A measure is set to appear on the Colorado ballot that aims to ban the hunting and commercial trapping of mountain lions and other wild cat species.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Proposed Initiative #91, titled “Prohibit Trophy Hunting,” has successfully gathered enough signatures to be included in the general election on November 5.
If passed, this legislation would also provide protection for bobcats and lynx.
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The initiative has received substantial support from wildlife advocates, including the Cats Aren’t Trophies (CATs) group, which operates out of Grand Lake, Colorado.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office noted a ballot measure that would ban hunting mountain lions and other wild cats if it receives voter approval in November. (iStock)
“Colorado voters will have the chance to put an end to the cruel and unnecessary killing of mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and beautiful fur,” said Samantha Miller, campaign manager for CATs, in a press release.
The proposed measure has garnered nearly 200,000 signatures.
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Mountain lions, or pumas, are solitary felines that are primarily active during dawn and dusk, according to The Mountain Lion Foundation. (iStock)
“While the initiative prohibits recreational trophy hunting and commercial trapping of wild cats, it still allows for the lethal removal of any problematic animals when public safety, along with the safety of pets or livestock, is at risk,” Miller further explained.
During the last hunting season, hunters in Colorado reported taking down 502 cats in the state, as stated by Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Fox News Digital reached out for comments from Colorado Wildlife & Parks.
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Last hunting season, a total of 502 wild cats were reported killed by hunters in Colorado, as per Colorado Parks & Wildlife. (iStock)
While certain states implement specific regulations regarding the hunting of wild cat species, California has prohibited mountain lion hunting since 1972 and, since 1990, has designated them as a “nongame species,” according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Additionally, California made further strides in wildlife conservation by banning the trapping of bobcats in 2015 and prohibiting bobcat hunting in 2020.
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Mountain lions, commonly referred to as pumas, are solitary animals that tend to be most active during twilight hours, according to the Mountain Lion Foundation based in Sacramento.
