OREGON COUGARS NEED YOUR HELP
Big Wildlife Urges You to Take Action Now
Trophy hunters are pushing a bill, HB 2971, in the Oregon state legislature that would bring back the cruel practice of using a pack of radio-collared dogs to chase and corner cougars. Voters banned this extreme practice but allowed it for public protection. If HB 2971 becomes law, trophy hunters will once again be allowed to use hounds to run a cougar up a tree and shoot the animal at point blank range. Recently, the Oregon House already passed the bill. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation this week.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1.) Contact Governor Ted Kulongoski. Urge him to OPPOSE HB 2971 (See talking points below for more details about the bill)
Phone the Governor at: 503-986-6530
Or email his staff at:
Jo.L.Bell@state.or.us
And/or Ann.Butte@state.or.us
Or fax a letter to the Governor at: 503-378-3225
2.) Contact your State Senator. Urge your Senator to OPPOSE HB 2971
To identify your state senator, visit: www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
OR call 800-332-2313 and ask to be connected to their office
If you can spare a few more minutes:
3. Contact Senate Natural Resources Committee Chair, Senator Avakian. Urge the Senator to OPPOSE HB 2971
Phone: 503-986-1717
Email: sen.bradavakian@state.or.us
4. Contact Senator Alan Bates, a swing vote on the Committee. Urge the Senator to OPPOSE HB 2971
Phone: 503-986-1703
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us
TALKING POINTS (PLEASE USE YOUR OWN WORDS):
* HB 2971 overturns voters' will by allowing the unacceptable practices of baiting and hounding bears and cougars to be used at the discretion of ODFW. Current law allows hounding for damage-causing cougars and to protect public safety - this bill will allow indiscriminate killing of cougars that caused no harm or threat. More cougars were killed this year than in the history of the state without dogs; HB 2971 will increase that number and it is not needed and it's not the answer.
* Oregon's Cougar Management Plan is designed to allow the indiscriminate killing of all cougars found within certain target areas. HB 2971 provides a means to implement a bad plan by overturning the law.
* Nobody knows how many cats there are in the state, yet we're killing them at record rates and numbers. The ODFW population model has been severely criticized by expert biologists. Use the precautionary principle when in doubt.
* The Cougar Management Plan has a budget; and the ODFW has made millions of dollars on cougar tags, so they can well afford to pay for their Plan without violating current law established by the voters.
Big Wildlife Urges You to Take Action Now
Trophy hunters are pushing a bill, HB 2971, in the Oregon state legislature that would bring back the cruel practice of using a pack of radio-collared dogs to chase and corner cougars. Voters banned this extreme practice but allowed it for public protection. If HB 2971 becomes law, trophy hunters will once again be allowed to use hounds to run a cougar up a tree and shoot the animal at point blank range. Recently, the Oregon House already passed the bill. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation this week.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1.) Contact Governor Ted Kulongoski. Urge him to OPPOSE HB 2971 (See talking points below for more details about the bill)
Phone the Governor at: 503-986-6530
Or email his staff at:
Jo.L.Bell@state.or.us
And/or Ann.Butte@state.or.us
Or fax a letter to the Governor at: 503-378-3225
2.) Contact your State Senator. Urge your Senator to OPPOSE HB 2971
To identify your state senator, visit: www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
OR call 800-332-2313 and ask to be connected to their office
If you can spare a few more minutes:
3. Contact Senate Natural Resources Committee Chair, Senator Avakian. Urge the Senator to OPPOSE HB 2971
Phone: 503-986-1717
Email: sen.bradavakian@state.or.us
4. Contact Senator Alan Bates, a swing vote on the Committee. Urge the Senator to OPPOSE HB 2971
Phone: 503-986-1703
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us
TALKING POINTS (PLEASE USE YOUR OWN WORDS):
* HB 2971 overturns voters' will by allowing the unacceptable practices of baiting and hounding bears and cougars to be used at the discretion of ODFW. Current law allows hounding for damage-causing cougars and to protect public safety - this bill will allow indiscriminate killing of cougars that caused no harm or threat. More cougars were killed this year than in the history of the state without dogs; HB 2971 will increase that number and it is not needed and it's not the answer.
* Oregon's Cougar Management Plan is designed to allow the indiscriminate killing of all cougars found within certain target areas. HB 2971 provides a means to implement a bad plan by overturning the law.
* Nobody knows how many cats there are in the state, yet we're killing them at record rates and numbers. The ODFW population model has been severely criticized by expert biologists. Use the precautionary principle when in doubt.
* The Cougar Management Plan has a budget; and the ODFW has made millions of dollars on cougar tags, so they can well afford to pay for their Plan without violating current law established by the voters.
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Oregon
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