Suit Seeks to Stop Cougar-Killing Study
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit in federal court in Portland to halt an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife study that would kill cougars to measure how elk herds respond to fewer predators.
The five-year, $5.2-million project would kill 50% of the cougar population in two study areas in northeast and southwest Oregon beginning next year if elk herds are found to be in decline.
It’s not clear how many cats would be killed.
The environmental groups objected to the study’s premise that mountain lions are responsible for the decline of elk herds.
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