Fish And Game Commission Head Under Fire For Killing Mountain Lion

February 28, 2012 10:04 AM

California Fish and Game Commission President Daniel Richards poses with a mountain lion he killed during a recent hunting expedition. (Western Outdoor News)

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The head of California’s Fish and Game Commission is under fire over the killing of a mountain lion, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The newspaper reports that California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging Commission president Daniel Richards to resign over the incident.

Richards apparently shot the cougar while on a hunting expedition in Idaho. A photograph showing him holding the bloody carcass has been making it around the internet.

Killing a mountain lion is illegal in California, however it is legal in Idaho.

The newspaper says conservationists and animal lovers are outraged. It says Gavin on Monday joined 40 Democratic Assembly members calling for Richards to resign.

There is also an online petition being circulated by The Humane Society of the United States that allows people to send a message to the California Fish and Game Commission saying the killing of the cougar is “unacceptable”.

However, several hunting and fishing groups are rallying behind him. The California Outdoor Heritage Alliance saying “Mr. Richards’ legal hunting activities, while in Idaho, have no bearing on the execution of his duties in the protection of California’s wildlife. “

The next commission hearing is scheduled for February 7 in Riverside.

Shane Eastman

Someone needs to call for Gavin Newsom’s Resignation for stirring up such foolishness! Its a waste of Taxpayers dollars not to mention completely ignorant! No “justified” court would ever convict someone in the State of California for a legal act in Idaho!
linda

he’s a loser who takes joy in snuffing the life out of a vibrant creature that did nothing to deserve this fate. I hope karma catches up to him.

Fred

Spoken like a true cougar.

don van kuren

they need to have open season in ca
jerseycat07503

its interesting to see how many feel that it is okey to kill some thing just because its legal,this story and the picture make me realize how little value people put on life,any life.

Joe

So you’ve never eaten meat or killed a bug in your life? Should it be illegal?

Doc

So it’s bad for the Director of Fish & Game to legally hunt … are you going to get upset over his fishing trips also?
Should the Director of Education be fired for having a College Diploma?
Should the Director of Agriculture be fired for eatting apple? (Sure hope no one ever sees him cracking a walnut open!)
keepourchildrensafe

Why should he resign? He shot the Mountain Lion legally in Idaho.

Gavin Newsom shouldn’t be asking you to resign, it wasn’t illegal!!!
Michael Kindle

Mr. Richards has done nothing wrong! He was hunting legally under sanction of an Idaho hunting license. Lt. Gov. Newsom and the forty Democrat State Assembly members who are requesting Mr. Richard’s resignation are out of line and apparently don’t realize that California needs and expects leadership for economic growth, not reacting to emotional peer pressure. The hunters who purchase hunting licenses and permits for the privilege of hunting have contributed more monies to the conservation of nature than those who oppose hunting. Leave Mr. Richards alone!

Fencepost

Well said MIchael Kindle
Beee

I agree..Who better to be in this position than someone who knows about the sports they are protecting…

Salmon Shaman

It is obvious that Mr. Richards is a good match for his job- he clearly loves the outdoors and outdoor sports. Having an affinity for hunting and honoring the hunting laws do nothing but highlight his fitness for his position. I would much rather see an avid sportsman who enjoys vigorous outdoor exercise in his post than some milk-toast desk-jockey who cannot comprehend the public who are most involved with his line of work!
cynthy

It may be legal but it outrageously offensive to many. It speaks to his state of mind and doesn’t speak well of his ability to manage Fish & Game. I say he should go!

http://wooleeacre.wordpress.com wooleeacre

” It doesn’t speak well of his ability to manage Fish & Game”? How is this? Can you explain?
There is nothing anywhere that speaks to his ability to manage anything.. but one could assume he manages himself well.. He did everything according to the law..

Get Real

Richards did nothing Wrong1 How about Newsom having sex with his best friends wife! If she was older than Gavin; he bagged a Cougar!
http://wooleeacre.wordpress.com wooleeacre

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/lion.html
Again it is not illegal to KILL a mountain lion in California.. It is however ILLEGAL to HUNT them here.
http://wooleeacre.wordpress.com wooleeacre

http://www.ltg.ca.gov/m_contact.asp Contact your Lt Governor and tell him!
http://wooleeacre.wordpress.com wooleeacre

http://www.ltg.ca.gov/m_contact.asp Contact your Lt Governor and tell him!

http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU WRITE FAX OR CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY… RIGHT NOW…
NEED HELP??? SAMPLE LETTER…

http://www.outdoorheritage.org/legislative.php#232
kat

God put animals on this earth for a reason, not to be killed by EGOTISTIAL MEN!!! Mountain Lions are not eaten, this man is a jerk and should be Fired!!!! He has no right to kill a Mountain Lion let them do the job they were put here for. How would a human like to be killed for sport? Shame on the news for giving him the time of day. What an ass.

Jon reid

Of course they are eaten. Thats why we hunt. He DID eat this animal.
Joe

Please tell me which verse in the Bible states we cannot eat mountain lions. I’m sure the people during Jesus’s time weren’t picky with their food and ate predators if they could hunt and kill them. The only reason most people eat herbivores/omnivores is because they are easier to farm in mass quantities. However, tuna are farmable and are predatory animals. Is it wrong to eat them?

Joe

“How would a human like to be killed for sport? Shame on the news for giving him the time of day. What an ass.”

How would you like to be farmed and killed for food? I bet you wouldn’t. Is it wrong to eat cows and pigs then?

kat

jjUST LOVE ALL YOU KILLERS!!!!
KAT

LET’S FOCUS ON WHATS IMPORTANT,LIKE THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. WE’RE LOSING EVERY PRINCIPAL WE WERE FOUNDED ON. COME ON PEOPLE…..REALLY, THIS ASS DOSEN’T DESERVE THE TIME OF DAY. I HOPE SOME DAY A MOUNTAIN LION TAKES HIM OUT
sassafras

Right KAT lets get rid of Gavin Newsom what utter nonsencecoming from a government official down right embarassing for a matter of fact that cat would kill any of you and eat you in nothing flat. I am sure the ranchers ,in the area are glad that there is one less monster lion to kill little calves and lambykins. I saw my first m l killed at age 5 my gram shoot him out of a tree(branch over chicken enclosure)boy was that exciting, loved it.
Richard Raznikov

I offer the following modest suggestion to resolve this issue.

Drop a couple of mountain lions into Richards’ living room some evening while the family’s dining. F*X could film it, a kind of karmic reality show. The guy’d have a fair chance, which is more than the cat had.

http://lookingglass.blog.co.uk/2012/03/02/hey-bungalow-bill-12981921/

woolee

silly city boy
Joe

Do you eat meat? If so, should we drop hogs and bulls in your home? If you eat meat, the animals you eat didn’t have a “fair chance.”

Dennis

I offer another Suggestion. Impeach any politician that has traveled to Las Vegas or Reno and openly gambled. California law is California law RIGHT
letsgohuntingmountainlions

What a bunch of mamby pambys. I’ll bet every da-n one of you animal lovers eat, turkey, chicken,lamb, steak, hamberger, pork chops, veal, fish, rabbit, squirell, pheasant etc, you should all be ashamed eating them thar
critters jealous little creeps that would not know HOW to go hunting, poor babies, itty,bitty anermol lovers.

maria

Ya probably go huntin’ because you’re all alone…I haven’t eaten any animal for the last 25 years, but you, enjoy your bypass !

maria

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CALI FISH AND GAME AGENDA:
RECEIPT OF HEARING OFFICER RECOMMENDATIONS ON LICENSE AND PERMIT
ITEMS.
I. DIANE DRAGOTTO-WILLIAMS (WILDHAVEN RANCH) – DENIAL OF WILDLIFE
REHABILITATION PERMIT RENEWAL.

AND THEY ARE NOT BIASED?????