Quote:
Originally Posted by Senter Cove Guy
Yesterday, a friend again sighted a mountain lion in the area of Mirror Lake. The first sighting was 2 years ago in the same area.
I read that the state won't acknowledge that mountain lions exist in NH because then they would have to protect them. No reason was given for why this would be necessary. Does anyone have an answer?
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Actually Mountain Lions have been a protected species (by statute) for many decades in New Hampshire.
That fish & Game biologists have yet to acknowledge their return, many theories abound. Chief being that they have not yet obtained a carcass or easily verifiable DNA existence of resident mountain lions.
I believe it is only a matter of time before they do indeed acknowledge the existence of resident mountain lions.
John Harrigan, the longtime woods & waterlife columnist for the Sunday Union Leader, has for a long time chided NHF&G for not acknowledging same.
RSA 208:1-b Mountain Lion. – No person shall, at any time, shoot, hunt, take, or possess, any mountain lion or any part of the carcass, taken in this state. However, this section shall not apply to a person acting in self-protection or protecting such person's property.
Source. 1967, 81:1, eff. June 26, 1967. 1996, 108:3, eff. July 14, 1996.