Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Coalition seeks to ban killing of mountain lions in Colorado
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Tuesday, October 3, 2023
A mountain lion feeds on a mule deer; Credit: J ([link removed]) on Nelson, Flickr ([link removed])

A coalition of wildlife advocates in Colorado are seeking to put a law against hunting mountain lions and their smaller cousins, bobcats, ([link removed]) on the ballot in 2024. The coalition needs 124,238 signatures in order to do so. Advocates for the ban say that there's no scientific reason to kill these animals, which are native to the state.

Wildlife officials say there are between 3,000 and 7,000 mountain lions ([link removed]) in Colorado. Hunters killed an average of 500 mountain lions and 1,300 bobcats over the last three years, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife ([link removed]) . Hunters typically use dogs ([link removed]) to kill mountain lions and traps to kill bobcats. Currently, the state regulates the number of mountain lions killed through the sale of hunting tags ([link removed]) , but there is no limit on killing bobcats.

The coalition says they turned to a ballot initiative ([link removed]) after failing to achieve their goal through lobbying the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department, which denied a request to ban bobcat trapping in 2019 despite a petition with more than 200,000 signatures. In 2022, a bill to ban bobcat trapping and mountain lion hunting died in the state legislature ([link removed]) . Ballot initiatives in Colorado ([link removed]) approved wolf reintroduction in 2020, banned lethal traps in 1996, and changed bear hunting in 1992.

Expanding Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge

A new Road to 30: Postcard ([link removed]) from the Center for Western Priorities goes behind the scenes in the effort to expand the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge ([link removed]) . At 860,010 total acres, Cabeza Prieta is the third largest wildlife refuge in the Lower 48 states, and 90 percent of the wildlife refuge is designated wilderness.

The Bureau of Land Management manages land east of the refuge, including the land immediately around the town of Ajo, a small, once-booming mining community, as well as the Cuerda de Leña Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which spans 59,300 acres immediately north of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. A group known as the International Sonoran Desert Alliance is spearheading an initiative to revitalize the town of Ajo and to expand the refuge to include the Cuerda de Leña ACEC. Read the blog ([link removed]) to learn more.


** Quick hits
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Montana appeals youth climate trial decision to state supreme court

Daily Montanan ([link removed]) | Los Angeles Times ([link removed])

Haaland: Public lands like the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge embody who we are

Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])

Should the feds cut trees in California’s wilderness to reduce fire risk? New lawsuit says no

San Francisco Chronicle ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])

Senators still waiting on answers regarding Recreation.gov

National Parks Traveler ([link removed])

Colorado River officials to expand troubled water conservation program in 2024

Colorado Newsline ([link removed])

Arizona to end deal allowing Saudi farms to suck Arizona's groundwater dry

12News ([link removed])

Study finds fall snow is good indicator of winter precipitation in Mountain West

KUNC ([link removed])

Interior finalizes plans to phase out single-use plastic on public lands

Reuters ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” Our country’s public lands don’t just serve us – they inspire countries around the world to protect the lands and waters that literally give us life and we’re seeing this global commitment to conservation take hold.”

—Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@YellowstoneNPS ([link removed])
Cool autumn mornings often bring low-lying fog rolling through canyons and valleys in the park. Where is your favorite place to experience sunrise in Yellowstone? Photo: Early morning fog over the Yellowstone River near Tower Fall.

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