OPPOSE UTAH’S COUGAR EXTERMINATION STUDY
TOOLKIT
- SIGN THE PETITION: https://tinyurl.com/2626yhw9
- DONATE TO UMLC - to stand up for science-based wildlife management in a well-funded policy arena, we need community support: https://www.utahmountainlion.org/donate
- SHARE OUR INSTAGRAM PROFILE & FACEBOOK PAGE - @utmountainlionconservation
When you share our page, you help expand awareness and connect people who care about science-based wildlife management. Growing this coalition is how we create real accountability.
- EMAIL BOTH YOUR HOUSE REP & SENATOR - getting to know our state legislators is a very meaningful and useful endeavor as we work to change policy around cougars in Utah. You can quickly find your district reps here (via zipcode or address): https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp
- WILDLIFE BOARD MEETING - We’ll be there! If you’re local- hope to see you there!
When:
Thursday, January 8, 2026·
9:00am – 5:00pm
Address:
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center
1157 S Waterfowl Wy, Farmington, UT 84025, USA
Details: The Utah Wildlife Board Meeting is being held on January 8 at 9 a.m. This information is subject to change, please visit Utah’s DWR Public Meetings webpage for more information, see the meeting agenda and a link to watch the meeting on YouTube.
- EMAIL THE UTAH WILDLIFE BOARD - along with the DWR Director & Liaison. If you’re not in Utah, email the DWR Director + Board Liaison. You can reference the RAC Region Map at the bottom of this page to find your region’s RAC member, but the most IMPORTANT thing is to do #3: email your legislators (house rep & senate).
Riley Peck (DWR Director)
Staci Coons (Board Liaison)
Gary Nelson (Central Region)
Paula Richmond (southern Region)
Bob Christensen (Northeastern Region)
bchristensen.wildlife@gmail.com
Ryan Foutz (North Region)
Kent Johnson (Southeastern Region)
Justin Oliver (Northern Region)
Chris Robinson (Central Region)
TEMPLATE COPIES BELOW (feel free to use and edit as you wish):
Dear Utah Wildlife Board,
I strongly oppose the cougar-removal study happening in the six Utah units. Similar predator removal efforts have failed to deliver long-term deer recovery and instead destabilize ecosystems. This plan also relies on lethal trapping, which has already resulted in hound dogs being caught, raising serious concerns about public safety, animal welfare, and humane wildlife management.
Natural ecosystems are complex, and predator–prey relationships are not simply linear, removing predators doesn’t lead to increased prey populations in a predictable way. Factors like habitat quality, weather, disease, human disturbance, and migration barriers strongly influence deer numbers.
This so-called ‘study’ was never on the agenda and the public wasn’t notified, therefore there were no comments on it, but we have a lot to say about it and we request the space and time to be heard. The only reason we know about it is because someone asked the right question at the Dec. 9 RAC meeting. This feels like a hidden initiative with huge implications for Utah’s cougar populations.
Overall, exterminating an entire species (which was stated they plan to do at the meeting) is not a long-term solution for deer recovery and is catastrophic for Utah’s cougar population.
With the utmost concern,
TEMPLATE EMAIL FOR LEGISLATORS:
Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],
I am a Utah resident writing to express serious concern about the current cougar removal “study” happening by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). This proposal- which would aggressively remove mountain lions across six units- was not listed on a public agenda and only came to light after a member of the public raised questions at a recent Regional Advisory Council meeting.
I am concerned about the lack of transparency, the absence of public notice, and whether this approach aligns with science-based wildlife management. Decades of peer-reviewed research show that large-scale predator removal does not result in long-term mule deer recovery when habitat and winter severity are the primary limiting factors. In addition, this proposal appears to rely on lethal trapping, which raises animal welfare and public safety concerns due to non-target captures, including hunting dogs.
As my elected representative, I respectfully ask that you:
- Request greater transparency from DWR regarding this proposal
- Seek legislative oversight or a public hearing on predator management practices
- Ensure wildlife policy decisions are grounded in peer-reviewed science and meaningful public input
- Modification or withdrawal of the proposed cougar removal study to ensure it aligns with peer-reviewed science, transparency, and long-term wildlife management goals
Utah’s wildlife is a public trust resource, and decisions of this magnitude deserve full public disclosure and legislative scrutiny. Thank you for your time and for representing the interests of Utah residents who value responsible, science-based wildlife management.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[City, Utah]
[Optional: Phone or Email]
CC: Office of the Governor of Utah (governor@utah.gov)
- ATTEND A RAC MEETING - if you’re in Utah in one of these regions, attend your upcoming Regional Advisory Counsel (RAC) meeting and ask questions and/or share your opposition to the cougar extermination study.
Dec 16th: Southern Region (SR) @6 PM
DNR Cedar City Complex
646 N. Main St., Cedar City, Utah
OR
DNR Richfield City Complex
2031 Industrial Park Rd., Richfield, Utah
Dec 17th: Southeastern Region (SER) @6 PM
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St., Green River
Dec 18th: Northeastern Region (NER) @6 PM
Wildlife Resources NER Office
318 North Vernal Ave, Vernal, Utah
RAC REGION MAP: