Introduction 11plan (SDGFP 1998a), and cooperative research efforts were initiated with SDSU to
learn more about the species in the Black Hills. In 2003, based on our initial study of
mountain lions in the Black Hills (Fecske 2003) and ongoing work on the species
(Thompson 2009), the species was removed from the list of state- threatened species
and reclassified as a big game animal with a closed season, to be managed by the South
Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (Fecske 2003; Anderson, Lindzey, and
McDonald 2004). This relisting was based in part on initial research findings indi-
cating that there were more mountain lions in the Black Hills than originally thought.
In addition, some of the mortalities of radio- collared mountain lions were due to in-
teractions with hunters and trappers, who had stated they were threatened by the spe-
cies and had to defend themselves.
At the time, it was believed that reclassifying the species as a big game animal pro-
vided more protection than the state- threatened status. In fact, one of the first moun-
tain lions radio- collared in the southern Black Hills (around Battle Mountain, just
south of Wind Cave National Park) was killed by a predator hunter using a traditional
caller, when the lion approached the hunter in response to the call. The hunter cut
the collar off the lion and threw it into the Cheyenne River. The hunter may have thought
that immersing the collar in water would short- out the electronics and stop the signal
emitted from the collar. However, the collars are designed for exposure to water, since
wild animals, whether deer or their predators, typically cross water systems in their
day- to- day activities. While flying to locate the animal, Dorothy (Fecske) Wells received
the signal from the collar and retrieved it from the river. Although the species was clas-
sified “state threatened,” the hunter was not fined, because he stated that he was threat-
ened by the approach of the animal.
Historically, the management of many carnivore species was based more on art
than on science (CMGWG 2005). In South Dakota, initial efforts to manage mountain
lions consisted primarily of population- level assessment and removal of prob lem ani-
mals to address public safety or to reduce depredation. As more mountain lion– human
interactions and conflicts occurred, intensive research was carried out; additional
animals were tracked, more research questions were raised, and more objectives were
proposed. Nevertheless, no attacks on humans were documented during this time of
initial population establishment and increase, despite increases in sightings, kills of
domestic species (llamas and sheep), and an increase in the recreational use of the
Black Hills region.
In 2005, based on information collected on mountain lions during the first few
years of study, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks initiated a moun-
tain lion harvest season. The first season was limited to a harvest of 12 animals, and
no more than half could be female. The announcement of this first harvest season
resulted in a lawsuit, initiated by the Mountain Lion Foundation of California and sup-
ported by the Black Hills Mountain Lion Foundation, seeking an injunction to stop
the harvest. The justification for the suit was, first, the limited amount of knowledge