AR-News: (US WA) Cougar deaths higher since 1996 initiative

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Numbers, sightings, killings have grown throughout state 


Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife






CHESTER ALLEN THE OLYMPIAN Cougars killed in Puget Sound 
1997 
11 
1998 
18 
1999 
22 
2000 
10 
2001 
17 
2002 
8 

In 1996, animal rights groups spearheaded Initiative 655, which banned the 
use of dogs to hunt cougars. 
I-655 passed, and activists hoped that hunters would kill fewer cougars. 
The opposite has happened. 
Since 1996, hunters have steadily killed more cougars than before I-655 
passed. In 1997, 154 cougars were killed in Washington. In 1999, 295 cougars were 
killed. In 2002, which is the latest set of numbers, 211 cougars were killed. 

full story:


http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20040301/frontpage/5038.shtml 
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