Community members in Boulder, Utah, will gather from August 11 to August 14, 2026, for a four-day vigil and ceremony to honor mountain lions killed under a state-funded predator management study. The gathering, organized by the Cougar Wildlands Initiative, serves as a response to the WRI-7707 project, which has been conducting predator-removal activities in the region since late 2025.
Community Response to Predator Removal
The upcoming event, titled Vigil Walk and Ceremony on Behalf of Our Cougar Kin, is intended to allow participants to bear witness to the loss of mountain lions and reflect on the animals' ecological and cultural importance. According to the Cougar Wildlands Initiative, the gathering seeks to envision a future where mountain lions flourish in their natural wildlands and to demonstrate that coexistence with the species is possible.
While the Mountain Lion Foundation is providing limited support for printing and outreach, the organization stated it is not organizing or directing the event. The foundation noted its involvement is part of a broader commitment to transparent, science-based wildlife management and public education regarding mountain lions.
Scientific Goals and Objectives
The WRI-7707 Predator Management Study is a research project designed to test how reducing predator densities affects big game prey populations. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) stated the project aims to monitor response through statewide deer survival studies, focusing on cause-specific mortality rates and deer population responses to focused management efforts.
According to the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, the study is necessary because long-term data suggests that when predation on mule deer exceeds certain thresholds, it can limit mule deer populations. The DWR noted that previous focused predator management in other units has demonstrated the potential to allow mule deer populations to recover or grow.
Study Scope and Methods
The study focuses on six specific management units: Wasatch East, Stansbury, Monroe, Boulder, Zion, and Pine Valley. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources recently updated the project details to include the Boulder unit in the study area.
To implement the research, the project utilizes professional trappers from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. The study aims to monitor the effects of removing predators—including males, females, mothers, and kittens—on the mule deer populations in these six units. The research is expected to last for a minimum of three years to monitor population responses.
Legislative and Financial Context
The project is supported by $300,000 in funding from the Utah Wild Sheep Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. The budget covers personal services for two full-time predator management specialists from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and one full-time predator management biologist from the DWR.
The study follows legislative changes, including HB 125 passed in 2020 and HB 469 passed in 2023, which granted the DWR more flexibility in predator management. These laws expanded hunting seasons and removed certain restrictions on how many lions could be taken by hunters and trappers.
Ongoing Controversy and Criticism
The initiative has faced significant opposition from conservation groups. As The Cougar Fund reported in January 2026, the study was met with strong opposition during a Wildlife Board meeting in Farmington, Utah, where many attendees expressed concern over the eradication of mountain lions.
Critics, including Utah Mountain Lion Conservation, have raised concerns regarding the lack of public input, the absence of science-based decision-making, and potential ecological damage. They have also pointed to safety concerns for the public and pets, noting that the use of traps and snares on both public and private lands can occur without public notice.
Future Management Implications
The results of the WRI-7707 study may influence future management strategies for the state. According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the findings could shape future predator management efforts and potentially increase opportunities for the sustainable use of mule deer resources.
