Feds, Nevada at odds over wildlife management
By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal
An escalating “war†over Nevada’s declining mule deer population and management of predators such as mountain lions and coyotes has top officials with the Nevada Department of Wildlife clashing with members of the commission that oversees them.
Federal wildlife officials have declined to proceed with plans to kill lions and other predators — a controversial proposal approved by the Nevada Wildlife Commission in December — because the idea is not supported by state biologists and Ken Mayer, NDOW director. The idea was pushed by two sportsmen groups which insist the state is doing too little to protect deer from predators.
After the decision by federal wildlife officials, Nevada Wildlife Commission Chairman Dr. Gerald Lent, last week announced formation of a committee to explore new ways to restore Nevada’s mule deer population, which critics say the department has failed to do.
