moved to a nearby public area. A sheriff’s deputy was then dispatched to assist with the situation.

According to reports, the deputy attempted to corral the kittens into a cage but was unsuccessful. At this point, he fired his weapon, killing both of the kittens. The incident sparked outrage among conservationists and animal welfare advocates, who argued that the use of lethal force was unnecessary and that the kittens could have been safely relocated.

Following the incident, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted an investigation and concluded that the use of lethal force was not justified. The department developed new protocols for handling mountain lion incidents, including improved training for law enforcement officers and a greater emphasis on non-lethal options for managing conflicts with these animals.

The Half Moon Bay incident highlighted the need for improved training and protocols when dealing with conflicts involving mountain lions and led to important changes in the way that these situations are handled in California. By prioritizing the safety of both humans and animals, California’s approach to mountain lion management represents a model for effective and responsible wildlife conservation.

A pretty cool interview by The Guardian with Cougar Fund Director Dr. Jane Goodall

February 20, 2023/in News, Uncategorized

We are always inspired when one of our Directors pops up in a news feed and we will be bringing you more insights into the things that inspire them to support the issues that we all care about. Each Director brings special knowledge, passion, experience and skill to our organization. Dr Jane Goodall changed the face of how the world looks at animals when she observed that man is not the only ‘tool maker’. She made it, not only OK, to identify animals by name (imagine if all our dogs and cats and horses were just a number!) but also the best way to remember their sentience and sensitivity. Thank you Dr Jane, you have changed our relationship with the natural world by striving to make the human world more humane.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/18/jane-goodall-people-are-surprised-i-have-a-wicked-sense-of-humour?CMP=share_btn_fb&mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR0SiK0MRWt3ttYUoAI2I6adkDy8waXwtNXHIPDYe405ux6GKL4HEFn4kPA