Utah Mountain Lion Conservation

08/21/2026

There’s a lot going on these days with our lions in Utah. Here’s a little reminder of why we do the work that we do. They are worth protecting!

08/20/2026

Excellent LTE by Brandy Price in the The Salt Lake Tribune:

“Utahns deserve wildlife policy grounded in independent science, not in research funded by groups that profit from predator removal. The “study” used to justify the mountain lion bill is financed largely by private hunting organizations whose financial stake in increasing trophy‑hunting opportunities is obvious. When the funders stand to gain from the outcome, the public should question the research’s objectivity.

It’s also important to acknowledge Sen. Scott Sandall’s direct connection to this issue. As the owner of a Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU), he benefits financially from policies that reduce natural predation and increase the availability of trophy animals. That doesn’t automatically disqualify him from participating in wildlife legislation, but it does create a conflict of interest — one that should be openly recognized when he sponsors or supports bills affecting mountain lions.

We keep hearing that this bill is about protecting livestock. If that were true, we would see data showing widespread depredation or evidence that current tools are inadequate. Instead, the numbers show that lion‑related livestock losses in Utah are relatively low and already managed through existing channels. What this bill really protects is profit: more tags, more hunts, and more revenue for private hunting operations.

Wildlife management should serve the public interest, not private financial interests. Utahns deserve transparency, independent science, and policy that prioritizes long‑term ecosystem health over short‑term profit.

This bill needs to be repealed and Sen. Sandall must answer for the deeper connections and who is actually benefiting. Utahns do not want to see an eradication order of their beloved wildlife.

Brandy Price, Riverton”

https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/letters/2026/08/19/letter-utahs-mountain-lion-statute/

Letter: Utah’s mountain lion statute is about protecting profit, not livestock. It should be repealed.

08/04/2026

Utah already made mountain lion hunting year-round, removed bag limits, and allowed traps and snares with only a general hunting license.

The state’s own population reconstruction suggests Utah’s mountain lion population declined from roughly 1,900–2,000, with an upper estimate of around 2,700 adults in 2016 to roughly 1,000 by 2025.

Then came a multi-year predator management study across six units with an explicit objective: remove as many cougars as possible.

Paid hunters and trappers. No upper limit. Forty-five lions removed from the six study units between late 2025 and March 19, 2026.

The state is tracking deer response and cougar removals.

It is not tracking the remaining mountain lion population within the study units as the removals occur.

This isn’t about “hunting bad” or “save every cat.”

It’s a basic wildlife management question:

How do you call it adaptive management if you aren’t measuring the population you’re removing?

08/04/2026

It’s Monday and we’re feeling a little beat! Don’t know about you, but we sure could use a kitten pick-me-up. Tag a friend who needs a some mountain lion kitten snuggles in their life!

08/03/2026

We’re really looking forward to this event. See you there!

08/01/2026

For study Saturday today we would like to focus on the word BIODIVERSITY. Utah’s ecosystems were formed with cougars as a keystone species. They provide many benefits in a variety of habitats across the state. As individuals and as a population, they aid in making an ecosystem richer and more resilient. With all of these components working together, the biodiversity aids in stabilization of these three levels.

Utah’s current management plan is aimed at killing and removing as many cougars as possible in 6 units in Utah and statewide with year round unlimited hunting. Thus Utah's management plan decreases biodiversity on all levels and stabilization at all levels.

We need your help to fight back. Please call the DWR and your reps and have respectful, insightful conversations about this issue. Not sure what to say, send us a message and we will help you!

We also have plenty of science-backed, peer-reviewed research that gives amazing talking points highlighted on our story under "studies."

07/24/2026

In case you missed it!

“Some in Utah say that mountain lion predation of mule deer may be unduly reducing the deer population, which may reduce opportunities to hunt deer, along with attendant economic benefits. For this and other reasons, a five-year state-backed mountain lion removal study is ongoing across six Utah hunting units. And the Utah Legislature changed mountain lion hunting regulations in 2020 to allow unlimited year-round hunting.

Utah Mountain Lion Conservation opposes these management policies and practices saying they “threaten a vital keystone species, a natural balance, public safety, lifestyles, traditions, and livelihoods.”

Our guests include Utah Mountain Lion Conservation Founder Denise Peterson and Aaron Johnson, a houndsman and advocate for ethical cougar management.”

Listen here: https://www.upr.org/show/access-utah/2026-07-23/mountain-lion-conservation

07/24/2026

In case you missed it!

“Some in Utah say that mountain lion predation of mule deer may be unduly reducing the deer population, which may reduce opportunities to hunt deer, along with attendant economic benefits. For this and other reasons, a five-year state-backed mountain lion removal study is ongoing across six Utah hunting units. And the Utah Legislature changed mountain lion hunting regulations in 2020 to allow unlimited year-round hunting.

Utah Mountain Lion Conservation opposes these management policies and practices saying they “threaten a vital keystone species, a natural balance, public safety, lifestyles, traditions, and livelihoods.”

Our guests include Utah Mountain Lion Conservation Founder Denise Peterson and Aaron Johnson, a houndsman and advocate for ethical cougar management.”

Listen here:

As the state of Utah debates mountain lion removal, Utah Mountain Lion Conservation Founder Denise Peterson and houndsman Aaron Johnson join us to talk about the cats.

07/24/2026

If you’ve spent any amount of time in the mountains, there’s a good chance you’ve gone by a cougar. These cats are naturally conflict averse and try to avoid humans as much as possible. That said, it never hurts to brush up on your mountain lion knowledge just in case you do get to see one in the wild.

Visit utahmountainlion.org to learn more!

And remember, just because you see a mountain lion doesn’t mean that it poses a threat. It could just be going about its business!

07/22/2026

Tune in tomorrow morning (7/23/2026) from 9:00-10:00 AM to Access Utah! Houndsman Aaron Johnson and UMLC founder Denise Peterson will be speaking with host Tom Williams about mountain lions in Utah, including current management concerns.

Access Utah is Utah Public Radio’s original program focusing on the things that matter to Utah.

🔗 Details: https://www.upr.org/show/access-utah