Here are the the so-called facts: There were three verified cougar sightings in the last 7 1/2 months; another couple of people think they might possibly have seen a cougar; a couple of turkeys might have been killed by a cougar; and some other farm animals might have been killed by cougars, or maybe they were killed getting tangled up in a barbed wire fence. Based on this factual evidence the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife calls for a hunt to have 40 female cougars killed. The cougars are to be hunted down by dogs, and when cornered, be shot by the hunter. All this for a bargain price of $5.48 per cougar!
Read more about this hunt at:
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/119594.asp
And access the website of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to read more about how the hunt is organized and regulated:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/cougar/index.htm
This needs to be stopped!
Washington State is home to only 2,500 cougars. The last fatal cougar attack in Washington was reported in 1924. Since then, there have been 12 non-fatal attacks, the majority since 1992.
Please tell the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that it unacceptable to use dogs to hunt down cougars, and that it is further intolerable to kill these cats just because some people might have seen or heard one.
We the undersigned request that you cancel the COUGAR HUNTING SEASON WITH THE AID OF DOGS, which has been scheduled to begin December 1, 2007 and last until March 31, 2008.
Cougars are having a hard time surviving in our urbanizing environment. Starting to kill cougars just because some people think they might have seen one, or because they think they might have killed life stock is unacceptable. Hunting down OUR wildlife, with or without the aid of dogs, has become intolerable in today's day and age.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter,
