Proposed Colorado ban on hunting of mountain lions, other wild cats makes November ballot

An initiative that would ban the hunting and commercial trapping of mountain lions and other wild cats will be on the statewide ballot in November.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said Wednesday that the measure backed by wildlife advocates had garnered more than enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 5 election.

Backers turned in 187,147 signatures. Election officials determined there were more valid signatures of registered voters than the 124,238 required. The proposal, organized by a coalition called Cats Aren’t Trophies, would outlaw what it calls trophy hunting.

The coalition includes wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers. Its members want to prohibit the hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx. Exceptions would include killing an animal to protect people and livestock, the accidental wounding of a cat, actions by authorized wildlife officers and scientific research activities.

“Colorado voters will have an opportunity to halt the inhumane and needless killing of mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and beautiful fur coats,” Samantha Miller, the Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign manager and a Grand County resident, wrote in an email.

The ban’s supporters say mountain lions aren’t killed for meat, unlike deer, elk and other wildlife.

“While the measure stops the recreational trophy hunting and commercial fur trapping of wild cats, it allows lethal removal of any problem animal for the safety of people, pets, or farm and ranch animals,” Miller added.

But opponents argue state wildlife biologists are better equipped to manage mountain lion populations.

“We are disappointed to learn that the required signature level was reached,” said Suzanne O’Neill the executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation, in an email. “This is another instance of ballot-box biology presented to the voters. It aims to take away Colorado Parks and Wildlife expertise and (the agency’s) extensive experience in applying science-based wildlife management as to mountain lions and bobcats.”

Opponents of the proposed hunting ban made similar arguments about returning wolves to Colorado. The state’s voters in 2020 narrowly passed an initiative mandating the release of wolves in Colorado to bring back the animal that was wiped out in the state due to hunting.

CPW started releasing wolves in northern and northwest Colorado in late 2023. Since then, the wolves have roamed and run afoul of ranchers whose livestock has been killed.

Last year, state wildlife officials estimated Colorado’s mountain lion population at 3,000 to 7,000. They said hunters kill hundreds of mountain lions and bobcats every year.

While the initiative’s ban would cover lynx, that cat — which was restored to Colorado after a long absence — is protected under both state and federal law. Miller said if the measure became law, it would continue to protect lynx regardless of its status under endangered species regulations.

Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.

Originally Published: July 31, 2024 at 2:35 p.m.