April 1, 2008
New Mountain Lion Encounter Protocol Announced
The Coconino National Forest and the City of Flagstaff have released a joint announcement concerning their new compaign regarding human-mountain lion interaction in the local wildland-urban interface.
"We've received a lot of public feedback on this issue" said Gene Wunzip, District Ranger for the Peaks Ranger District. "Citizens have made it very clear what matters to themselves most in such encounters: themselves. We tried placing an emphasis on substituting pets, but it was equally clear that pets came second in the family heirarchy, " said Ranger Wunzip.
District Stewardship Officer Carol Voyd, in describing the process leading to the new direction, said " It is a practical solution. We all know exceptions, but most canine companions are long gone in the earliest moments of an encounter, having fled for the safety of car or home, even if that might be in Phoenix. They play no reliable role."
Sarah Blintz, Urban Interface Wildlife Specialist for the AZ Game and Fish Department, is not supportive of this new approach: "We can't really condone this idea. It could play havoc with the lions' natural diet, potentially exposing them to all types of junkfood, albeit indirectly. We hope the forest service will reconsider. This could be especially true during Fourth of July, or especially the county fair."
The photo, probably photoshopped, was found unattributed on www.ebaumsworld.com.
Apologies to Jonathan Swift.
Have a happy April Fool's Day.