Mountain Lion Rule Change Pulled from Agenda

Mountain Lion, courtesy of San Antonio Express News

Thanks to all TCA folks who commented in favor of the proposed rule change to require reporting of mountain lion mortalities. Roughly 70% of the comments received by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission were in favor of adoption. A couple of days before the Commission meeting, however, the proposal was pulled from the agenda. Chairman Paul Foster affirmed the need for data that the rule change would have provided while saying that more time was needed to engage with those most affected by the decision. He directed department staff to spend time over the next year collaborating with hunters and private landowners developing a data collection approach that is practical, achievable, and scientifically valid.