This is a file photo of a paw print, confirmed as that of a mountain lion, discovered in February 2008 on Vista Park Hill near city offices and not too far from downtown Hollister.
The local fish and game board chairman has invited government representatives and ranchers from San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties to a meeting in Hollister on Wednesday over implications of a possible increase to the mountain lion population.
Jim Ingram, chairman of the San Benito County Fish & Game Advisory Commission, has organized the meeting set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St. He stressed that he invited groups on both sides of the issue - "people that think there's no problem with cats and people that think there is a problem with cats," he said.
Some ranchers and farmers in San Benito County - along with the agriculture commissioner and other officials - have argued there has been an increased presence of mountain lions and that the deer population potentially has taken a hit because it is the cougar's favorite prey.
Ingram noted how he expects 50 to 70 people at the meeting and called it a "low-ball" estimate. Aside from local residents and officials, Ingram said he expects representatives at the meeting for the State Assembly, State Senate, fish and game commissions in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, ranchers from outside counties and others.
"What matters is we get this meeting going and both sides are represented," Ingram said.
Ingram pointed out recent evidence of an increased cougar presence by noting that three mountain lions had been killed in the past six weeks in the same area near Highway 156 and Rocks Road, and that fish and game confirmed it.
Agriculture Commissioner Paul Matulich, with the county board's support, also recently sent a letter to state leaders contending California Fish & Game should re-implement a routine count of the population to examine what action might be necessary to control it.
Kollin Kosmicki Kollin Kosmicki is editor of the Free Lance and Pinnacle. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 337 or editor@freelancenews.com.
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