Recent highly publicized attacks on humans and domestic animals by mountain lions in California could lead to that state's voters reversing a 1990 initiative that removes mountain lions from management by the state's wildlife agency and sets aside $30 million a year for 30 years for purchasing California wildlife habitat.

Bills introduced in the California Legislature last month would modify Proposition 117, which Californians passed in 1990, and grant control over how its funds are spent to the California Department of Fish and Game.

If approved, the authority to provide now-forbidden management of mountain lions also could be returned to Fish and Game.

Safari Club International's California chapters are acting as the primary facilitator and helped draft the language for SB2013 introduced by state Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay). Senator Leslie's SB2013 would place a measure on the state ballot asking voters to revise the way California manages its exploding mountain lion population.

It was in Sen. Leslie's district that a mountain lion attacked, killed and partially devoured Barbara Schoener, 40, while she was jogging on a popular trail in the Cool area of El Dorado County in April.

Sen. Leslie said many of his colleagues may have been convinced of the need for his bill by

several recent attacks by mountain lions in California, including the fatal attack on Schoener.

Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside), a past chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee,

is a co-sponsor, along with senators Kelly (R-Idyllwild), Lewis (R-Orange), Peace (D-E1 Cajon),

Rogers (R-Tehachapi), and Wyman (R-Hanford), and assembly members Baca (D-Rialto), Harvey

(R-Bakersfield), Knowles (R-Placerville), Murray (D-Paramount) and Polanco (D-Los Angeles).

The bill already has gathered support of some law enforcement groups in California.

Under Proposition 117, $900 million must be spent over the next 30 years to buy and preserve

wildlife habitat. One third of that amount must be dedicated specifically for mountain lions.

Proposition 117 also prohibits mountain lion management, except for dealing with individual

animals that have become problems.

As a result, mountain lions have devastated deer herds in some parts of California, and their practice of killing rural residents' pets and domestic livestock has become common and widespread. Mountain lions also have invaded urban areas where they pose a general threat to public safety. An Assembly bill (3835) allowing mountain lion management has been introduced by Assemblyman David Knowles (R-Placerville). Knowles said he introduced the legislation in response to learning about Schoener's death.

"The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 has not worked. We have a large population of predatory species that is currently unmanaged and spreading into areas that have been populated with humans for decades. I think the voters of this state deserve the chance to go back and revisit the action they took in passing Proposition 117 four years ago," Knowles said.

"We have a new generation of mountain lions in California that has no fear of man. Because they are no longer hunted they no longer fear us. They are not only hunting and killing our dogs, cats, and livestock, they are now hunting us. They actually view us as their food. Barbara Schoener was attacked and killed by a predatory mountain lion; there is no doubt as to the reason why the animal attacked her.

Knowles' bill was introduced May 19 and assigned to the Assembly's Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. It was expected to have its first hearing this month. Safari Club's California chapters had not reviewed the bill at press time, and had not yet decided whether or not to support it, however. "We can no longer manage the mountain lion population under the rules laid down by Proposition 117," Knowles said. "The mountain lion is a very skilled and dangerous predator that has become so numerous that it is preying on people. The only solution is to turn its management back over to the professional game managers. Proposition 117 has had its chance, it has failed and it needs to be repealed. The voters must be given that voice," Knowles said.

Ed. note: What they are saying is that they tried something. It didn't work. And they are going to return to the way it was. In our state, we tried a Nevada Division of Wildlife. It has not worked and we need to return to a Nevada Department of Fish and Game.