A plan by wildlife officials to manage black bear and mountain lion populations as a way to boost ailing mule deer numbers on Colorado’s West Slope will go forward after a district court judge in Denver dismissed a lawsuit filed by environmentalists seeking to stop it.
The Colorado Sun reports the work will continue in the Piceance and Upper Arkansas River basins near Rifle. WildEarth Guardians filed suit claiming plans by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) biologists violated state trapping laws.
The judge ruled CPW’s actions lie within its mission to protect the public interest of wildlife.
(Photo source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)