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In December, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced a plan to protect the shrinking mule deer populations in the Piceance Basin region of the state.
After years of conclusive research, officials identified predation as one of the main limiting factors affecting mule deer in the area and as such, proposed a plan that would see officials remove 10-15 mountain lions and 25 black bears from the landscape beginning this spring.
As the plan was announced, it came under scrutiny by Colorado State University wildlife biologists and animal advocacy groups.
Towards the end of January of this year, an environmental group known as WildEarth Guardians sued CPW along with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission over the plan. Despite being backed by decades of scientific research, the group’s lawsuit stated that CPW’s plans are not grounded in sound science, violate Colorado’s Constitution, and are neither supported by the vast majority of Coloradans nor in the public interest…”
Last week a judge declined to suspend the plan, allowing the CPW to continue capturing lions and bears, which got underway earlier this month.
Planning to use non-lethal traps and cages to trap the predatory animals before lethally disposing of them, WildEarth grasped at Amendment 14, which is in place to prevent inhumane trapping practices. Denver District Court Judge Robert L. McGahey Jr.’s ruling was made based on the use of live traps, which would be considered humane and lower the risk of the accidental death of non-target species.
The agency is pleased with the ruling and looks forward to the continuation of this vital project to enhance the suffering mule deer populations in the Piceance Basin and other parts of the state.
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