Activist hires wildlife biologist to protect cougars

[question everything]

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Activist hires wildlife biologist to protect cougars

By: LAURA MITCHELL - Staff Writer

LA CRESTA ---- Political activity for most people consists of voting and signing a petition or two every year. Some people take it a step further and contribute to or volunteer with campaigns. But not many take it as far as Vicki Long.

Long, who desperately wants to keep mountain lions from becoming extinct in Southern California, hired her own wildlife biologist in 2004 to collect data and study mountain lion habitat.

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Rick Hopkins, of Live Oaks Associates of San Jose, has a doctorate degree in wildlife ecology from UC Berkeley and has studied cougars or worked on cougar policy for 29 years... Long, 56, who owns a large, ranch-style home in La Cresta near the Santa Rosa Plateau in the hills west of Murrieta, hired Hopkins to collect data, educate lawmakers and the public and advocate for mountain lions.

In early 2005 the two made a preliminary presentation to the Riverside Conservation Agency, a western Riverside County panel that administers the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan, which is designed to protect 146 species by acquiring habitat land in Riverside County. Hopkins hopes to give the panel an update in the next month or two on the information he and Long have so far collected, he said.

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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/02/13/news/californian/21006192017.txt

[Cleita]

1. Thank God. Wildlife and Game has killed three of them

in my area in the last few months because they got to close to populated areas. I mean they weren't threatening anyone, except with their presence. I really think this could be handled differently without killing the animals if they hadn't attacked anyone.

[freeplessinseattle]

2. wonderful, she has my respect

a shame that she has to do that on her own, though. I hope she can help.