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Protect Mountain Lions From Being Chased By Dogs And Gunned Down
Final signature count: 8,714
8,714 signatures toward our 30,000 goal
Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
South Dakota has unleashed a cruel new rule letting hunters chase mountain lions with dogs, driving terrified cats to exhaustion and death.
South Dakota has approved a rule that allows hunters to unleash hounds across larger areas of the Black Hills to chase mountain lions until the exhausted cats collapse or climb trees, where they can be killed at close range. The decision expands one of the cruellest hunting methods and threatens the survival of a species already struggling against habitat loss and human encroachment1,2.
Why Mountain Lions Matter
Mountain lions are apex predators that keep ecosystems balanced. They regulate deer and other prey populations, protecting vegetation and the health of entire landscapes. When these cats are removed, ripple effects spread across the environment. Killing a single female can leave cubs to slowly starve, multiplying the cruelty3.
These animals were once nearly eradicated in South Dakota through bounties and unregulated killing. They only recolonized the Black Hills in the 1980s, and regulated hunting began in 2005. Expanding dog-assisted hunts risks pushing them back toward dangerous decline2.
The Myth of Management
Supporters argue hound hunting helps manage populations. But the science does not support claims that chasing lions with dogs reduces conflicts with humans or livestock. Research shows lions chased with dogs often return to the same areas, and any increase in avoidance of people is temporary at best1. What hound hunting does achieve is dramatically increasing hunters’ success rates—from less than 4% to more than 50%. This is not management. It is the systematic targeting of a vulnerable species.
A Call for Compassion
Sanctioning this cruelty ignores the role mountain lions play in healthy ecosystems and disrespects the public’s concern for humane treatment of wildlife. Fair chase—the principle that hunting should give animals a chance to escape—is thrown aside when packs of dogs are deployed. What remains is cruelty, plain and simple.
It is time to choose compassion over exploitation. South Dakota should be leading in wildlife stewardship, not expanding practices that cause unnecessary suffering. Every lion saved is a step toward a more balanced environment and a future where people and predators can coexist.
Take Action
Join us in calling on the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission to ban the use of dogs in mountain lion hunts. Sign the petition today and help protect these vital predators from cruelty. Together, we can ensure a better future for wildlife, ecosystems, and communities.
