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A Few Words on National Cougar Day
3 years ago
Mountain Lions are my favorite animal, and so it's hard to address some things to do with them without getting emotional, so I will attempt to list my addresses plainly.
Firstly, and to myself, most importantly, I want to bring to light the absolute abuses of mountain lions at the hands of wildlife biologists. In the United States, there is a significant population of cougars that have their lives hampered exponentially in difficulty, all in the name of "scientific research". Wild animals need every sense they have running at peak capacity most of the time in order to stay alive, and it's a miracle any of them last as long as they do while put under unnecessary strains at the hands of scientists. Neck movement-limiting radio collars, even on kittens, making it difficult to chase down prey. Ear tags (I've even seen some pumas with multiple per ear) that limit movement of the ears, heavier ones often even bending down cartilage, making the ear flop down like a golden retriever, and sometimes even tearing out. The absolute unnecessary sacrifice of plucking their teeth plucked out so that their age can be tested directly. Tattooing identification numbers on the inside of their mouth, as if their ears wasn't bad enough, potentially making it far easier to infection due to the fact they live off of a diet of raw meat. So many cougars tortured, maimed, and even killed by self proclaimed people-of-science. They claim to have and even do their best to show positive emotion, and even what they consider love towards the animals, all the while while ruining so many of the animals' lives; what I'd call an abusive relationship at the slightest. Unable to see the flaws in their own actions, justifying them in whatever way they see fit. Every person involved in the process I've spoken to seems to be in this cloud where they see it as okay to hurt animals for even the most useless of scientific data. "Studies" running on for the animals' whole lives, no hypothesis or theories, just collecting tracking data and samples, entirely at the wellbeing of the animal. And once the funding runs out, lots of forest critters living the rest of their lives covered in heavy "scientific" hardware straining their necks and tearing through their ears. Collars that were meant to fall off, bud didn't, and plenty still with their ears pulled in whichever direction by permanent tags. But of course, question anyone in the sciences today and you'll receive the "I AM THE SCIENCE" treatment.
Secondly, the effects of urban sprawl on mountain lions and other carnivorous mammals. In lots of cities and other communities, it's common for deer and other herbivores to purposefully take shelter among mankind, allowed to do so based on the fact that they're 'cute'. While this is true, it has an awful effect on the environment. In many places, carnivorous animals, including cougars, are shot on sight once in city limits. Even the best case scenario will end with them being tranq'ed, tracked, and put in the category of the paragraph above. All the while their food remains safe in a zone that they cannot reach. Meanwhile houses are continuously built further and further into the wilderness. Tearing down animals' homes and driving away nature, often by the rich and famous who claim to care so much about climate change, but scoff at the idea of protecting the physical environment. Millions upon millions of dollars invested into hypocrisy. There's already plenty of abandoned urban sprawl that could be reclaimed with a bit of elbow grease, rather than expanding further outwards.
Lastly, the action of killing mountain lions directly comes onto the list. While there are many anti-hunting groups, of which I am thankful for, the action is still allowed. While there is rarely an excuse to go carnivore hunting, except in the case of starvation of one's self, it is allowed for the sake of 'fun' and seen by many as a 'sport' drenched in the blood of innocent animals. If a person needs to eat, or feed their family, they should of course be allowed to, and in the same note, if one needs to defend themselves or their property from dangerous animals, there should be NO limitations on how they should do so in such dire circumstances, including any limitation of firearms being an infringement on one's natural right to protect themselves. But of course, the same rights should absolutely fall to wild animals. While mankind should respect nature, it is also their duty to protect it. Most states only hold the extremes, such as California where even defending one's self is illegal without lots of licenses and fees beforehand, and on the other side, plenty of rural states that do nothing to enforce the laws against poaching and openly encourage hunting. This is something that requires a balance, and one can be achieved with enough understanding.
I do hope that my words reach enough people to make a difference, or even if not, the attempt was still worth the effort. Cougars, like many other large wild cats, deserve respect and solitarily, but are very rarely afforded it as much as large cats on other continents. Even searching up mountain lions online can show how differently they are treated compared to jaguars, leopards, tigers, etc., nearly every single one touched by man being fitted with ear tags and a collar, or euthanized outright. The United States seems to have no respect for nature so long as it may be a threat to humans in any way, and instead substitute their faux environmental right woes instead with air quality and temperature. The narrative completely disregards the plight of carnivorous animals, either outright casting them as hostile to humanity, or placing them in the hands of those who will gladly maim them in the name of science. Wild animals have the same right to pursue life as any of us, and should be freely allowed to do so, until they impede upon ours.
Firstly, and to myself, most importantly, I want to bring to light the absolute abuses of mountain lions at the hands of wildlife biologists. In the United States, there is a significant population of cougars that have their lives hampered exponentially in difficulty, all in the name of "scientific research". Wild animals need every sense they have running at peak capacity most of the time in order to stay alive, and it's a miracle any of them last as long as they do while put under unnecessary strains at the hands of scientists. Neck movement-limiting radio collars, even on kittens, making it difficult to chase down prey. Ear tags (I've even seen some pumas with multiple per ear) that limit movement of the ears, heavier ones often even bending down cartilage, making the ear flop down like a golden retriever, and sometimes even tearing out. The absolute unnecessary sacrifice of plucking their teeth plucked out so that their age can be tested directly. Tattooing identification numbers on the inside of their mouth, as if their ears wasn't bad enough, potentially making it far easier to infection due to the fact they live off of a diet of raw meat. So many cougars tortured, maimed, and even killed by self proclaimed people-of-science. They claim to have and even do their best to show positive emotion, and even what they consider love towards the animals, all the while while ruining so many of the animals' lives; what I'd call an abusive relationship at the slightest. Unable to see the flaws in their own actions, justifying them in whatever way they see fit. Every person involved in the process I've spoken to seems to be in this cloud where they see it as okay to hurt animals for even the most useless of scientific data. "Studies" running on for the animals' whole lives, no hypothesis or theories, just collecting tracking data and samples, entirely at the wellbeing of the animal. And once the funding runs out, lots of forest critters living the rest of their lives covered in heavy "scientific" hardware straining their necks and tearing through their ears. Collars that were meant to fall off, bud didn't, and plenty still with their ears pulled in whichever direction by permanent tags. But of course, question anyone in the sciences today and you'll receive the "I AM THE SCIENCE" treatment.
Secondly, the effects of urban sprawl on mountain lions and other carnivorous mammals. In lots of cities and other communities, it's common for deer and other herbivores to purposefully take shelter among mankind, allowed to do so based on the fact that they're 'cute'. While this is true, it has an awful effect on the environment. In many places, carnivorous animals, including cougars, are shot on sight once in city limits. Even the best case scenario will end with them being tranq'ed, tracked, and put in the category of the paragraph above. All the while their food remains safe in a zone that they cannot reach. Meanwhile houses are continuously built further and further into the wilderness. Tearing down animals' homes and driving away nature, often by the rich and famous who claim to care so much about climate change, but scoff at the idea of protecting the physical environment. Millions upon millions of dollars invested into hypocrisy. There's already plenty of abandoned urban sprawl that could be reclaimed with a bit of elbow grease, rather than expanding further outwards.
Lastly, the action of killing mountain lions directly comes onto the list. While there are many anti-hunting groups, of which I am thankful for, the action is still allowed. While there is rarely an excuse to go carnivore hunting, except in the case of starvation of one's self, it is allowed for the sake of 'fun' and seen by many as a 'sport' drenched in the blood of innocent animals. If a person needs to eat, or feed their family, they should of course be allowed to, and in the same note, if one needs to defend themselves or their property from dangerous animals, there should be NO limitations on how they should do so in such dire circumstances, including any limitation of firearms being an infringement on one's natural right to protect themselves. But of course, the same rights should absolutely fall to wild animals. While mankind should respect nature, it is also their duty to protect it. Most states only hold the extremes, such as California where even defending one's self is illegal without lots of licenses and fees beforehand, and on the other side, plenty of rural states that do nothing to enforce the laws against poaching and openly encourage hunting. This is something that requires a balance, and one can be achieved with enough understanding.
I do hope that my words reach enough people to make a difference, or even if not, the attempt was still worth the effort. Cougars, like many other large wild cats, deserve respect and solitarily, but are very rarely afforded it as much as large cats on other continents. Even searching up mountain lions online can show how differently they are treated compared to jaguars, leopards, tigers, etc., nearly every single one touched by man being fitted with ear tags and a collar, or euthanized outright. The United States seems to have no respect for nature so long as it may be a threat to humans in any way, and instead substitute their faux environmental right woes instead with air quality and temperature. The narrative completely disregards the plight of carnivorous animals, either outright casting them as hostile to humanity, or placing them in the hands of those who will gladly maim them in the name of science. Wild animals have the same right to pursue life as any of us, and should be freely allowed to do so, until they impede upon ours.
