Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2014)
in other words september18 2014 Voices From the Crowd: Cougars on Facebook By Dale Webb It’s hard to miss. When a cou- gar is spotted in our area, the Face Book posts erupt. It isn’t long and the huggers and the killers are soon at each other’s throats and the cougar, well they are probably on the back porch looking for an easy pet snack. Meanwhile one post- er surmises that this is a problem that has gone on since man walked into the Nehalem Valley, that it is simply nothing new. Well let’s look at the facts. Of course cougars predated man in the Nehalem Valley, but it is estimated that cougars evolved around 390,000 years ago and then went extinct in North America around 10,000-12,000 years ago. Then they re-colonized North America from Central America. Cougars are found in North, Central and South America. When white men walked into the Nehalem Valley they found low game populations due to the vast stands of old growth timber and consequently cougar numbers were low also. In the areas that did have game, like the Burn area, new settlers were quick to remove cougars, as they were direct competi- tion for the food source that came in the form of deer and elk. As the Nehalem Valley became more settled and deer and elk became even scarcer, cougars didn’t stand a chance. Once the harvest of the old growth forest started the deer and elk populations started a slow growth period mainly hampered by the local inhabit- ants that continued to utilize the deer and elk for food. Since this period, the cou- gar population remained very low in our area as they were viewed as a predatory animal up until 1967, when they were petitioned by sports people to be granted game animal status. Once the Oregon Department of Fish and Game was granted author- ity to manage the cougar populations they immediately suspended hunting on cougars for two years due to the es- timated 200 cougars left in Oregon. In 1970 the department authorized 25 tags in eastern Oregon and none for western Oregon. In 1976, 115 tags were autho- rized in eastern Oregon and only 10 in western Oregon. In 1994, tags were 308 in eastern Oregon and 280 for the west- side of the state. Things had changed, in fact the cougar population was estimated at exceeding 3,000 cougars state wide in 1994. ODF&W had actually done a great job of restoring cougars across the state, but some people in the state of Oregon were not happy with that. In egon became valid for the second tag in 1994, ballot measure 18 was passed by an effort to gain control of the cougar the populous counties in western Ore- population. It can be fairly claimed that gon, rural counties in the rest of the state ODF&W efforts to control the cougar voted the opposite. Measure 18 banned population state wide have failed; they basically now are at or close to the car- the hunting of cougars with hounds. Between 1970 and 1994 cougar rying capacity of the land with a popula- hunting was mainly conducted with the tion estimate of over 5,700. Hunter attitudes towards cou- aid of hounds; hunters had to draw for a tag and as is noted above the tag num- gars have also changed over the years. bers were not numerous. Cougar hunt- Hunters now find themselves in the same ing was mainly a trophy hunt, and guides position of the first settlers in Oregon; made a good living in the winter taking they are in competition with the cougars hunters who got lucky enough to draw a for deer and elk. Many studies have tag, out on hunts. The deer and elk hunt- been conducted on cougar predation ers in the state could not shoot a cougar and the answers are primarily that cou- gar kills consist of 66% if they saw one, un- deer and 33% elk and less they had a tag and In regards to cougars throw in a porcupine hardly anyone did. The being dangerous to now and then. Actu- guides encouraged their humans, well if they ally one of the first thing clients to take mostly really wanted to eat sports people notice is males, us, there would be tons the absence of porcu- which helped protect of missing hikers and pines which have great- the cougar population hunters in this state... ly diminished across the even further. ODF&W When cougars start state. Cougars kill one also could control the hanging out around deer or elk on average harvest in the differ- humans though it is once every 8 days, so ent regions of the state cause for concern, the math is quite clear by allocating tags for this is not normal 5700 cougars times 45.6 certain areas, this also behavior and should be kills per year=259,000 helped safe guard the addressed. deer or elk. While that cougar populations. is an over simplification Many think that of the actual ungulate hunting cougars with hounds is too easy and unsporting. I kill by cougars because of the number would challenge that they have not been of young cougars in the population, it on a hound cougar hunt. It takes many does drive home the fact that cougars far hours to locate a fresh track and success exceed hunter harvests in Oregon. In is not always guaranteed. Females with 2012 hunters harvested 18,128 elk and kittens were not allowed to be taken 43,098 deer across the state. In 1961, and hunter success while high was not 163,439 deer were harvested and ironi- a slam-dunk, averaging around 40%. As cally 1994 was the peak harvest of elk in far as sporting, shooting a cougar sitting Oregon at 26,064. up in a tree or shooting an unsuspecting Hunters now buy a cougar tag deer or elk are really no different, that not only for the opportunity to harvest a moment is the conclusion of the hunt. cougar, but also as a matter of doing their The hunt is all the points in time up until part to help stop the cougar population the trigger is pulled. from damaging their hunts any further. Once Measure 18 passed the I believe that is somewhat in vain and hunting for cougars in Oregon drasti- only bringing back the hounds will solve cally changed. ODF&W naively started this problem. Back in the hound era out with a four-month season during the cougars were selectively harvested, now deer and elk seasons and didn’t sell a it is lead in the air if a cougar is spot- lot of $50 tags. The tag price was soon ted. I’m not sure that is the best way to reduced to $10 to encourage hunters to manage a game species, but cougars will buy the tags and a year-around season never be in danger of a population crash was set in place in 1997. Hunter harvest caused by hunters, but maybe caused by started to pick up and soon exceeded the themselves as they continue to deplete total cougar harvest in 1994 of 145, but the deer and elk in the state. Many hunt- it was apparent the cougar population ers are starting to question if they should was still expanding and at a fast rate. In be hunting in certain areas of the state 2005 two tags could be purchased for due to low game populations, they know eastern Oregon and in 2007 all of Or- they are only supposed to be harvesting 3 Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Chip Bubl Tobie Finzel Karen Kain Dr. Carol McIntyre Aaron Miller Dale Webb Grant Williams Photography Tracy Easlon Karen Kain Scott Laird Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 www.VernoniasVoice.com the surplus and in some areas that is a stretch of the imagination. In regards to cougars being dan- gerous to humans, well if they really wanted to eat us, there would be tons of missing hikers and hunters in this state. Cougars are more than capable of tak- ing out a human and most victims would never know what hit them. When cou- gars start hanging out around humans though it is cause for concern. This is not normal behavior and should be ad- dressed. So to answer the question as to whether the recent cougar sightings are simply nothing new, the answer is, there has never been a generation of Nehalem Valley residents that have had this many cougars in and around their community. Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 Lady’s Night Wed 5-12 Cedar Side Inn “STILL BIKER FRIENDLY” Events Karaoke Every 2nd & Last Friday Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 Ping Pong Every 2nd & Last Sunday iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841 • Specialty hamburgers • Draft beer & mixed drinks • Pool tables & satelite TV • Special live music events • Free Wi-fi Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Sunday, Sept. 21 Texas Hold Em Saturday, Sept. 27 The Hit Men Pool Tournament Most Friday Nights Beer & Kegs to go Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999
