22 April 2005
Mountain lions the target of public hearing
The SD Game, Fish, and Parks dept. is holding hearings on opening up a season on mountain lions. The article reflects a somewhat minimizing attitude on the part of GF&P towards reports of lions in (east river) areas outside of the Black Hills.
Parts of eastern South Dakota could provide cover and prey for mountain lions, but lacking is at least one element needed for their numbers to increase outside the Black Hills, state Game, Fish & Parks officials said.
"One important thing is other lions," John Kanta, a GF&P biologist from Rapid City, said. "I don't believe that there is a viable lion population in the area for reproduction."
As a result, lions spotted in eastern South Dakota are likely only passing through, Kanta said.
Last summer there were a number of lion sightings in some rather diverse locations east river. In the Chief's immediate area, there were two sightings in one day 1.5 mi. from his home port, and, the same day, another sighting 10 miles to the south. A month or so later there was a deer kill with lion evidence in a hay field ¼ mile from the house (and in plain view of the front door!). This all has gotten Mrs. Chief's attention, as she likes to go out and walk the country roads around our area. The proximity of the two sets of above-mentioned sightings on the same day would tend to indicate that they resulted from more than one lion...uh, what's that again about possibly not enough lions around to set up reproduction? From the report, again:
Several people accused the GF&P of being in denial about the presence of mountain lions in the eastern part of the state.
"I don't know if it's denial," Arden Petersen, the GF&P's Division of Wildlife regional supervisor, said. "We've taken reports for a long time. We try to document as much as we can — whether it's tracks, a description or a kill. We have a wide range between what people actually see and what may or may not be mountain lions.
However, GF&P officials said, there has not been any extensive research into the existence or habits of mountain lions outside the Black Hills.
Admittedly, if we already knew about it, it wouldn't be research. Having said that, minimizing the probability of a lion population east river, doesn't seem like the way to go. "I don't know if it's denial"? What's THAT supposed to mean? It might be denial? This sort of sounds like whistling in the dark.
Based on the recent experiences in OUR rural neighborhood. The Chief will definitely keep an eye peeled as he resumes his seasonal bicycle rides!
Parts of eastern South Dakota could provide cover and prey for mountain lions, but lacking is at least one element needed for their numbers to increase outside the Black Hills, state Game, Fish & Parks officials said.
"One important thing is other lions," John Kanta, a GF&P biologist from Rapid City, said. "I don't believe that there is a viable lion population in the area for reproduction."
As a result, lions spotted in eastern South Dakota are likely only passing through, Kanta said.
Last summer there were a number of lion sightings in some rather diverse locations east river. In the Chief's immediate area, there were two sightings in one day 1.5 mi. from his home port, and, the same day, another sighting 10 miles to the south. A month or so later there was a deer kill with lion evidence in a hay field ¼ mile from the house (and in plain view of the front door!). This all has gotten Mrs. Chief's attention, as she likes to go out and walk the country roads around our area. The proximity of the two sets of above-mentioned sightings on the same day would tend to indicate that they resulted from more than one lion...uh, what's that again about possibly not enough lions around to set up reproduction? From the report, again:
Several people accused the GF&P of being in denial about the presence of mountain lions in the eastern part of the state.
"I don't know if it's denial," Arden Petersen, the GF&P's Division of Wildlife regional supervisor, said. "We've taken reports for a long time. We try to document as much as we can — whether it's tracks, a description or a kill. We have a wide range between what people actually see and what may or may not be mountain lions.
However, GF&P officials said, there has not been any extensive research into the existence or habits of mountain lions outside the Black Hills.
Admittedly, if we already knew about it, it wouldn't be research. Having said that, minimizing the probability of a lion population east river, doesn't seem like the way to go. "I don't know if it's denial"? What's THAT supposed to mean? It might be denial? This sort of sounds like whistling in the dark.
Based on the recent experiences in OUR rural neighborhood. The Chief will definitely keep an eye peeled as he resumes his seasonal bicycle rides!
