Tom Venesky: Vermont’s mountain lion return plan seriously flawed

I usually don’t care too much about what other states do when it comes to hunting and fishing regulations.

When it comes to the outdoors, Pennsylvania is so unique – and blessed – that we rarely need to follow the lead of another state.

But there are times when we need to pay attention, because there are things that could be done somewhere else that impacts the things we enjoy here.

For some reason, it seems that there’s always a push, or support, in Vermont to reintroduce mountain lions. It’s not an effort from the biologists at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, but rather nonprofits.

Why should we care about mountain lion reintroduction in Vermont? Because it’s really not that far from Pennsylvania – New York is all that stands in the way.

Currently there’s a push by the nonprofit Mighty Earth to have Vermont Fish and Wildlife conduct a feasibility study examining mountain lion reintroduction in the state. The organization even claims it can cover the estimated $200,000 cost of the study through philanthropic funding sources.

Mighty Earth also has indicated its mountain lion plan isn’t limited to Vermont, and it’s part of a campaign to “rewild eastern North America” and “bring balance to eastern forests,” starting in Vermont.

And that isn’t a surprise. When it comes to efforts, or just rumors, to bring back mountain lions, Vermont always seems to be in the conversation.

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In 2015, a wildlife researcher with another nonprofit based in Vermont said it was only a matter of time before mountain lions return to the northeast part of the country.

The researcher also said if they do return, that’s a good thing because mountain lions will eat deer and help improve forest health.

That kind of reasoning is exactly why I find fault with many of the reasons given by groups that want to see mountain lions in the East. Often, the rationale is based on simplistic thinking – lions eat the deer that eat the forest – but that’s not how wildlife management works.

I see similar rationale in Mighty Earth’s justification for bringing back mountain lions. According to a release on the group’s website from CEO and founder Glen Hurowitz, reasons for reintroducing mountain lions include: balancing Vermont’s ecosystem; the state’s past successes of restoring other species in the past (beaver and turkey); and the mascot for the University of Vermont is a mountain lion, and there’s a 200-mile ski trail in the state called the Catamount Trail.

Essentially, Hurowitz was trying to build on Vermont’s historical connection to the large cat as a reason to bring them back.

But there’s too much at stake when it comes to mountain lions to just rely on nostalgia. A mountain lion return would present an entirely new set of challenges to biologists, hunters and residents.

Problems could easily arise with livestock, human safety and prey species such as deer. And those problems most likely wouldn’t be contained within Vermont’s borders. The challenges could pour into nearby states, such as Pennsylvania, and that needs to be considered.

Fortunately, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is telling everyone to slow down on the mountain lion restoration hype. Before a feasibility study can be considered, there needs to be comprehensive research and dialogue with other states.

Hopefully, reasoning prevails over rushed hopes and Vermont takes a very long look at the ramifications of mountain lion reintroduction.

And as far as Mighty Earth’s campaign to rewild eastern North America, please don’t look at Pennsylvania as the next host for a mountain lion return. I know we have a couple of college football teams named after lions and panthers, but those are simply mascots and by no means an indication we want to have the real thing roaming our woods one day.

Besides, it wasn’t that long ago when a proposal to reintroduce martens back into the state unleashed a flood of opposition.

Imagine the reaction if mountain lions are next?