Tell Senator Pflug that education—not hunting—is the solution to wildlife conflicts

Senator Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley, has petitioned officials to allow cougar hunts in King County after her dog was sadly killed in a suspected cougar encounter. Even though Department of Fish and Wildlife experts later concluded the Senator's Shiba Inu was attacked by a bobcat, she is advocating King County become part of the cougar hunting pilot program. Tell Senator Pflug that education prevents conflicts with wildlife, not hunting.

In 1996, citizens passed Initiative 655, banning the use of hounds for hunting cougars. In 2005, the Washington Legislature formed a three-year pilot program that permitted hound hunting of cougars in five Washington counties: Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Chelan and Okanogan. The goal of the pilot program is to assess cougar populations and to address public safety. This year, the Legislature passed House Bill 1756, which extended the program for one additional season while the pilot program's report is prepared and distributed to the 2008 Legislature. HB 1756 also contains a provision allowing other counties to request to join the cougar hunting pilot program, even though the additional pilot season will not be used in the study reported to the Legislature later this year.

The cougar is a solitary animal rarely seen in the wild. However, land development, human encroachment and media attention have compounded the public perception that cougar populations are increasing and becoming a danger to our communities. Perceptions such as these fuel the notion that hunting cougar is the best possible management practice available. However, recent studies and wildlife publications state otherwise. Studies suggest our current management practices are actually achieving the exact reverse results—cougar complaints are on the rise in areas where cougar hunting is permitted. The theory behind this suggests that as older cougars are hunted out, adolescent cougars with a higher inclination to interact with humans move into the impacted areas, thus increasing possible conflicts with humans.

Read more about cougar populations in Washington State in the following articles:
Washington State Magazine's article on "Counting Cougs"
Cougar Populations Plummet
Cougar Population Dynamics and Viability in the Pacific Northwest

In order to gain acceptance into the pilot program, Senator Pflug will need to develop and implement an education program to inform the public about non-lethal cougar management practices, as well as demonstrate that the existing cougar management tools for King County aren't working. Ask the Senator to show her residents the educational program she plans to implement first. Point the Senator to proactive wildlife management information such as the HSUS's page on coexisting with cougars.

Only residents in the 5th Legislative District can email Senator Pflug, which includes: North Bend, Maple Valley, Issaquah, Sammamish, Fall City, Snoqualmie and parts of rural King County.

You can also write or call the Senator at:
102 Newhouse Building
P.O. Box 40405
Olympia, WA 98504-0405
Phone: 360.786.7608
Toll-Free: 800.562.6000
Fax: 360.786.7819

You can make a difference today! Boycott the film Evan Almighty

Actor, Steve Carell's latest film, Evan Almighty makes use of hundreds of exotic, wild animals to produce "the most expensive comedy ever made." To get as many animals as possible, filmmakers had to use Birds & Animals Unlimited, an animal supplier which has been issued four official warnings by the USDA: for chronic failure to comply with veterinary care requirements, failure to provide shelter from heat and sunlight, and failure to maintain enclosures to prevent escape. With recent advances in filming special effects, it is no longer necessary to use live animals in films. Please boycott Evan Almighty and send a message to Steve Carell and the film industry that you don't support films which use animals obtained from potentially abusive animal suppliers.

July 4th is coming—remember, pets and fireworks don't mix

Although July 4th is a time for backyard celebrations and fireworks across the nation, loud noises of the day can be very scary to your dog or cat. To keep your animal companions safe on the fourth of July, here are some quick reminders:

• The very best place for your animals is indoors at home, in a quiet, safe and comfortable environment.
• Leave a television or radio on loud enough to potentially drown out the fireworks noise but not so loud to cause neighbors to complain.
• Put away any harmful items your cat or dog may chew if he or she becomes nervous.
• If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult your veterinarian before July 4th for remedies, training techniques and calming techniques to help desensitize your pet.
• Never leave pets outside unattended or chained. Even if your yard is fenced in, a fearful pet may try to escape. Also, make sure your pet is wearing the proper identification tags—and is also microchipped—in case he does become lost.

Wishing you a happy, and safe July 4th!

Tell PAWS how you took action for the animals

We'd love to hear from you! Tell PAWS what you did to voice your opinion about any of the actions above to help animals. Did you write a letter or make a phone call? What response did you get from your actions? Good or bad, we'd love to hear about it. Email us at info@paws.org with "Actionline" in the subject line, and tell us about your experience.

Thank you for speaking out for the animals!

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Northwest leader in protecting animals since 1967, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) shelters homeless animals, rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife, and empowers people to demonstrate compassion and respect for animals in their daily lives.