Colorado Parks and Wildlife seems to be more intent on vengeance than public safety. When Kristen Marie Kovatch, hiking alone, was killed by a mountain lion recently, CPW killed two lions and would have killed three had they been able to find the third. The male had human DNA, but the other did not. So they killed an innocent female. Why don’t they anesthetize them first?
A similar situation in Durango happened in 2021 when Laney Malavolta was attacked by a bear protecting its cubs. From reports, it seems likely her dogs were off leash, which might have precipitated the attack. CPW killed the bear and her two cubs. Why? Because CPW worried the animals might have learned to eat people. I asked where the data was for that assumption and was told the public would be in an uproar if we waited to find out. Could the cubs at least be taken to a sanctuary?
I have no problem euthanizing predators that are stalking people or breaking into homes. But animals going about their business while we are in their territory? No. We have a responsibility to coexist. When there are attacks, we should view the context. Was it provoked or a natural behavior? Or is the animal a significant ongoing threat to humans?
I am so sorry for the individuals who were killed and their families. But we should have empathy for the animals as well. They live here too.
Darcy Hitchcock
Durango
