Comparision contrast essays

Comparision contrast essays The cougar population is rising every year in Oregon and the population is moving closer to urban areas. As a result, cougar attacks are increasing. Management of the cougar population has become a political issue that sparks many debates. It is not too often anyone ever sees a cougar but they are out there. We walk threw the woods not even thinking of these creatures, but they are thinking about us and watching us. Sometimes cougars are too interested in us and our domestic animals, and this usually ends up with an injury or even death. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is responsible for maintaining a plan to manage the cougar population in Oregon. By examining ODFWs figures we can see that the population is rising. Prior to 1994 the annual growth rate was estimated at four to five percent. In 1994 a new law came into effect. Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 635-067-004(5) was put into place to ban the use of dogs for hunting or pursuing cougar. After the ban, the growth rate increased to approximately eight to twelve percent per year. ODFW states that, increased observations, road kill incidents and increasing damage complaints indicate the statewide cougar population has increased substantially since 1980. The new law was put into effect after a campaign alleged that the use of hounds was too cruel. However, without the use of hounds hunting the cougar has become to difficult. According to statistics on ODFWs website, from 1970 to 1994 hunters had an average success rate of 42%. From 1995 to 2000 the rate was down to a five percent average. To find a cougar without a dog is like searching for a needle in a hay stack. You must have a dogs nose to pick up on the sent of a cougar, a humans nose will not do. Cougars can smell and hear an approaching human long before the human is aware of the presence of the cougar. As they approach the cougar it will continue to ...