With Proposition 127 sparking debates across Colorado, Douglas County Commissioners have loudly declared their opposition. In a unanimous move, they've backed the stance of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), arguing for the continuation of scientifically informed predator management practices. Especially controversial is Proposition 127's call for a ban on hunting mountain lions and bobcats, a move that commissioners forecast could have detrimental effects on the state's ecosystems, safety, and rural economies.
At a time when nuanced discourse is as sought-after as water in the West, bombast, and simplicity simply won’t do. Commissioner George Teal minced no words, referring to the proposition as "a poorly written law, clearly written by outsiders wanting to impose other states’ policies on Colorado,” as obtained by Douglas County. Notably, both trophy hunting and unlicensed hunting in the state are already outlawed, which proponents like Teal argue are points lost in the loud, murky discourse surrounding this issue.
The scientific approach to wildlife management that CPW has honed over decades is being defended as vital for the protection of habitats and the humans that skirt their peripheries. Commissioner Abe Laydon, a local by anyone's standard, touted the state's autonomous efficacy. "I’m a fifth-generation Coloradoan, and I think Colorado can do its best on its own,” Laydon said, as per Douglas County. “Our practices, when informed by science, are the most beneficial," a nod to the intricate work of wildlife biologists and a warning of the possible consequences of the proposition.
It's a case of unintended consequences, according to opponents of Proposition 127. Removing CPW’s well-considered authority in managing predator species could, they argue, propagate a slew of issues from ecological imbalance to amplified wildlife-human conflicts. This isn’t about cuddly cats, it’s about effective stewardship, an issue Commissioner Lora Thomas boiled down succinctly, “Biology at the ballot box is not working. This proposition would undo a lot of good that’s already in place. This proposition is not good for our state,” she said, as obtained by Douglas County. Since regulated hunting was sanctioned in 1965, mountain lion numbers have been reportedly stable or growing, showcasing a delicate balance struck between wilderness and human expansion.