“This is not about cougar management at all, and this is not about public safety,” said Washington Humane Society director Dan Paul in a statement. “We already have the ability to take care of ‘problem cats.’ This appears to be targeting cats as a way to appease folks that want to shoot wolves, but can’t.”
Paul is referring to the hunters that want to hunt wolves, which are protected and illegal to hunt in Washington.
In its Game Management Plan, the WDFW states the increased quota is for cougar population management, and cites cougar-human conflicts as a reason for the change.
The link to the Petition is in RED letters below:
PLEASE Read and SIGN this Petition Click the red link: http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-activists-challenge-washingtons-cougar-hunt-quota.html#ixzz3hNxuNMj1