Latest news with #ODWC
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mountain Lion Kittens Were Finally Photographed in Oklahoma. Skeptics Claim the Cats Have Been Breeding There All Along
Wildlife officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation have confirmed two photographs of mountain lion kittens in the state. The trail-cam photos shared by the agency Tuesday were captured in October and December 2024 in two different counties. Officials say the photos are the first concrete evidence they've seen of mountain lions potentially breeding in Oklahoma. That two-word disclaimer, 'they've seen,' is notable, because mountain lion sightings have risen sharply in Oklahoma over the last few years. This has led many Oklahomans, including state legislators, to believe the cats are making a comeback. The governor even signed a new law in May that lays the groundwork for a future cougar hunting season should ODWC decide to establish one in the future. ODWC, however, has long maintained that the state does not have a breeding population of mountain lions, and that any big cats spotted in Oklahoma are likely transient animals that wandered in from Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nebraska. State wildlife biologists have said in years past that they simply haven't found enough physical evidence (in the form of scrapes, tracks, scent-marks, and the like) to support the existence of a 'viable local population' of cougars within state lines. Tuesday's photo release obviously changes that calculus, something social media users have been eager to point out. The comment section in ODWC's June 10 Facebook post includes many assertions that the agency has been 'gaslighting' its residents and 'pushing a lie' about the state's cougar populations. There are also dozens of claims by commenters about the other cougar kittens they've seen with their own eyes, to which the agency has generally and politely responded: Prove it. Read Next: Utah Mountain Lion Makes 1,000-Mile Journey to Colorado, Where It's Killed by Another Cougar 'What's the lie?' ODWC wrote in response to one commenter. 'This is the first time photographic evidence of kittens has been provided to us and reviewed by a biologist. Any previous sightings of kittens was not provided to us with documentation.' The agency says the photos of the cougar kittens were captured on trail cameras in two very different parts of the state and sent in by private landowners. The first photograph, taken in Osage County in October, shows an adult lion with two half-grown kittens following behind it. The second was taken at night in Cimarron County in December, and it shows an adult lion with three smaller kittens. Cimarron County is the westernmost county in the Oklahoma panhandle, and it abuts the border of New Mexico, which is home to a healthy population of well over 3,000 mountain lions. Osage County lies nearly 400 miles to the east and just south of Kansas, and it's where the majority of mountain lion sightings confirmed by ODWC in recent years have taken place. Looking broadly at this history, the agency says it's been able to verify 85 cougar sightings since 2002, with a noticeable increase in 2023, when there were around 20 sightings confirmed within the state. Officials noted in Tuesday's announcement that this increase in cougar sightings has coincided with the growing use of trail cameras in Oklahoma. They said the recent photographs of kittens could lead wildlife biologists to deploy more of those cameras and conduct additional research into local cougar populations. But they also stopped short of calling those photographs irrefutable proof of an established, breeding population of Oklahoma mountain lions. 'While exciting and interesting, these sightings are just one small piece of the puzzle needed to better understand this species,' ODWC furbearer biologist Jerrod Brown said in that announcement. 'It's our first piece of evidence that mountain lions may be breeding in Oklahoma, a key indicator the population is becoming established.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Mountain lion kittens found in Oklahoma
CIMARRON COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, mountain lion kittens were seen in two counties in 2024, indicating a healthy ecosystem. Officials say photographs of an adult mountain lion and two half-grown kittens were taken in Osage County in October 2024. LOCAL NEWS: Edmond man finds Hammerhead Worm on Porch More photos were taken of an adult mountain lion and three kittens in Cimarron County in December 2024. 'While exciting and interesting, these sightings are just one small piece of the puzzle needed to better understand this species,' said Jerrod Davis, furbearer biologist for the Wildlife Department. 'It's our first piece of evidence that mountain lions may be breeding in Oklahoma, a key indicator the population is becoming established. That two female mountain lions have established at least part of their territories in Oklahoma is a direct reflection of a healthy ecosystem. 'It could open the door for potential research. Our first focus should be evaluating the abundance and distribution of mountain lions in the state. We've been confirming sightings through our online reporting process for more than 20 years and may deploy more intensive camera arrays. Depending on those surveys, further research may be possible.' LOCAL NEWS: Lincoln Co. family worried about more rain on the way after being stuck at home According to ODWC, these photos show that mountain lions may be reproducing in Oklahoma. The department has 85 confirmed sightings of individual mountain lions since 2002, with an uptick in sightings in 2023, although some sightings may be of the same mountain lion. Territories can fluctuate based on habitat conditions. ODWC says female mountain lions are thought to have a home range of up to 75 square miles, while males may be up to 275 square miles. Mountain lions are able to reproduce at around two years of age, and most females have kittens in alternate years with an average litter size of three. The kittens can be born during any month, but they're usually born in correspondence with that of ungulates, the base prey group. To learn more about ODWC or mountain lions sightings in Oklahoma, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Is Making Nonresidents Get Permission, Pay $100 to Hunt Public Land
Hunting in Oklahoma could look a lot different this fall, particularly for nonresident hunters and professional guides, thanks to two key pieces of legislation – one of which is already law, while the other is gaining rapid support. Signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt into law on Wednesday, Senate Bill 448 creates a lottery-style permit system for nonresident hunters who want to hunt Oklahoma's Wildlife Management Areas, or WMAs, and National Wildlife Refuges in the state. Nonresident hunters will have to obtain written authorization from the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. If demand outpaces the number of hunters these areas can support, a lottery will determine access. On top of regular license costs, successful applicants will also pay a permit fee of up to $100. It's not clear how many nonresidents will be allowed to hunt a given property before the lottery kicks in. Supporters claim the new rules will help manage hunting pressure and protect public land access for Oklahoma residents. 'The passage of Senate Bill 448 marks a significant step forward in safeguarding Oklahomans' access to our state's wildlife management areas,' said Sen. Warren Hamilton, a sponsor of the bill. 'This legislation prioritizes the rights of our citizens while continuing to welcome visiting outdoorsmen from other states through the lottery system and permitting process outlined in this bill.' ODWC has backed the move, calling it a tool to prevent overcrowding on popular public lands. But not everyone's thrilled. Some hunters have voiced concern about limiting access for DIY traveling sportsmen and the potential impact on local hunting economies. Before reaching the governor's desk, SB 448 passed the state Senate with a unanimous vote, then proceeded to the House, where it passed 78-1. The new law takes effect on Nov. 1. More Regs for Outfitters While SB 448 is now officially law, SB 208 is still moving through the legislative process, but is gaining momentum quickly. SB 208, written by Rep. Ty Burns, would require all hunting guides operating in Oklahoma to register and obtain a state license through the ODWC. Commercial hunting preserves and landowners guiding only on their own property are exempt from this requirement. The ODWC will handle details like license fees, training, and background checks. Supporters say SB 208 is about raising standards and ensuring professionalism in the field. Critics argue it could burden small, independent guides and shrink Oklahoma's hunting tourism. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in March and has cleared key House committees. It's expected to reach the House floor for a vote in the coming weeks. Like SB 448, if passed, SB 208 would go into effect on Nov. 1, 2025. Both SB 448 and SB 208 reflect a broader push for tighter management of Oklahoma's public lands. If SB 208 becomes law, out-of-state hunters and guides will face a dramatically different system this fall.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As Cougar Sightings Continue in Oklahoma, Lawmakers Are Moving to Set a Hunting Season
Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow the state's Department of Wildlife Conservation to issue up to five mountain lion hunting permits through a lottery system. Introduced by Senator Casey Murdock, Senate Bill 1073 passed the Oklahoma Senate Monday by a 39 to 7 vote. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. Opponents to the proposal say they are against it because Oklahoma doesn't have enough lions to sustain a hunting season. Senator Murdock, meanwhile, has made it clear that establishing a hunting season and laying the groundwork for one are two separate things. 'It's important to clarify that this bill does not establish a mountain lion hunting season,' Murdock tells Outdoor Life. 'Instead, it specifies that if the Department of Wildlife decides to implement a mountain lion season in the future — something that is already allowed under existing law — participation will be determined through a raffle system.' The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has not signaled any intentions of reestablishing mountain lion hunting, which has been outlawed in the state for nearly 70 years. By the agency's own admission, there is not currently a 'viable population' of mountain lions in Oklahoma. The ODWC did not respond to a request for comment from Outdoor Life to say whether or not the agency was considering or entertaining the idea of a hunt. The ODWC listed mountain lions as a game species with a closed season in 1957. Although the big cats are protected in the state, Oklahomans can legally kill them to protect themselves or domesticated animals. Senator Murdock, who commented on the bill Tuesday, has not yet responded to follow-up questions from Outdoor Life about why he and other lawmakers are opening the door to a lion hunt at this time. Murdock said in a past hearing on the bill that it would be an opportunity to increase tourism in the state, according to the Kansas City Star. Although mountain lions are sometimes spotted in Oklahoma, the ODWC says 'we have far fewer than rumors would lead you to believe.' There have been 81 confirmed mountain lion sightings in Oklahoma since 2002. And because the animals are so reclusive, it's hard to estimate how many are in the state at any one time. Read Next: Cougar Kittens Confirmed in Michigan for the First Time in a Century Wildlife experts believe that the lions seen in Oklahoma are mostly transient animals rather than full-time Sooner residents. Transient mountain lions are typically young individuals without an established territory. There is also no physical evidence, after years of research, of a breeding population of mountain lions in Oklahoma, according to the ODWC. If there were breeding cats, the agency says it would have seen proof in the form of numerous tracks, scrapes and scent-marks, or road-killed lions of different age classes. Without this evidence, biologists believe that Oklahoma's lions are wandering individuals coming from Colorado, New Mexico, and other nearby states. 'We know from some of the samples we have been able to collect from mountain lion carcasses we found over the last two decades, they're from Colorado, they are from South Dakota, from Nebraska,' ODWC wildlife biologist Jerrod Davis told The Oklahoman in 2021. 'They are traveling quite a long way trying to find an area that is suitable for them to set up a home range. 'They are not a viable local population,' Davis added. Murdock says he prefers a raffle approach over an auction for any future mountain lion tags, because he believes the latter favors individuals with deep pockets while excluding everyday hunters. Read Next: Wisconsin Bowhunter Kills Cougar in Self Defense: 'I Felt Like the Only Option I Had Was to Shoot' 'By utilizing a raffle, we ensure that the average person has a fair chance to participate in the hunting season, promoting inclusivity and accessibility,' Murdock says. 'This method democratizes the opportunity among hunters, allowing everyone to have a stake in wildlife management.' Murdock also introduced a similar bill in 2021. SB 769 would have authorized Oklahoma's Wildlife Conservation Commission to 'declare an open season on mountain lions and bears,' and it would have established a lottery system with a bag limit of 5 lions. The bill quickly passed the Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee, but failed to advance any further in the legislature. Murdock says he is confident that his latest bill will make it all the way through the legislative process.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fire crews respond to house fire near Bridge Creek
BRIDGE CREEK, Okla. (KFOR) – Multiple fire crews were on the scene of a house fire near Bridge Creek on Friday afternoon. Law Chopper 4 Pilot Mason Dunn was over the scene capturing firefighters efforts in putting out the fire to the home. 'Unusual catch': ODWC captures big gar at Lake Texoma No injuries have been reported. It is unknown at this time what caused the fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
