East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan

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The Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) approved the East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan at the November 14-15, 2024 PWC meeting. Thank you for providing input on the draft East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan.


What is a management plan?

For Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), a management plan provides a science-based framework to coordinate strategies for maintaining healthy, resilient wildlife populations alongside demand for outdoor recreation opportunities. With development and urbanization increasing in the state, management is necessary to maintain the stability of Colorado's mountain lion populations relative to what the landscape and social tolerance can support. CPW's mountain lion management plans employ advances in research, including insights from recent long-term projects in Colorado, to maintain lion populations and provide multiple opportunities for the public to appreciate this species.

Why did CPW create an East Slope Lion Management Plan?

In 2020, CPW created its West Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan in recognition that larger, regional management scales are most closely aligned with the wide-ranging movements of lions across Colorado's landscapes and allow for managers to draw more accurate inferences from population composition and mortality data. Following the West Slope plan, CPW formulated a corresponding plan for the eastern half of the state. The East Slope Lion Plan's objective is to maintain stable mountain lion populations in the region by defining and implementing clear annual thresholds for adult female harvest and total human-caused mortality (e.g., harvest and roadkill or agricultural conflicts).

How was the public engaged?

CPW held eight public meetings in February and March 2024 to present information on mountain lions in Colorado, share details on the upcoming East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan, and hear from the public about their perspectives on mountain lions around their community. You can find a recording of a virtual public meeting, presentation slides, and the open house posters on this page. The perspectives heard at these meetings were considered when formulating the draft plan.

The draft East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan was open for a 30 day public input period in May and June 2024. Public input on the draft plan was reviewed by CPW staff prior to developing a final draft plan.

The Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) approved the final East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan at the November 14-15, 2024 PWC meeting following public comment. More information about past public engagement and input on the East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan is available in Appendix E of the final plan.

The Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) approved the East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan at the November 14-15, 2024 PWC meeting. Thank you for providing input on the draft East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan.


What is a management plan?

For Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), a management plan provides a science-based framework to coordinate strategies for maintaining healthy, resilient wildlife populations alongside demand for outdoor recreation opportunities. With development and urbanization increasing in the state, management is necessary to maintain the stability of Colorado's mountain lion populations relative to what the landscape and social tolerance can support. CPW's mountain lion management plans employ advances in research, including insights from recent long-term projects in Colorado, to maintain lion populations and provide multiple opportunities for the public to appreciate this species.

Why did CPW create an East Slope Lion Management Plan?

In 2020, CPW created its West Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan in recognition that larger, regional management scales are most closely aligned with the wide-ranging movements of lions across Colorado's landscapes and allow for managers to draw more accurate inferences from population composition and mortality data. Following the West Slope plan, CPW formulated a corresponding plan for the eastern half of the state. The East Slope Lion Plan's objective is to maintain stable mountain lion populations in the region by defining and implementing clear annual thresholds for adult female harvest and total human-caused mortality (e.g., harvest and roadkill or agricultural conflicts).

How was the public engaged?

CPW held eight public meetings in February and March 2024 to present information on mountain lions in Colorado, share details on the upcoming East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan, and hear from the public about their perspectives on mountain lions around their community. You can find a recording of a virtual public meeting, presentation slides, and the open house posters on this page. The perspectives heard at these meetings were considered when formulating the draft plan.

The draft East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan was open for a 30 day public input period in May and June 2024. Public input on the draft plan was reviewed by CPW staff prior to developing a final draft plan.

The Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) approved the final East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan at the November 14-15, 2024 PWC meeting following public comment. More information about past public engagement and input on the East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan is available in Appendix E of the final plan.

Page last updated: 03 Jan 2025, 12:21 PM