State study would selectively reduce cougar numbers
in certain areas over the next five years
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that a proposed five-year study by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to remove a specific number of cougars from certain areas where elk are declining would have no significant environmental, social or economic impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act, and that it would have no long-term effect on cougar populations.
"Our finding is based on our review of the scientific analysis and consideration of the broad range of points made by people who took the time to comment," said Anne Badgley, Regional Director of the Services Pacific Region. "We believe this study would yield valuable information for wildlife managers and have minimal adverse impacts."
The study calls for the state to remove up to 32 cougars over five years from the Sled Springs and Wenaha wildlife management units in northeast Oregon and the Dixon and Indigo units in southwest Oregon. The state has studied nutritional and weather-related declines in elk population for the past 20 years, but has no scientific information on how reduced cougar numbers would affect herds. The study would provide that information, but the state must submit a detailed grant-agreement to the Service for approval before beginning.
The state proposes to fund 25 percent of the study with state hunting license funds , and 75 percent with federal Wildlife Restoration Program funds. The federal funds are administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service and come from a tax on sporting arms and ammunition.
An environmental assessment, prepared by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in January 2001, analyzed the states proposal to use federal funds to study elk declines. In addition to cougar control in several areas, the environmental assessment identified three other ways to obtain information on the effects of predation and nutrition on elk populations in Oregon. Those included:
