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Grand Canyon Sierra Club Alert! 07-17-01PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY TO STOP ILL-CONCEIVED MOUNTAIN LION EXPERIMENT. SEND YOUR LETTERS NOW – DEADLINE JULY 20TH ALSO, PLEASE ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEARING ON THURSDAY AUGUST 2ND FROM 6-9 PM AT THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT OFFICE, 7200 E UNIVERSITY DR IN MESA (east of Power Rd on the north side of University). The Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department) is proposing to kill 12 to 36 mountain lions in the next three years as part to of an unnecessary, wasteful and scientifically questionable experiment intended to assess the impact of mountain lion removal on a reintroduced population of desert bighorn sheep on the Tonto National Forest near Saguaro, Apache, and Canyon lakes. The Department is proposing this despite the fact that disease, drought and many other factors are influencing the bighorn sheep herd. In the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) issued by the Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (available at www.azgfd.com), the agencies claim that this experiment is needed to understand the factors contributing to the decline of the bighorn population. The evidence, however, reveals that disease (likely introduced by domestic sheep), poor and declining habitat quality, and drought have had a far greater impact on bighorn sheep than mountain lions. The Department's own data demonstrates that mountain lions in the study area eat more rabbits, deer, and javelina than bighorn sheep. Indeed, the proposed experiment may increase, not decrease, the risk to bighorn as young, hungry lions move into previously occupied territories potentially increasing bighorn predation. Furthermore, the Department has no valid data as to the number of mountain lions in the study area and its research protocol is so flawed that no meaningful data will result from killing lions. The experiment reflects a continuing anti-predator bias within the Game and Fish Department and Commission and an outdated management practice that favors managing for one species over another (single species management). An ecosystem-based management style should be employed to address the decline of the bighorn population within the study area. This proposal demonstrates that the Department is clearly out of step with current science and the interests of the majority of Arizonans who understand the important roll that predators like the mountain lion play in an ecosystem. PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TODAY! TELL THE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU OPPOSE THE PROPOSED KILLING OF MOUNTAIN LIONS. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR LETTERS TO:
Their fax number is: 602-789-3299 Below is a sample letter for your use:Arizona Game and Fish Department Dear Environmental Assessment Team: I am submitting the following comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment on the Study to Investigate Causes of the Declining Population of Desert Bighorn Sheep in the Goat-Stewart Mountain Complex. I strongly object to the proposed action outlined in the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and ask that you reconsider this ill-conceived proposal. I understand that the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department) intends to kill up to 75% of the mountain lions in the study area over the next three years to determine if mountain lions are causing a decline in a reintroduced bighorn sheep population that inhabits the area. This study, however, appears to have little if anything to do with science and instead looks like it will only promote the Department's unscientifically based anti-predator policies and practices. In the draft EA, the Department presents no valid evidence supporting the proposed mountain lion kill. In fact, it is clear that the Department is even unsure of how many mountain lions are currently in the area – the population could be well below the targeted numbers already. The Department also offers no valid data to demonstrate that lions are a problem for bighorn sheep. According to information available from the Department itself, it appears that far more rabbits, javelina, and deer are consumed by mountain lions than bighorn sheep, yet, inexplicably; the Department continues to blame lions for the decline in bighorns. Furthermore, the Department's own evidence demonstrates that disease is the primary threat to the bighorn sheep. Whether introduced by domestic sheep or endemic to the bighorn population, mountain lions should not be blamed for the bighorn mortality caused by disease. Drought is also a contributing factor to the alleged bighorn decline as it has reduced the quality of bighorn habitat and forage. The fact that the mule deer population in the area has also declined should be a clear indication that the problem is not with mountain lions but with climate. Finally, the Draft EA does not comply with federal law. The Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have failed to disclose and evaluate a number of issues critical to this matter. There is no analysis of the impact of the domestic sheep driveway in this area on the bighorn sheep or their habitat. The driveway puts thousands of domestic sheep in the same area the bighorn inhabit. There is no description of the bighorn/mountain lion habitat within the study area and whether this area might have habitat limitations for the bighorn. There is no information about the bighorn or mountain lion populations after 1998. There is also no consideration of the precedent of this study to future Department predator management plans and practices, and there is no explanation as to how killing 75% of the mountain lion population will impact the ecology of the area. The Department should have evaluated all of these issues and several others in the Draft EA. This proposal is not scientifically justified or needed. Predators, including mountain lions, play an important role in ecosystems; it is time for the Department to recognize and respect that. For all the reasons stated in this letter and more, I support Alternative 2 – the no action alternative -- that will prevent this unnecessary and wasteful killing of mountain lions. The Department should instead spend its time and resources on measures that will truly benefit the bighorn, for example seeking to eliminate the domestic sheep driveway in the area. Thank you for considering my comments. Please advise me of your decision on this matter and on all future issues relating to this proposal. Sincerely,
Page updated: 07/17/01 Return to Press Releases and Action Alerts page Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |