PLEASE NOTE: Brian Vincent has a new email address. He can now be reached at [log in to unmask] Big Wildlife E-News: Issue 5, August 22, 2008Welcome to Big Wildlife's enews, a monthly email update about our work to protect and restore carnivores throughout North America. We will be providing this free communication, along with periodic action alerts, to our members, supporters, and colleagues. If you do not wish to receive these updates, please let us know and we will remove you from our distribution list. Thanks. OREGON LAWMAKERS TO REVIEW COUGAR KILLING PLANOn Friday, September 12, Oregon lawmakers will hold a joint Senate Environment and Natural Resources and House Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee hearing in Newport, Oregon, in part, to review the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's (ODFW) Cougar Management Plan (CMP). That Plan, launched in 2006, calls for indiscriminately killing the big cats throughout Oregon. To make matters worse, last year Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law a measure that essentially overturned the 1994 voter-approved ban on hound hunting of cougars. Hunters with hounds now are able to kill up to 2,000 cougars across the state. The upcoming hearing is a chance for Oregonians to urge lawmakers to halt the cougar killing plan. Oregonians, please scroll down to the action alert below this enews to learn what you can do. BIG WILDLIFE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITESome of you may have noticed Big Wildlife's website, www.bigwildlife.org, has a new look. The site, developed by Megumi Saito and The Institute of Advanced Media, is a state-of-the-art, creative site that highlights our campaigns to save cougars, bears, wolves, and other carnivores, provides in-depth materials about these keystone species, and empowers visitors to take action. For those groups looking for a web designer, we encourage you to contact Megumi at [log in to unmask] and IAM at [log in to unmask] They are highly professional, extremely talented , and committed to helping groups like Big Wildlife. WASHINGTON SCALES BACK COUGAR HUNTINGRecently, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to reduce the total number of cougars killed by hunters by 40 percent. While Big Wildlife has called for an immediate ban on cougar hunting, we believe the Commissions change was an acknowledgment that liberalized hunting of the big cats had contributed significantly to declines in the cougar population. Rest assured, we will continue to push for a total ban on trophy hunting of carnivores, including cougars. Click here to learn what you can do to save cougars in Washington. To read more go to: http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=16156 ACTION ALERTOregonians, Please Urge Lawmakers to Halt the State’s Plan to Kill up to 2,000 CougarsOn Friday, September 12, Oregon lawmakers will hold a joint Senate Environment and Natural Resources and House Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee hearing in Newport, Oregon to discuss pressing environmental issues facing the state. In the afternoon, the joint committee will review the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) Cougar Management Plan (CMP). That Plan, launched in 2006, calls for indiscriminately killing the big cats throughout Oregon. To make matters worse, last year Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law a measure that overturned the 1994 voter-approved ban on hound hunting of cougars. Now, hunters with hounds are able to kill up to 2,000 cougars across the state. The September 12 hearing is a chance for Oregonians to urge lawmakers to immediately halt the cougar killing plan.WHAT YOU CAN DO:1) Attend the September 12 hearing to personally urge lawmakers to immediately halt the Cougar Management Plan. Be sure to bring written testimony to submit to the committee in case time does not allow for you to speak publicly. See sample letter and talking points below this alert for a template for your own testimony. Hearing details:When: Friday, September 12. Cougar plan will likely be discussed after 1:00PMWhere:Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University2030 SE Marine Science Dr Newport, OR 97365 Phone: 541 867 0100Website: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/ Click here for a map to the Center 2) If you can not attend, email, call, or write to lawmakers to urge them to immediately halt the Cougar Management Plan. See sample letter below this alert Send your comments to THREE PEOPLE – Senator Alan Bates, Chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee; Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and Beth Patrino, the Committee Administrator coordinating the hearing. Senator Alan Bates900 Court Street NE S-312Salem, OR 97301Phone: (503) 986-1703Fax: (503) 986-1561E-mail: [log in to unmask] Representative Arnie Roblan900 Court St. NE, H-292Salem, OR 97301Phone: 503-986-1409Email: [log in to unmask] Beth Patrino, Committee Administrator900 Court Street NE, Room 453Salem, OR 97301Phone: (503)986-1751Email: [log in to unmask] TALKING POINTS FOR LETTER TO EDITOR AND LETTER TO YOUR LEGISLATOR*Cougars present no threat. There has never been a verified cougar attack in Oregon and the plan will do nothing to prevent an attack. *The ODFW plan is ineffective. According to studies, expansive killing of cougars is actually increasing conflicts by removing adult, resident cougars who are more wary of people and opening up territory to younger, potentially more aggressive cougars. Click here to read Seattle Times story, "Is Cougar Hunting Breeding Chaos?" *The ODFW’s continued emphasis on killing cougars diverts resources away from techniques that are far more effective in reducing conflicts between cougars and humans, such as appropriate land-use planning, improved animal husbandry, and comprehensive public education. SAMPLE LETTERDear Committee Member: I urge you to immediately halt the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) Cougar Management Plan that calls for indiscriminate killing of cougars across Oregon. According to scientific studies, expansive killing of cougars is actually increasing conflicts by removing adult, resident cougars who are more wary of people and opening up territory to younger, potentially more aggressive cougars. Cougars are not a threat to public safety and nothing in the state’s cougar plan will prevent an attack. Besides, there are simple steps people can take to avoid conflicts with cougars. For example, don’t feed wildlife. Predators tend to follow prey. Don’t leave pet food outside as food may attract cougars. Keep your pets indoors or secure them in a covered run. Shelter domestic farm and ranch animals. Because cougars depend on surprise to catch their prey, installing motion lighting around your home and animal enclosures may keep cougars away. Hike, bike, and run with others when you’re in cougar country. Educate your family – without instilling unnecessary fear – about cougars. Teaching children to respect and revere wildlife will help them avoid conflicts while appreciating nature. In 1994, Oregonians approved Measure 18, which outlawed hound hunting of cougars. Since then, the ODFW has dramatically liberalized hunting of cougars to accommodate trophy hunters disgruntled with the ban. To make matters worse, last summer, Governor Kulongoski signed into law legislation that allows hunters to pursue cougars with hounds to implement the cougar killing plan. We are blessed to live in a state where cougars roam. As good stewards of Oregon’s natural wonders, we can co-exist with our wild neighbors. With that in mind, Oregon should scrap its cougar killing plan. Sincerely,YOUR NAMEADDRESSPHONEEMAIL Please note: Brian Vincent's email address has been changed to: [log in to unmask] SURE TO CHECK OUT BIG WILDLIFE'S NEW WEBSITE AT: www.bigwildlife.org"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men."-- Leonardo Da Vinci"One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds."-- Aldo Leopold - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp