Mountain Lions -Ecosystem
People are probably happy to hear that two orphaned mountain lion kittens have been rescued and will find new homes at the Oregon Zoo, but sharing space with them in the wild is a different story. While these kittens are safe, there are different ideas about how much to protect wild mountain lions. Brent Lyles, with the Mountain Lion Foundation, says although they are often feared, the large cats should be protected for the role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
“The carnivores that are at or near the top of the food chain have been shown, again and again over the decades, to be critically important to the vibrancy and long-term stability of food webs in any environment.”
Mountain lions, like other keystone predators, help maintain balance in an ecosystem by controlling herbivore or plant-eating populations, which benefits plant growth and overall biodiversity. Lyles says the deer and elk carcasses they leave behind also provide food for hundreds of other species. However, not everyone is prepared to live in close proximity to mountain lions. By the 1960s, Oregon’s cougar population was nearly wiped out. Protections have since allowed their numbers to rebound, but by how much remains unclear. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife permits killing up to 970 cougars annually, a quota some biologists believe is excessive. Lyles says killing too many actually undermines safety, as stable mountain lion populations are less likely to create problems.
City Council Meeting
The Florence City Council will hold a public hearing tonight to consider an annexation and zoning change for property at 4726 Sea Breeze Lane. The proposal, submitted by Ellen and Christopher Huntington, includes annexation within the Urban Growth Boundary and assigning a low-density zoning district. The council will deliberate on Ordinance No. 12 and Ordinance No. 13, addressing the annexation and zoning requests. Additional agenda items include approval of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Siuslaw River Slope Stabilization and Stormwater Project, certification of the 2024 General Election results, and the acceptance of a $71,000 Oregon Resilience Hubs Grant for a new emergency generator. Meeting materials and a live video link are available on the city’s website at ci.florence.or.us.
Toy Drive
Through Sunday the 15th of December Three Rivers Casino continues their annual toy drive. A new unwrapped toy will get individuals $5. In free play at the casino. The event annuals helps more than 400 households have presents for children this holiday season. You can also receive the free play by donating 3 cans of food. This is the 20th year for the drive. Three Rivers Casino partners with the Florence Police Department for this event.
