Let’s step forward into the modern era and vote ‘Yes’ to protect our Colorado wild cats from trophy hunting and trapping. With a ‘Yes’ vote on Proposition 127, Coloradans have an opportunity to express our current values and connect our minds with our hearts. A chance to end the ecologically unsound, unsporting and cruel practice of chasing down hundreds of mountain lions each year with packs of dogs, for nothing other than heads and hides.
This harassment and killing of our mountain lions is indefensible. A wealth of science shows it is not necessary. Science shows mountain lion numbers will not explode out of control. Deer and elk numbers will not go down.
Last season about 50% of mountain lions killed were females. Long after weaning from mother’s milk, kittens still need their mothers to survive. The great toll on females inevitably orphaned kittens last year, left alone and starving in the middle of winter.
The ecologically unsound, unnecessary assault on our Colorado wild cats doesn’t end there. Our bobcats are trapped, beaten to death or strangled without limit; furs then sold for profit outside the USA.
If trophy hunting and trapping of our Colorado wild cats serves no ecological purpose and is clearly inhumane and cruel, it must stop.
A ‘Yes’ vote on proposition 127 will reflect the hearts and educated minds of Coloradans.
Lynn Ackerman
Highlands Ranch, CO