BLACK BEAR Data and IMPACTS
The Department estimates the Washington black bear population at 25,000 to 30,000
Schlegel (Idaho in 1976) found that black bears took at least 67% of radio-collared elk calves
According to 3 Idaho studies, black bear caused 3%, 21%, and 67% of predation on elk calves
That averages to black bear causing 30% of predation on elk calves over 3 study areas
COUGAR Data and IMPACTS
The Department estimates the Washington cougar population at about 2000 to 2500
According to studies, on the average, each adult cougar makes a kill every 10 days
That averages to 36.5 kills per year for each adult cougar in Washington
2000 to 2500 cougar will kill 73,000 to 91,250 deer, elk, moose, sheep, caribou, pets, or livestock yearly
Hunters are most likely losing much opportunity because of the excessive cougar populations
Ranchers are losing money due to livestock losses
Rural economies are suffering due to losses of wildlife related tourism, hunting, and attacks on livestock
Cougar threaten the safety of rural residents, ranchers, and recreationists every day of the year;
Cougar hound hunting legislation failed, cougar numbers will increase in the worst problem areas
WFW encourages the Commission to increase the cougar harvest for all these reasons
Science dictates that predators can only take so many animals from a herd before the herd declines
Many herd counts are below objective & increased predation will cause further decline
The department must reduce existing predator numbers in order to support emerging wolf populations or risk driving prey populations into a predator pit from which prey populations cannot recover resulting in predator and prey populations both suffering
Now add the Wolf Data on top of this...WDFW has a massive challenge on it's hands trying to manage this. We really need to be part of the solution instead of the problem
