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Action Alert: CPW Commission Meeting Nov. 14-15

Nov 10, 2024 | Carnivores, State Wildlife Commissions, State Wildlife Management

Mountain lion looks back a the camera over its shoulder. Large tree trunks are behind it, blurred in the background.

🚨Pack the November CPW Commission Meeting🚨

Colorado Wildlife Advocates: We Need YOU

Thank you to everyone who supported Prop 127 and made your voices heard for wildlife protection in Colorado. Even though it failed to pass, the work isn’t over: the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission needs our help.

Trophy hunting groups are doubling down, targeting CPW Commissioners who supported the initiative. Now, we need to show the CPW Commission that Coloradans are committed to wildlife protection and won’t back down!

This meeting will include a vote on a crucial management plan for mountain lions—a species that trophy hunting groups continue to exploit. 

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission will review and discuss the latest East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan update from CPW, followed by a vote on the plan. During the meeting, the commission will also consider potential adjustments to mountain lion harvest limits and regulations on the number of female mountain lions that are able to be hunted.

By attending, we’ll send a clear message that wildlife protection is a priority, and we’ll keep the pressure on to ensure CPW upholds its responsibility to safeguard Colorado’s wildlife.

🗓 Meeting Details:

You can email written comments to the CPW Commission at dnr_cpwcommission@state.co.us. Make sure to also include the individual commissioners in your email so they see these comments before the meeting. 

Talking Points

  • Recognize and commend CPW for removing goals centered on suppressing mountain lion populations. This is an important step towards prioritizing conservation. Shifting away from population suppression better respects the ecological role mountain lions play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
  • Encourage the CPW Commission to change the female mountain lion harvest number to zero as part of the management plan. Protecting breeding females is essential for the species’ long-term survival and stability. Reducing female mortality helps prevent population decline and avoids disruptions in family groups, which can lead to increased human-lion conflicts.
  • Point out that natural causes and incidental mortality (e.g., car collisions, conflicts) already regulate the mountain lion population without additional targeted reductions. Managing human-lion conflicts through education, habitat protection, and minimizing accidental deaths will effectively maintain stable populations while protecting mountain lions’ vital ecological roles.
  • As apex predators, mountain lions self-regulate their population according to available resources like territory and prey. Rather than relying on human intervention to control numbers, mountain lions play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating their own populations based on environmental factors.
  • Reinforce the need for ethical, scientifically informed decision-making in managing mountain lion populations. CPW’s focus should be on protecting biodiversity, ecosystem health, and ensuring that decisions reflect Colorado’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
  • Encourage CPW and the CPW Commission to set an example for other states by adopting progressive, conservation-focused policies that prioritize wildlife protection. A sustainable, humane approach to wildlife management—one that does not prioritize recreational killing—will help maintain healthy mountain lion populations while preventing negative ecological impacts.

Let’s pack the room with voices for wildlife! Every person who shows up strengthens the call for ethical, science-driven management that truly reflects our values. 

Together, we can make a difference!