AR-News: (AZ) Decision to hunt cougars critized by Napolitano

[Bill Dollinger]

180 protest to 'save the lions'

Decision to hunt cougars criticized by Napolitano

IRENE HSIAO
Tucson Citizen


Photos by GARY GAYNOR/Tucson Citizen

Darsha Doran (left) and Jana Jackson are among about 180 people who gathered
downtown yesterday to protest the decision by the U.S. Forest Service and
the Arizona Game & Fish Department to kill Sabino Canyon's mountain lions.
Passionate protesters publicly pleaded with authorities yesterday not to
kill the mountain lions in Sabino Canyon.

About 180 people walked in front of the Federal Building, 300 W. Congress
St., shouting "Save the lions, save the lions, save the lions." Some urged
the crowd to contact Gov. Janet Napolitano's office. Others held signs that
said "Sabino Canyon Arizona Sterilized for Public Consumption," "Game and
Fish - Not Maim and Squish" and "Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!"

U.S. Forest Service and Arizona Game & Fish officials closed Sabino Canyon
Recreation Area earlier this week when they decided the three or four
mountain lions in the park were a threat to humans. They decided to hunt and
kill the mountain lions, also known as cougars, after determining that they
had lost their fear of people.

Environmentalists met with state and federal officials Wednesday to try to
dissuade them but were unsuccessful. Government officials said the meeting
was only for informational purposes.

Adding to the debate, the governor yesterday criticized the Forest Service
and Game & Fish for making the unilateral decision to kill the animals.
"While I agree that public safety is paramount, I'm disturbed by the
decision ... to kill cougars in Sabino Canyon," Napolitano said in a
prepared statement. "For several months, my office has been aware of the
sightings and some heightened concern about mountain lions, yet the decision
to shoot was apparently made abruptly within the last few days with little
public input or exploration of other options."

Napolitano has asked her staff to create a more collaborative approach to
deal with the threats posed by wildlife and educate people about co-existing
with it.

Sarah Simpson (at right), a 58-year-old pet sitter, called the decision to
hunt Sabino Canyon's mountain lions "a rash, hysterical response."

Some groups, including Friends of Animals, want Napolitano to stop the hunt,
something she has not yet done.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=031204a1_lionsprotest