POINT-COUNTERPOINT ON STATE'S GROWING MOUNTAIN LION POPULATION\Ploy of sport hunting is not necessary.Byline: Maurice H. Getty SEN. Tim Leslie knows full well that the only issue of concern in Proposition 197 is the sport hunting of mountain lions mountain lion: see puma. . But nowhere in the language of the proposition is the real issue mentioned. This purposeful omission Purposeful omission is the leaving out of particular nonessential details that can be assumed by the reader, (if used in literature), according to the context and attitudes/gestures made by the characters in the stories. is deception. The California State Park Rangers A park ranger is a person charged with protecting and preserving protected parklands, forests (then called a forest ranger), wilderness areas, as well as other natural resources and protected cultural resources. Association opposes Proposition 197 because of this deception and because the measure provides nothing new for the management of cougars. The legislation only reiterates the list of management programs that are in place. Problem lions can already be taken, and they are being taken where they pose a threat to humans or livestock. These programs will continue regardless of the fate of Proposition 197. We support sound management of all wildlife and we support scientific research; however, we do strongly oppose using fear techniques to promote sports hunting as being the equivalent of "management." The California mountain lion is an important component of the state's natural predator-prey ecosystem. Lessons learned years ago taught us that there can be disastrous results when predators are eliminated. At that time, deer herds experienced mass starvation starvation, condition in which deprivation of food has forced the body to feed on itself. Causes are famine, fasting, malnutrition, or abnormalities of the mucosal lining of the digestive system. , rodent rodent, member of the mammalian order Rodentia, characterized by front teeth adapted for gnawing and cheek teeth adapted for chewing. The Rodentia is by far the largest mammalian order; nearly half of all mammal species are rodents. populations exploded, vegetation was destroyed, whole ecosystems were disrupted. Do we have to relearn Verb 1. relearn - learn something again, as after having forgotten or neglected it; "After the accident, he could not walk for months and had to relearn how to walk down stairs" the lessons of the 1930s? Opening up sport hunting of mountain lions so that individuals could hang trophy heads on the wall is the sole reason for this legislation authored by Sen. Leslie. Their method of hunting these native cats really pushes the definition of "sport." Cougars are no match for the pack of dogs and modern tracking technology that such "sportsmen" use in a kill. Californians already voted their will in 1990 when they passed Proposition 117, which placed a ban on mountain lion hunting for sport. The 1990 legislation, unlike Proposition 197, was clearly written, and voters knew that they were voting for protection of this magnificent animal. Today's attempt to overturn existing law is purposely pur·pose·ly adv. With specific purpose. purposely Adverb on purpose USAGE: See at purposeful. Adv. 1. sneaky and doesn't let the voter know what is really at stake. Proponents of 197 wouldn't dare put a clear issue before the people to change protection for the mountain lion. The proponents of Proposition 197 are groups of hunters and gun owners. Their support dollars are, in effect, buying themselves the opportunity to kill cougars for fun. But their TV and radio ads won't talk about hunting; you will hear only about the dangerous lions they want to save us from. Again, they know that talking about sport hunting will doom their chances, and that they will succeed only if they can hide the true meaning of Proposition 197. Sport hunting is not necessary or sensible for management of the mountain lion population. It could lead to local extinction Local extinction is where a species (or other taxon) ceases to exist in the chosen area of study, but still exists elsewhere. This phenomenon is also known as extirpation. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinctions. of lions in heavily hunted areas and would do nothing to address the real issues of public safety. Most biologists and other experts feel that there are between 5,000 and 6,000 mountain lions in California. In 1994, the Department of Fish and Game killed 122 lions; in 1995, between 110 and 120 of these cats were killed. The management tools that allow Fish and Game to destroy problem lions are clearly in place. The ploy ploy n. An action calculated to frustrate an opponent or gain an advantage indirectly or deviously; a maneuver: "A typical ploy is to feign illness, procure medicine, then sell it on the black market" of sport hunting is just as clearly not necessary. |
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