Citizens plan where to gather signatures as more than 400 mountain lions have died for personal trophies this season
Colorado — Cats Aren’t Trophies (CATs) announced today the official launch of its volunteer petition drive to qualify for a ballot initiative to halt inhumane and unsporting trophy hunting of mountain lions and trophy hunting and commercial trapping of bobcats. The measure will also protect the rare Canada lynx from being attacked by hounds or caught in traps set for the similar-looking bobcats.
The diverse and broad coalition of humane and conservation organizations, along with rank-and-file hunters and other sportsmen, hits the ground this week to start collecting enough signatures from registered Colorado voters (125,000) to be on the November 2024 ballot.
CATs is now holding trainings at different points across the state, to get petition circulators up and running, with the goal of educating citizens about why trophy hunting of mountain lions and fur trapping of bobcats is unsporting, outdated, cruel and unnecessary, and puts lynx in peril.
Coloradans from Parker to Estes Park met for a training Saturday in Boulder, including retired school teachers Scott and Sylvia Schneider of Estes Park.
“Ever since I was a young boy I’ve been interested in the outdoors, all it has to offer, and learning how the components of nature work together. Getting involved as a Circulator with CATs has given me the opportunity to help protect Colorado’s large cats and the ecosystems they live in, and to give back what I’ve been given throughout my life,” says Scott Schneider of Estes Park, who is a retired school teacher.“I felt compelled to be pro-active and not just a sideline advocate. I feel very excited to collect as many signatures for Prop 91 as I am able and letting the electorate of Colorado have their voices heard on this issue.”
Barbara and Richard Sunblade of Parker, Colorado also attended the training.
“What motivates me to volunteer to collect signatures for this ballot measure is simply picturing a pack of dogs chasing a mountain lion up a tree to get picked off by what is laughingly considered a hunter,” said Barbara Sunblade of Parker, Colorado. “Approximately half of the mountain lions are females, leaving behind defenseless cubs. This isn’t hunting — its animal cruelty, more like an execution, and I will try my hardest to put it to a stop.”
Coloradans can save 25,000 wild cats over the next 10 years by digging in to help with this drive over these next five months.
“This is the most direct of direct grassroots democracy you will find anywhere,” said Sam Bruegger, campaign director for the CATs initiative. “A lot of campaigns plan from the start to use paid circulators to qualify ballot measures, but we are aiming to engage thousands of citizen advocates in Colorado to put this measure on the ballot and to give the people a chance to halt reckless, cruel, and unsporting attacks on native wildlife in our state. We invite Colorado hunters and animal advocates to join us to stop these abuses.”
Many of the citizens involved come from the 70 core endorsing organizations, including Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.
“Coloradans can relish in the significance of this moment,”said Julie Marshall, public relations director for Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy.“This is the first time in 28 years that an animal welfare measure of great significance has been on the ballot. The last time was when the voters voted to ban barbaric steel-jawed leghold traps and other body-gripping traps to catch animals to strip them of their fur. Before that, we voted to ban baiting bears and chasing bears with dog packs and killing mothers in spring, which orphaned their cubs. If using dogs to chase down bears is bad for Colorado, so is terrifying cats in this same manner.”
New Data Shows More than 400 Mountain Lions Have Died as Someone’s Personal Trophy
Since Thanksgiving, more than 400 mountain lions have been killed for sport this season that goes until March in Colorado, for their heads and hides. Nearly half — 43.9% — are females, which means there is no doubt that kittens have been and are being orphaned, because every female lion will be pregnant or have dependent young during 75% of their lifetime. Young lions remain close to their mothers for up to two years, to learn necessary skills to survive.
Mountain lion kills are continuously updated on the CPW website and is available to the public: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/LionQuota.pdf
Visit www.catsarenttrophies.org as a comprehensive resource on the campaign to protect Colorado’s native wild cats and to preserve their role in delivering ecological services to Colorado.