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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 10, 2006 Group threatens ban on cougar hunting Predator Defense will begin an initiative effort if a state cougar management plan isn’t revised to their liking By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune A Eugene wildlife-advocacy group threatened Thursday to seek a ban on sport-hunting of cougars in Oregon if the state moves forward on managing cougars based on complaints as outlined in its draft cougar-management plan. "If they adopt this as-is, we have nothing else to do," said Brooks Fahy, executive director of Predator Defense. "We’ll form a political action committee, build up a war chest and file an initiative. "This isn’t a stunt," Fahy said. "We are furious." Fahy also has asked Gov. Ted Kulongoski to order an independent investigation into whether the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife intentionally used flawed or misleading data in drafting the plan. In a letter to Kulongoski, the group alleged that agency biologists are knowingly using outdated population models and faulty data to "further its agenda" of reducing cougar numbers and bolstering deer and elk herds to hunters’ delight. Advertisement Several wildlife biologists throughout the West also have panned the draft, its computer models and assumptions. "It’s like reverse engineering," Fahy said. "They decided what they wanted and designed a program that would meet that end. "This isn’t about ideology," Fahy said. "It’s about science,and I feel we’re for science and they’re not." Kulongoski spokeswoman Anna Richter Taylor said the governor has no plans to launch an inquiry. The governor "welcomes the discussion" but that discussion should be before the seven-member Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, which sets ODFW policy. "This isn’t a debate about science," Richter Taylor said. "This is a debate about policy, and that needs to be had with the commission." Ron Anglin, the ODFW’s Wildlife Division administrator, said his agency believes the plan is based on "good information," though the ODFW acknowledges that many cougar complaints go unverified. Anglin said most of the criticisms offered in peer review were based on the original August draft of the plan. Many of those criticisms were addressed in a new draft presented to the commission last month, Anglin said. "So several of the comments (Fahy) has referred to are a generation old," Anglin said. Others represent what Anglin called "professional differences of opinion." "It’s a prime example of what goes on in the biological world," Anglin said. "You can build cases on both sides of an issue on people’s professional judgment." The commission will take written comments on the plan until it is set to adopt some version of it at its April 9 meeting in Salem. The plan calls for killing more cougars around urban "fringes," such as the hills above the Rogue Valley, to help reduce public-safety and damage reports to 1994 levels. The plan estimates the current cougar population at about 5,100 animals and calls for ensuring the cougar population does not dip below 1994’s estimated population of 3,100 animals. The plan does not seek any new authority for ODFW and contains no requests for new laws, money or authority from the Oregon Legislature. The Medford-based Oregon Hunters Association, the state’s largest hunting organization, supports the ODFW’s draft plan. OHA spokesman Duane Dungannon, of Talent, said his group wants greater lee-way for sport-hunters to control cougar populations and curb damage. But the 1994 initiative that bans sport-hunting with hounds makes that impossible. Dungannon said he believes Fahy is "way out of line with the mainstream" of Oregonians who he said believes there "are more than enough cougars" in Oregon. "The bottom line is, these people don’t want cougars managed," Dungannon said. "To them, any cougar killed is too many." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail Group threatens ban on cougar hunting ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement