10/09/08 New Mexco cougars

Who is managing the New Mexico Game and Fishes Department? I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute to discuss that question. Just who is running the New Mexico Game and Fish Department? Well, you might also ask  why should I care, this is the northwest, not the southwest. Well similar groups that are encouraging and requesting certain rules in New Mexico just might be planning duplicate moves in our Pacific Northwest. WildEarth Guardians and Animal Protection of New Mexico had requested New Mexico Game and Fish Department require hunters to take an on-line cougar education and identification course before receiving a hunting license since these groups felt too many female cougars were being killed. While New Mexico game officials say the state's cougar population is healthy, guess what  the department has just recommended to the New Mexico Game Commission that the agency provide information on its website to teach hunters the difference between male and female cats so more breeding females are left and fewer kittens are orphaned. Well no one likes to think about orphans, but anyone familiar with the common house cat knows plenty of females and even one male can lead to a population explosion faster than an equal number of males and females. If the WildEarth Guardians are worried about orphans, possibly they should help in a cougar-training course so cougars identify and only kill male deer and baron does so there are no orphan fawns. Hunters and true game managers be on the alert in your state for these so-called conservationists. I'm Jeff Keane. New Mexico Federal Lands Council