South Dakota Mountain Lion Public Opinion Poll

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Mountain Lion Management in South Dakota Appendix C Larry M. Gigliotti Comments from Public Meetings 58. I do not think lions should be hunted in a hunting season. They should only be removed if they are man hunters in the city. Most are not a problem at all. I have lions on my property and they are not a problem. 59. First, is the proposed hunting season pre-mature and based on human pressure? Secondly, the current policy of dealing with problem animals seems to work fine and also allows effective interaction/education of the public. 60. I do not believe a hunting season for mountain lions should be allowed in South Dakota! 61. I do not believe that the population has come to the point where we need a hunting season for mountain lions. If the estimate is correct with vast open areas of South Dakota, surely there’s enough room for both people and lions. Early education for the young children in schools to teach children on what they should do if they encounter a mountain lion. SD GF&P – I believe has a great handle on the population by keeping an eye on lions that continue to wonder into areas where they become a “pest”. 62. I would prefer that we not have a hunting season at all. If a season is established, then dogs should not be used, as your management plan indicates. Treeing a lion with dogs and then shooting it is “target practice” – not hunting! The book, “The Beast in the Garden”, is excellent. It gives a history of how man was attempting to exterminate the cougar completely. It details the problems caused by man’s movement into lion habitat, feeding deer so they hang around homes, etc. There is not an option for problem lions now – “positive ID” of one necessitates removal as GF&P is doing. People in other states live with bear, cougars, and wolves – what is wrong with us? It is time we all take responsibility for out actions. If we move to our “little piece of paradise”, we must realize we are invading wildlife and their piece of paradise. All wildlife is important! I’m against hunting, but I feel the GF&P did a very good job fielding all the questions/opinions/comments. A very controversial issue – kept under control at this meeting. 63. Education: It’s great that you are willing to go and visit with groups that ask you to speak. However, you are educating people that are already aware of mountain lions. Inside and outside of towns in the Black Hills. We are all living in mountain lion country. Whether people live in town or out of town, they hunt, fish, camp, hike and picnic in lion country. How about posted signs at parks and picnic areas about how to “stay safe”. Run ads in the newspaper and work with teachers on a school district basis. After all, many schools take 38
Mountain Lion Management in South Dakota Appendix C Larry M. Gigliotti Comments from Public Meetings field trips in the Black Hills (kids and tourists get lost on Harney Peak and sleep in the woods every year). I’m glad that a season is coming into play. One thing I’d like to see added is hounds, so lions are afraid of people. At least for part of the season. 64. The main reason we moved to the Black Hills from New Jersey is to enjoy the outdoors, a less populated area, and especially the local wildlife. We love seeing the deer, turkeys, coyotes, and we would love seeing the lions. We have a potential of forest fire, but we don’t clear-cut the Black Hills to prevent it. Killing more lions in the name of “sport” to prevent sightings and occasional lions in populated areas seems like hysterical management. Do more study to find a better management tool! 65. I don’t feel we need a mountain lion season. In 2004, there were 25 killed in all categories. Continue this method, eliminate the problem lions and leave the ones alone that are behaving like mountain lions should – not creating problems! The hype by the dog hunters is driven by one thing – money! Please no season and no hounds! 66. I am opposed to the hunting season because of the possibility of killing females that may have kittens or be pregnant. There kittens would either die or end up being “problem cats”. I support GF&P removing the cats that cause trouble. I also support ranchers on the prairie being able to shoot lions. 67. Continue to harvest only problem animals. What sport is it to tree a lion and then shoot it out of a tree? No prairie cat hunting! 68. Can we issue licenses for hunters to shoot “problem” mountain lions supervised by GF&P? This would be a 80+% sure kill. People would be willing to pay for the privilege. 69. It is inevitable that there will be a hunting season, but don’t allow dogs! Hunting outfitters will tree a lion and then call a client who will fly in from the East Coast for his trophy lion. That is humanity at its lowest form. Female lions are in motherhood 75% of the time, so if a female is killed, a litter of kittens will die too. 70. Mountain lions are a big problem for landowners in the livestock business. Numbers must be lowered to reduce problems. Don’t forget that the livestock industry is still the largest industry in Western South Dakota, and should have the cooperation of the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. 39
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South Dakota Mountain Lion Public Opinion Poll

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