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Texas wildlife regulators are weighing new rules that would require anyone who kills a mountain lion to report it to the state within 24 hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dreamstime\/TNS<\/p>\n
State regulators will decide this week whether to approve new rules for mountain lion harvesting, aimed at learning more about the species’ population in Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Mountain lions, also known as cougars and pumas, are considered \u201cnongame\u201d animals in Texas, meaning there are no limits on when they can be hunted or trapped on private property.<\/p>\n
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Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners are scheduled to vote<\/a> Thursday on new rules that wouldn\u2019t change that, but would require anyone who kills a mountain lion to report it to the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n READ MORE: Hill Country man faces 74 charges, accused of decapitating deer<\/a><\/p>\n The proposed rule would mandate electronic reporting within 24 hours and submitting a tooth and tissue sample from the animal within 60 days. Those samples could either be taken by the hunter or by a Parks and Wildlife biologist upon request.<\/p>\n The report would include only the county where the animal\u00a0was harvested, without any additional location information, and hunters’ information would be kept confidential.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Texas Parks and Wildlife said in a news release<\/a> that the proposal is intended to collect more data about mountain lions in the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTexas maintains the most flexible mountain lion regulations of any state in the country, with no harvest limits,\u201d the agency said. \u201cTPWD supports the rights for hunters, trappers and landowners to hunt and manage mountain lions. Better data on mountain lion populations can help support these practices.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n While the agency has previously had voluntary reporting options in place, it said a lack of reporting has resulted in little usable data.\u00a0<\/p>\n The tooth and tissue submission would be used to determine the age and sex of the lion, helping provide more information about the state\u2019s mountain lion population, the agency said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n READ MORE: Big Bend National Park cancels plans to rebuild lodge, fix water system<\/a><\/p>\n The commission is accepting public comment on\u00a0the proposal before Thursday\u2019s vote. Comments can be submitted through the TPWD website<\/a> until Wednesday, or in person until 9 a.m. Thursday\u00a0at the agency\u2019s headquarters in Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n