Researchers Say Cougars Key to Reducing Vehicle Deer Collisions

July 18, 2016

  • July 22, 2016 at 9:45 am
    Little Frog says:
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    This is the same kind of thinking that gave us Love-Bugs and Cudzu. Or; maybe I could get half a million dollars to study this proposal: Expand Hunting Season? What do you suppose the kill/save ratio is for that option?

  • August 2, 2016 at 8:04 am
    Nevada guy says:
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    This idea is terrible for a number of excellent reasons. First, deer populations can fluctuate significantly in any given area. If you have introduced a population of cougars to an area the first time a tough winter or disease cuts down the deer herd the cougars may have insufficient alternative sources of food and start attacking pets, livestock and even people. And you need at least a ten foot high chain link fence with a three foot 45 degree extension to keep them out of your property. Secondly, they range up to 150 square miles and may wind up killing deer in places where they are not a problem and avoiding places where you wanted to thin herds.

    Hunting management makes much more sense. It can be adjusted at will and target to remove deer from places you want and protect deer where you want to increase herd size.

  • September 28, 2016 at 8:02 am
    Bill says:
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    We need cougars like we needed the coyote back, Not at all! They were hunted out for a reason; they kill the livestock and pets of good hardworking people. Now we don’t have many hunters and trappers left anymore so these predators are running wild, devastating wildlife populations, like the wild turkey and whitetail deer; as well as local livestock and peoples pets. You say that it will save lives because it will reduce the # of auto \ deer collisions. How about we make hunting deer by man a more interesting prospect? For instance:
    – The insurance industry could offer reduced rates, a small percentage off, to hunters, for every deer checked in: I believe my limit would be 7 deer if I took advantage of all the hunting opportunities in my area. If some of the major companies offered 5% off for the first deer and maybe 1/2% for each additional there would be a lot more people hunting.
    – Even if I had freezer space for that many deer I wouldn’t take them all, we can’t eat that much. Fortunately donating is an option in my area and I did that for the first several years I hunted (just to reduce the deer population in my area). Unfortunately the only place I can donate now is just over 20 miles from my home, that’s a 40+ mile round trip, possibly multiple times, and just feeling good about it doesn’t fill my gas tank. However, if we could get tax deductible receipts for donations, like we do when we donate to the Salvation Army, or the Church, then it would help encourage more donations.
    – Human Life! I don’t want to have to start hunting and trapping these things. I have a hard enough time protecting my livestock from the predators we have now, and thanks to the ‘rerelease’ of the coyote (which wasn’t in this area until the wolves were hunted out) it makes keeping animals and pets even more difficult. Furthermore, I don’t want my friends and loved ones hunted by these apex predators. If one person gets killed by them, I hope the entire agency that released them gets sued into extinction.
    Please, just think about hunter initiatives, education, early introduction, and encouragement!



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