Current CPW commissioners promoting proposition 127 with lies.

[WyoBC_99]

#14 is the only one that matters and going from #13 to #14 is big leap. Is there anything to back that up besides wishful speculation?

You're right. It seems to me that #14 is actually two steps removed from #13.
First, does current hunting (which would go away) have a significant impact on mtn lion populations?
2nd, would that impact then change the potential impact of mtn lions on CWD?

There are a few published studies attempting to disentangle the potential impact of predators on CWD. Personally, I'm not sure that current hunting has a large impact on the mtn lion populations in CO.

To be clear, I wasn't speaking out in support of the hunt ban, but just trying to fill a perceived knowledge gap.

I know some folks in California where mtn lion hunting has already been banned, and it seems like not a path that we want to go down.

 

[canyonhunter47]

You're right. It seems to me that #14 is actually two steps removed from #13.
First, does current hunting (which would go away) have a significant impact on mtn lion populations?
2nd, would that impact then change the potential impact of mtn lions on CWD?

There are a few published studies attempting to disentangle the potential impact of predators on CWD. Personally, I'm not sure that current hunting has a large impact on the mtn lion populations in CO.

To be clear, I wasn't speaking out in support of the hunt ban, but just trying to fill a perceived knowledge gap.

I know some folks in California where mtn lion hunting has already been banned, and it seems like not a path that we want to go down.

The only study I could find said that hunting does have an effect on lion populations, which makes sense because that what makes hunting them a management tool. I’m not sure what the theoretical lion carrying capacity in CO is, but I’d expect the population to increase if hunting ceased.

But whether that’s right or not, an observed preference for weakened deer, such as by CWD, is not proof that lions will stop or slow the spread significantly.

 

[cardiac5]

I’d post this on all the western Facebook hunting groups. Colorado elk hunters is at 96.9k member’s. I’m sure there’s lots of residents in there. There’s also members in that group with the two names you mentioned.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bluumoon]

I’d post this on all the western Facebook hunting groups. Colorado elk hunters is at 96.9k member’s. I’m sure there’s lots of residents in there. There’s also members in that group with the two names you mentioned.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I put it on all the CO ones I'm aware of.

 

[#1antler]

Any of you get a response back from the AG?

I've heard nothing back!!

 

[street]

I've heard nothing back!!

I got the generic response

 

[Hnthrdr]

Any of you get a response back from the AG?

Nada on my end

 

[CB4]

I took the 5 minutes to send the email to the AG and every state senator all in one email.

 

[WyoBC_99]

The only study I could find said that hunting does have an effect on lion populations, which makes sense because that what makes hunting them a management tool. I’m not sure what the theoretical lion carrying capacity in CO is, but I’d expect the population to increase if hunting ceased.

But whether that’s right or not, an observed preference for weakened deer, such as by CWD, is not proof that lions will stop or slow the spread significantly.

I also wonder if hunting of mtn lions is a management tool because of some behavioral training of lions to show more fear of people. The pop'n abundance effect could also be true.

 

[ODB]

Is there any study as to why a lion or wolf’s digestive system kills prions but a humans does not?

 

[WyoBC_99]

@ODB

I don't think we know that a human's digestive tract does not have a similar effect on prions. It simply hasn't been studied. (unlikely that they're going to do a study where they feed lots of prions to human volunteers ... )

Here's a few pieces of info on the issue in felines.

mtn lions

https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/msphere.00812-21

bobcats (I don't think this has been published yet)

Carnivores and scavengers could help reduce CWD - WyoFile

Bobcats may only deposit a fraction of the infectious prions on the landscape that they eat, early study results show

wyofile.com

 

[Hnthrdr]

Is there any study as to why a lion or wolf’s digestive system kills prions but a humans does not?

This! I saw that and instantly thought what a load of crock…

 

[jmez]

@ODB

I don't think we know that a human's digestive tract does not have a similar effect on prions. It simply hasn't been studied. (unlikely that they're going to do a study where they feed lots of prions to human volunteers ... )

Here's a few pieces of info on the issue in felines.

mtn lions

https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/msphere.00812-21

bobcats (I don't think this has been published yet)

Carnivores and scavengers could help reduce CWD - WyoFile

Bobcats may only deposit a fraction of the infectious prions on the landscape that they eat, early study results show

wyofile.com

All that says is the prions are not passed in the feces, period. No other conclussions can be drawn.

Removal of prion-infected cervids by predators would be even more beneficial if consuming infected carcasses also reduced the abundance of prions left in the environment.

If the prions are simply sequestered in the predator, when the predator dies the above is not true.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Well it’s in the media now. Apparently there was no disclaimer in the Durango Herald article clearly stating that Murphy and Beaulieu were speaking on personal opinion and not representing CPW or the commission. Howard also highlights they may be in violation of Colorado Open Meetings Law, which Chairman May warned the Commission about recently. Hard to co-write an Op-Ed without conversing over email or phone.

Colorado wildlife commissioners divided on Proposition 127, which would ban mountain lion, lynx and bobcat hunting

A ballot measure that seeks to prohibit the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx has created a divide among current and former members of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife

www.coloradopolitics.com

Recommend folks email Colorado state senators, AG’s office, CPW Commission Chairman Dallas May, and DNR Director Dan Gibbs and demand an investigation as Murphy and Beaulieu broke CPW rules by not clearly stating their OpEd as outside official positions within CPW and likely a violation of Colorado Open Meeting laws. These actions were taken willingly to unduly influence voters and undermine the integrity of a Colorado election.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Likely more coming. I am going to draft some emails tonight.