GrrlScientist ⧖ Ⓥ 🇺🇦19h ago

what the f*cking hell??

#Utah’s new "study" aims to kill ‘as many #cougars as possible’

Critics say the state’s attempt to boost #ungulate populations (& their #diseases) lacks scientific grounding & transparency

#AntiScience #ZombieDeerDisease #ecocide #warOnWildlifW https://www.hcn.org/articles/utahs-new-study-aims-to-kill-as-many-cougars-as-possible/

Show threadInfoseepage19h ago
@grrlscientist Sounds about as genuine as Japan's long history of harvesting whale meat under the auspices of scientific research.
Show threadInfoseepage19h ago
@grrlscientist Cougars are a rare and endangered animal in many area of the US and their predation levels on deer and other animals aren't large and attacks on humans are rare. Additionally, they're under deep threat from H5N1, as they eat scavenged meat from birds and the virus has a very high mortality rate in cats.
Show threadInfoseepage
@grrlscientist We've already seen this in WA state with dozens of feline animal deaths at big cat sanctuary/zoo outfit, as well as a number of dead cougars found in the wild (such as tagged animals that had stopped moving and were investigated via necropsy). Leave the cougars the fuck alone. Don't add to their troubles!
Mar 28 at 10:41amWeb
Show threadInfoseepage17h ago
@grrlscientist I just checked and the estimate is that there are maybe 2,300 cougars in Utah, while there are maybe 300,000 mule deer. There has been a decline in mule deer population over the last decade, but it's largely attributed to drought, heavy snowfall and human activity (hit by cars, habitat loss) as primary drivers, not predators like cougars and coyotes. Be pretty easy to harm the health of the cougar population in the state through hunting (particularly no limit hunting).