***OHA EMAIL LEGISLATIVE ALERT***
To: All Interested Parties
From: OHA
Re: Cougar Management Plan
What is this Email Alert Addressing?
The ODFW Cougar Management Plan has come under scrutiny by the Legislature. We want to get the word out to the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources (the committee that analyzes the ODFW budget) that the plan must continue as a tool for ODFW to use in it’s efforts to keep a balance between predators and Oregon’s wildlife population.
What Can You Do?
We would like you to do two things:
Send an email to the Legislators listed below.
As part of your email message use the some of the points we have listed.
MAKE YOUR OWN MESSAGE! DO NOT SEND THIS ENTIRE ALERT!
YOU WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAT WAY!
Points You May Want to Use in Your Email
The 2005 Oregon Cougar Management Plan was designed in accordance with the authorizations and mandates outlined by statute.
The plan contains sound science based data, arguments and conclusions that detail the health of Oregon’s cougar population and its impacts on other game mammal species.
The current cougar population is estimated at 5700 animals, more than double the number from just 15 years ago.
Cougar management, including both hunting and administrative control conducted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife is science based wildlife management as directed in the Oregon Wildlife Policy.
There is no desire to eradicate cougars from Oregon through “indiscriminant” killing, as some would have you believe. In fact, ODFW cougar management activities under the cougar management plan have been limited to three target areas where fewer than 200 cougars total have been removed over the last three years.
By conducting these activities, our wildlife management professionals are acting in compliance with the mandates of their positions as outlined in the Oregon Revised Statutes. The desired end result is to maintain a viable and sustainable cougar population, while complying with the directives of the seven coequal goals outlined in the Oregon Wildlife Policy.
OHA’s position is that Oregon’s Wildlife management decisions should be left to the appointees of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and the professionals in the ODFW. They and they alone have the authority and means to develop management strategies based on science and facts.
Conversely, ballot initiatives and legislative proposals that affect wildlife management do not rely on the science based data that has served our state for so long. The negative effects of such misguided laws are well documented in Oregon and abroad.
Who Do I Send My Email To?
Send your email to:
Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources
Senator Vicki Walker (D-Eugene) Co- Chair sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us
Representative Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) Co-Chair rep.bobjenson@state.or.us
Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland) sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
Senator David Nelson (R-Pendleton) sen.davidnelson@state.or.us
Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland) rep.peterbuckley@state.or.us
Rep. Ben Cannon (D-Portland) rep.bencannon@state.or.us
Rep. Brian Clem (D-Salem) rep.brianclem@state.or.us
Rep. Chris Edwards (D-West Eugene) rep.chrisedwards@state.or.us
Rep. Jim Thompson (R-Dallas) rep.jimthompson@state.or.us
