our goal

Encourage the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and policymakers to ensure a healthy future for mountain lions in Texas.

Mountain Lions in Texas can currently be hunted and trapped year-round without any harvest limits, seasons, reporting, or management. As the Texas human population increases and our landscapes become increasingly fragmented, it is critical that we better understand this species and create a management plan to conserve them into the future.

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WHO WE ARE

We are a coalition of landowners, hunters, biologists, and organizations dedicated to the conservation of the Texan mountain lion.

We support the ranching and hunting heritage that is the foundation for wildlife conservation in Texas.  We are NOT an anti-hunting organization.  We believe that mountain lions are important to the culture and ecology of Texas and that a realistic management plan must respect landowner rights and the contributions of hunters and ranchers to landscape conservation. 

We are concerned about mountain lions because of limited information, no safeguards, and concerning research that indicates extremely high mortality rates and separation between the West Texas and South Texas populations.  

HELP OUR CAUSE
Picture of a mountain lion from a Texas rehabilitation reserve

6 Steps to Responsible Management

We encourage TPWD to take the following steps to create a data-driven management plan for healthy mountain lion populations while respecting landowner rights and the importance of hunting and ranching to our culture, economy, and landscape conservation.
The Shape of Texas

CONDUCT RESEARCH

It is crucial that we conduct research to identify the size, status, and distribution of mountain lions in our state so that we understand the existing Texas population.

Harvest Reporting icon featuring a globe and speech bubbles

HARVEST REPORTING

Reporting harvest to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will provide crucial information on mountain lion distribution and trends in the state of Texas.

CANNED HUNTS

It is currently legal in the state of Texas to capture wild mountain lions and then sell these animals in a canned hunt – which is ridiculous and should be banned.

TRAP CHECKS

Require 36-hour trap check times so mountain lions do not die from exposure. These are consistent with furbearer trapping regulations & industry ethical standards.

MANAGE BY REGION

Different regions require different strategies to ensure a healthy future for mountain lions. Manage in state areas where the population is in decline or imperiled.

Form an advisory board to focus on the conservation of Texas mountain lions

ADVISORY GROUP

Form a diverse stakeholder advisory group that will collaborate with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to establish a management plan for mountain lions. 

OUR Passionate TEAM

TEXANS WHO CARE

Ben Masters

director of fin & fur films

Ben is an independent filmmaker and writer who specializes in creating documentaries centered around conservation, nature and all things Texas.

PATRICIA HARVESON

Carnivore Ecologist

Dr. Harveson is a a wildlife biologist with over 20 years of experience studying large and meso-carnivores. She was a research scientist for the past 15 years.

Monica morrison

founder of texas native cats

In 2017, Monica founded Texas Native Cats, a nonprofit that provides education, outreach, and advocacy for Texas’ five species of wild cats, past and present.

Mark Elbroch

PUMA PROGRAM DIRECTOR, panthera

Mark is a mountain lion biologist and Director for Panthera’s Puma Program, where he designs science-based conservation strategies for mountain lions.

Jay Tischendorf

American Ecological Research Institute

Jay is a wildlife biologist, veterinarian, and long-time mountain lion researcher. He confirmed the species as a year-round resident in Yellowstone National Park.

Pam Harte

West Texas Landowner & Wildlife Advocate

Pam lives full-time on a working ranch and has opened their ranch (with husband, Will Harte) to scientific research and wildlife film production.

Mark Elbroch

PUMA PROGRAM DIRECTOR, panthera

ROMEY SWANSON

CONSERVATION ECOLOGIST

Romey Swanson is the Director of Conservation Strategy for Audubon Texas. He was appointed to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council in 2021.

Pam Harte

West Texas Landowner & Wildlife Advocate

Frequently asked questions

You've got questions. We've got answers.

How can i get involved?
Are mountain lions endangered?
How many TEXANS support these policies?
How can I reach out to the texas parks and wildlife department?
Why are mountain lions important?
Where can I find the petition to change mountain lion management?

A 2022 SURVEY

UNDERSTANDING TEXAN ATTITUDES TOWARD MOUNTAIN LIONS

Percentage of Texans who believe efforts should be made to ensure the survival of mountains lions in Texas
70.2%
Percentage of Texans who believe valuable information could be obtained from scientific studies of mountain lion populations
74.6%
Percentage of Texans who believe mountain lions are an essential part of nature
77.6%
*These are conservative estimates because of interview sampling design, and the numbers are likely higher. The survey was conducted by Texas A&M University and can be found here.

Media outlets

Read a few articles that discuss texas mountain lions

Effort to conserve state’s mountain lion populations, formation of stakeholder group...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022
Read Post

prAy for the predator: WHY IS TEXAS THE ONLY STATE THAT DOESN'T PROTECT MOUNTAIN LIONS?

JUNE 2023
Read Post

A COMPROMISE TO HELP MOUNTAIN LIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS

FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Read Post
read our media mentions

What Do Texans have to say?

“Not only are mountain lions crucial to our state's ecoystem, but they are also some of the most magnificent and beautiful creatures and Texas has no protections for them. It is imperative that we act now to get involved and raise awareness.”

Adrian Quesada, The Black Pumas

What Do Texans have to say?

“It's time for Texans to choose conservation over inaction and to remedy the ongoing neglect of this iconic keystone species.”

Patricia Moody Harveson

What do texans have to Say?

“It’s decades past time Texas has a mountain lion management plan.”

Ben Masters

What do texans have to Say?

"Wildlife belongs to everyone. Let’s ensure our mountain lion endures for future generations.”

Monica Morrison

What do texans have to Say?

"The ultimate Texas wildlife viewing experience would be to see a mountain lion in the Davis Mountains and a whale shark off the Texas coast."

Casey Williams, Ecologist

Ramblings

Our Blog

CONTACT PEOPLE WHO CAN CHANGE THINGS

SPEAK YOUR MIND

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

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CONTACT PEOPLE WHO CAN CHANGE THINGS

SPEAK YOUR MIND

Let Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas state officials know that you support the sustainable management of mountain lions using the form.

The letter will be emailed to the following people/offices: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, your State Senator, your State Representative, TPWD Wildlife Division, and TPWD Executive Director-Carter Smith.

OUR ADDRESS
P.O. Box 2484
Alpine, TX 79831

EMAIL
info@texansformountainlions.org

Texas Native Cats logo, a supporter of Texans for Mountain LionsFin & Fur Films, a supporter of Texans for Mountain LionsPantera logo, a supporter of Texans for Mountain Lions