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Lion hunt called off; relocation planned
By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer
03/19/2004
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A mountain lion is shown in this 2002 photo taken by an infrared-triggered camera set up in the Tucson Mountains. A plan to hunt and kill mountain lions thought to pose a threat to visitors at a popular southern Arizona recreation spot will remain on hold but only temporarily. During a meeting Tuesday, March 16, 2004, the state Game and Fish Commission voted to support a five-day moratorium that began Monday at the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area on the outskirts of Tucson. (AP Photo/Saguaro National Park via the Arizona Daily Star)
TUCSON -- Apparently bowing to public pressure, state wildlife officials decided Thursday against killing mountain lions found in Sabino Canyon and instead will attempt to tranquilize and airlift them out.
The animals will be sent to a private rehabilitation center at an undisclosed location.
It's the latest flip-flop in a series of starts and stops since March 9, when officials announced the canyon would be closed for up to two weeks while trackers hunted down the cats.
Meanwhile, a principal kept students indoors Thursday at a Tucson middle school after two adults reported seeing a mountain lion on school grounds.
A cafeteria worker walking to a trash bin outside Esperero Canyon Middle School told authorities she saw the lion, which didn't move toward her but walked around a parking lot. Authorities believe her account is credible, said Gerry Perry, a supervisor for Game and Fish.
Gov. Janet Napolitano asked the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to reconsider to hunt the lions. The commission announced a five-day moratorium against hunting at least three mountain lions believed to be living in the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area northeast of Tucson, but the hunt had been expected to resume Saturday.
Wildlife officials contend the animals are behaving abnormally and threatening people.
Local citizens and environmental groups have demonstrated against plans to hunt down the animals.
Napolitano has said she's concerned that agency officials made their decision rashly.
Twenty-seven lawmakers signed a letter opposing a lion hunt.
The governor has not seen enough evidence to show that the lions need to be taken out of the canyon at this point, said Napolitano spokeswoman Pati Urias.
The canyon is part of the Coronado National Forest, with some 1.5 million visitors a year, and wildlife officials have contended that the felines no longer fear people and have become threatening.
The relocation will begin next week, but not all the details have been worked out yet, said Steve Ferrell, deputy director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Previously, officials said relocating the lions to another location, such as elsewhere on the forest, would fail because mountain lions are highly territorial.
Game and Fish spokesman Tim Tait in Phoenix said until now, officials had not found one rehabilitation site willing to take two adult lions.
"It seems that the place they've identified is willing to take however many there are," he said.
But Daniel Patterson, desert ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity and one of the most vocal critics of the original plan, said he is rejecting the offer at this time.
"They still don't have good evidence that these cougars are threats to people, and we're not aware of any case where adult lions have been moved and successfully lived in captivity," Patterson said.
The airlift plan is expected to cost between $4,000 and $6,300 per day.
Meanwhile, department officials were scheduled to hold a public meeting today in Tucson
By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer
03/19/2004
[ write a letter to the editor | email this story ]
A mountain lion is shown in this 2002 photo taken by an infrared-triggered camera set up in the Tucson Mountains. A plan to hunt and kill mountain lions thought to pose a threat to visitors at a popular southern Arizona recreation spot will remain on hold but only temporarily. During a meeting Tuesday, March 16, 2004, the state Game and Fish Commission voted to support a five-day moratorium that began Monday at the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area on the outskirts of Tucson. (AP Photo/Saguaro National Park via the Arizona Daily Star)
TUCSON -- Apparently bowing to public pressure, state wildlife officials decided Thursday against killing mountain lions found in Sabino Canyon and instead will attempt to tranquilize and airlift them out.
The animals will be sent to a private rehabilitation center at an undisclosed location.
It's the latest flip-flop in a series of starts and stops since March 9, when officials announced the canyon would be closed for up to two weeks while trackers hunted down the cats.
Meanwhile, a principal kept students indoors Thursday at a Tucson middle school after two adults reported seeing a mountain lion on school grounds.
A cafeteria worker walking to a trash bin outside Esperero Canyon Middle School told authorities she saw the lion, which didn't move toward her but walked around a parking lot. Authorities believe her account is credible, said Gerry Perry, a supervisor for Game and Fish.
Gov. Janet Napolitano asked the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to reconsider to hunt the lions. The commission announced a five-day moratorium against hunting at least three mountain lions believed to be living in the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area northeast of Tucson, but the hunt had been expected to resume Saturday.
Wildlife officials contend the animals are behaving abnormally and threatening people.
Local citizens and environmental groups have demonstrated against plans to hunt down the animals.
Napolitano has said she's concerned that agency officials made their decision rashly.
Twenty-seven lawmakers signed a letter opposing a lion hunt.
The governor has not seen enough evidence to show that the lions need to be taken out of the canyon at this point, said Napolitano spokeswoman Pati Urias.
The canyon is part of the Coronado National Forest, with some 1.5 million visitors a year, and wildlife officials have contended that the felines no longer fear people and have become threatening.
The relocation will begin next week, but not all the details have been worked out yet, said Steve Ferrell, deputy director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Previously, officials said relocating the lions to another location, such as elsewhere on the forest, would fail because mountain lions are highly territorial.
Game and Fish spokesman Tim Tait in Phoenix said until now, officials had not found one rehabilitation site willing to take two adult lions.
"It seems that the place they've identified is willing to take however many there are," he said.
But Daniel Patterson, desert ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity and one of the most vocal critics of the original plan, said he is rejecting the offer at this time.
"They still don't have good evidence that these cougars are threats to people, and we're not aware of any case where adult lions have been moved and successfully lived in captivity," Patterson said.
The airlift plan is expected to cost between $4,000 and $6,300 per day.
Meanwhile, department officials were scheduled to hold a public meeting today in Tucson
