A new bill has been introduced into the Utah state legislature, HB 125 (Rep. Carl Albrecht). This bill calls for the increased killing of Utah's mountain lions, bobcats, bears, and coyotes in a misguided attempt to boost deer and elk populations.  If passed, the bill would require the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to expand their predator control program and increase trophy hunting of these animals.

HB 125 is:

Unnecessary: UDWR has authority for managing predator and prey species using professional discretion, but would lose it under this bill.

Politically motivated: This legislation would strip legal authority to manage wildlife for all citizens from UDWR and put it into the hands of hunting organizations.

Anti-science: Many factors affect deer and elk populations besides predators, including drought, fire, disease, severe winters, livestock grazing, loss of habitat, and hunting.

Unethical: Cougars, bears, bobcats, and coyotes will be relentlessly killed in an attempt to increase deer and elk herds, which will in turn damage the ecosystem.

Utah's native carnivores are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem and the stability of our state's wildlife.  They help prevent the spread of diseaseby removing sick individuals from deer and elk herds, keeping the populations healthier.  HB 125 is harmful to Utah's native carnivores as well as other wildlife that greatly benefit from the important ecological help carnivores provide.

HB 125DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AMENDMENTS

It is extremely important we STOP this deadly legislation from becoming LAW.  We need to tell them that in 2020 - wildlife management in Utah must be backed by science, and NOT placed in the hands of hunting organizations.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!