Dear Editor,

Mountain lions are not the problem. The problem is humans.

There has been such a huge influx of humanity into territory inhabited by catamounts that they have no recourse other than preying on humanity’s flocks. These cats have been successfully crafting a living for thousands of years here. We come along and build houses and roads and ski resorts and subsequently chase off prey species, leaving the pumas screwed. Of course they’re going to fight back.

The mountains are not a sustainable environment for human habitation. Try living up here without petroleum reserves, integrated supply chains and mass manufacturing. It sucks. You and your children are essentially not welcome due to environmental realities. The Arapaho knew this, why can you not? The hubris of humanity knows no bounds.

It’s a human problem. Let’s leave the panthers alone.

Michael Hughes

Peak to Peak