Imagine if we approved new drugs or new airplanes by popular vote. Companies would represent their interests and the people would decide. That sounds pretty crazy to me. We have teams of professionals in organizations like the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration making these decisions because the average citizen simply doesn’t have the time or skills to properly weigh the benefits and risks.
In nearly every area of our society, we have entrusted regulators with setting rules and enforcing them. Voters can intervene when there is a major political problem, but for the most part, we leave regulation and enforcement to the experts.
I am an avid outdoorsman. I have been a hunter for much of my life and continue to be an avid fisherman. Through my experiences, I have developed a great respect for our Colorado parks and wildlife. Team responsible for managing wildlife in Colorado. By incorporating science into their decisions, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials can effectively use hunting and fishing as tools to maintain healthy wildlife populations across the state. The agency is self-funded through licensing fees and recreational fees.
This is a win-win situation. Without controls, our wildlife is at risk of extinction and our parks are being destroyed. However, without controlled hunting and fishing, overpopulation could decimate ecosystems and lead to equally serious problems.
A few years ago, I was surprised when there was a ballot proposal to reintroduce wolves to Colorado. It wasn’t that the question shouldn’t be asked; I just didn’t understand why voters, most of whom have no idea of the potential benefits and risks, were tasked with making the decision. I live here in the mountains and am a nature lover, but I still don’t feel qualified to make such a decision.
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How can someone who lives in Denver and goes to the mountains once or twice a year to ski feel in any way qualified to make this decision? It’s like asking the people of Colorado to vote on whether a new bridge should be made using steel or concrete. I have no idea; these decisions should be left to the appropriate experts.
Curious, I tried to find out if this reintroduction was being pushed and supported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, but could not find any information on this. The only stories I could find described the implementation of the ballot mandate.
A bill is on the ballot in 2024 that would ban the hunting of cougars, bobcats and lynx. The bill was not introduced or supported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Since only 6.4% of Colorado residents are hunters, the bill will likely pass for sentimental reasons – “save the kitties.” However, if passed, it would undermine the science used to manage wildlife in the state.
Mountain lions are apex predators, meaning they have no natural enemies in the wild. Colorado Parks and Wildlife avoids taking political positions but supports hunting mountain lions as a means of controlling populations..
Wildlife management is a science, so we should listen to the experts, in this case Colorado Parks And Wildlife, to give us direction. This should have nothing to do with whether you like hunting or not – it’s simply about allowing the agency to do its job. I don’t like opera and I don’t like drag shows, but that doesn’t mean I would advocate for bans.
To maintain healthy and stable wildlife ecosystems in the state, there must be management by experts. We want to maintain a balance that maintains healthy animal and fish populations while ensuring that human safety and environmental ecosystems are considered. Overpopulation of wildlife can have disastrous side effects and that is why we have Colorado Parks And Wildlife in the first place. Decisions like this need to be made by experts.
Mark Lewis, a native Coloradoan, has had a long career in the technology industry, including serving as CEO of several technology companies. He is now retired and writes thrillers. Mark lives in Edwards with his wife, Lisa, and their two Australian Shepherds, Kismet and Cowboy.
