By Sharon St Joan

Given the worldwide outcry over the sad death of Cecil the lion, it may be worth a reminder that there are countless deaths of Cecils right here in the U.S. The American lion is a cougar and they are hunted in Utah and in many states.

On August 27, 2015, at 9 am, the Utah Wildlife Board will meet to discuss the draft Utah cougar management plan, at the Department of Natural Resources Auditorium, 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. The meeting is open to the public.

Cougars are extensively hunted in Utah, with the objective of increasing the mule deer population to provide more mule deer for hunters to hunt.

In a letter written by Wendy Keefover, Native Carnivore Protection Manager, The Humane Society of the United States, and by Sundays Hunt, Utah State Director, The Humane Society of the United States, they…