Washington Hunter
Well-known member
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GOLD HILL, Ore. -- Residents of this Southern Oregon town have had it with the cougar. Last month, Reba, one of Chris Catania's dogs, was gored after the cougar jumped a 4-foot fence leading into the house's backyard. Other residents have had their livestock attacked. Many are afraid to let their animals out.
"Reba's scared to death to go outside," said Chris Catania. "I'm scared."
Twelve years ago, residents could have called on a "government trapper." But the trappers were eliminated amid budget cuts. Now, the cougar's confrontation with residents has rekindled interest in the program.
Residents say Wildlife Services trapper could do what landowners have so far been unable to: track the offending cougar and get rid of it.
Whereas Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists do not have the resources to remove pet-killing cougars, state hunting laws ban houndsmen from using dogs to chase cougars as part of the hunting season. By contrast, Wildlife Services agents can be authorized to chase the cougar with dogs on public lands.
But Brooks Fahy, from the group Predator Defense in Eugene, says the actions of the offending cougar are "no excuse" to contract with Wildlife Services. She likens it to using "a nuclear bomb instead of a .22-caliber bullet."
"It sounds like that animal needs to be taken out," Fahy says. "But that doesn't mean you need a whole government-funded program.
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GOLD HILL, Ore. -- Residents of this Southern Oregon town have had it with the cougar. Last month, Reba, one of Chris Catania's dogs, was gored after the cougar jumped a 4-foot fence leading into the house's backyard. Other residents have had their livestock attacked. Many are afraid to let their animals out.
"Reba's scared to death to go outside," said Chris Catania. "I'm scared."
Twelve years ago, residents could have called on a "government trapper." But the trappers were eliminated amid budget cuts. Now, the cougar's confrontation with residents has rekindled interest in the program.
Residents say Wildlife Services trapper could do what landowners have so far been unable to: track the offending cougar and get rid of it.
Whereas Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists do not have the resources to remove pet-killing cougars, state hunting laws ban houndsmen from using dogs to chase cougars as part of the hunting season. By contrast, Wildlife Services agents can be authorized to chase the cougar with dogs on public lands.
But Brooks Fahy, from the group Predator Defense in Eugene, says the actions of the offending cougar are "no excuse" to contract with Wildlife Services. She likens it to using "a nuclear bomb instead of a .22-caliber bullet."
"It sounds like that animal needs to be taken out," Fahy says. "But that doesn't mean you need a whole government-funded program.
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