CPW Releases Draft of East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan
By Dave Shaffer
Today, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) released its draft East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan. Everyone is encouraged to review and provide input on the draft plan at EngageCPW by June 14. Personally, I’m gonna recommend they relocate every cat on the East Slope to Boulder or LODO (Lower Downtown Denver), along with our “relocated” wolves of course.
Earlier this year, CPW held eight public meetings to present information on mountain lions in Colorado, share details on the East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan, and hear from the public about their perspectives on mountain lions around their community. The perspectives heard at these meetings were considered when formulating the draft plan.
CPW’s mountain lion management plans employ advances in research to conserve mountain lions around the state. The draft plan and public input form is now available at Engage CPW. Public input on the draft plan will be accepted through Friday, June 14.
Public input on the draft plan will be gathered and reviewed by CPW staff as part of the planning process prior to developing a final draft plan. The final draft plan will be presented to the Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) to consider for approval later this year.
Once approved by the PWC, the Final East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan will provide the framework for CPW to maintain a stable mountain lion population on the East Slope of Colorado.
Why is CPW proposing an East Slope Lion Management Plan?
In 2020, CPW created its West Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan and now CPW is formulating a corresponding plan for the eastern half of the state. The East Slope Lion Plan’s objective is to maintain stable mountain lion populations in the region by defining and implementing clear annual thresholds for adult female harvest and total human-caused mortality (e.g., harvest and roadkill or agricultural conflicts).
What is a management plan?
For CPW, a management plan provides a science-based framework to coordinate strategies for maintaining healthy, resilient wildlife populations alongside demand for outdoor recreation opportunities. With development and urbanization increasing in the state, management is necessary to maintain the stability of Colorado’s mountain lion populations relative to what the landscape and social tolerance can support.
