In South Dakota, the state Game, Fish & Parks Commission has begun "experiments" using dogs to hunt mountain lions (aka, cougar, puma), in Custer State Park this week, as reported by the Rapid City Journal on February 09, 2013 .
This type of hunting is known as "hounding", a practice which was recently banned in California because it is inhumane and unsporting.
Released dogs chase the frightened wild animal to the point of exhaustion until the animal climbs a tree to escape the pursuit of hounds, the hunters shoot the exausted animal off the limbs of trees. Along the way, dogs also chase, harass, injure, and kill "non-target" animals such as pets, farm animals and other unintended wildlife.
The elk herds may have declined, but it is very likely from over-hunting and poaching by humans, because 100 mountain lions have been killed since the 2012 hunting season.
We ask South Dakota to ban the cruel and unpredicable "experiment" of hunting mountain lions with dogs.
SOURCE: http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/custer-state-park-lion-hunt-uses-hounds/article_32c2faff-4716-55d1-92a3-f8c261141b04.html
Governor of South Dakota Dennis M. Daugaard
Lieutenant Governor Michels
Office of the Governor
500 E Capitol Ave
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 605.773.3212
Email Contact:
http://sd.gov/governor/contact.aspx
