[ODFW-News] Commission approves Oregon cougar management strategy

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Thursday, April 13, 2006
 
Commission approves Oregon cougar management strategy
 
SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today approved a plan to
proactively manage the state's cougars, concluding a process that
involved more than a year to develop, 10 public meetings, input from
peers and stakeholder groups, and the incorporation of more than 4,500
public comments. 
 
ODFW is the agency charged with developing and implementing management
plans for the state's wildlife species. State wildlife managers regard
cougars as an Oregon wildlife success story. Cougar populations were
nearly extirpated in the 1960s. After they were placed under ODFW's
management authority, they began a strong comeback and today number more
than 5,000 statewide. 
 
The first cougar management plan was developed in 1987 and was last
updated in 1993. The plan approved today updates the state's 1993 cougar
plan, reflecting changes to ODFW's management authorities, Oregon's
human populations, land use trends and other big game populations since
that time. 
 
"Oregon's cougar population has grown substantially since the management
plan was updated last, as has its human population," said ODFW Wildlife
Division Administrator Ronald Anglin. "Cougar conflicts remain at
unacceptably high levels in many areas of the state. This plan allows
ODFW to manage a healthy, sustainable cougar populations while focusing
on proactively addressing cougar-related conflicts."
 
Approximately 50 members of the public offered final public comments
today. 
 
The updated plan includes five objectives and an adaptive management
strategy that ensures an abundant cougar population in Oregon. 
 
The plan soon will be available on ODFW's Web site, www.dfw.state.or.us
<http://www.dfw.state.or.us> 
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