Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has adopted a new plan for managing mountain lions that live on the east slope of the Continental Divide.

The CPW Commission unanimously voted to approve the plan.

According to CPW, the East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan will guide management decisions made by CPW biologists and wildlife managers for maintaining a stable mountain lion population east of the Continental Divide. The plan also includes future research to help CPW improve its understanding of lion populations and biology.

The approval comes after the development of a similar West Slope Mountain Lion management in 2020.

Although mountain lions in Colorado have historically been managed on smaller, localized scales, current scientific research shows that managing mountain lions on a broader landscape scale is more effective.

CPW has used past big game management plans to guide wildlife managers to balance the needs of animals, their habitat, and requests for wildlife-related recreation opportunities.

CPW held several public meetings before drafting the East Slope, and about 700 members of the public attended the meetings.

Find more information on the East Slope Mountain Lion Plan public meetings here.