Take-Home Portion of Final Exam
Bio 250 – Ecology of the SW, Fall 2008
DUE: At ILP Final Lunch – Wed. Dec. 17, 12:00 in the CUB
This portion of your final exam will be worth 25 points.
You are required to write a two-page single spaced letter to the regional
office of the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) regarding their management
of mountain lions in the Durango area. Your letter should be in the form of
recommendations to the Division as to how you feel they should deal with
mountain lions and lion behavior in the vicinity of cities and towns like
Durango, given that this predator is becoming more common and is being
seen more and more frequently by people.
How do you think the Division should approach this issue? Should they
follow the lead of the DOW in Boulder in the late 1980’s-‘90’s? Or should
they be using a different approach? What concerns do you have (if any), and
what suggestions do you have for addressing these concerns?
You will not be graded on the position you take, but you will be graded on
how well you support your position. Your essay must include a minimum of
two outside references to support your argument (e.g. Beast in the Garden
;articles in the Durango Herald newspaper
(http://archive.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/
news080208_5.htm ; http://archive.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?
article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080715_1.htm ;
http://archive.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/
news080717_1.htm and others - search their website!) ; any of our other class text books,
etc.).
Also, you should identify 3 main issues related to mountain lion behavior
and management and provide supporting evidence that helps to justify your
position. You should be incorporating much of the information you learned
from reading the book, and compiled in your list of “cat facts” in support of
your opinion.
Your letter will be graded on the following criteria:
5 pts – length requirement
5 pts – use of supporting documentation
10 pts – 3 main points & supporting evidence
5 pts – overall presentation
ALSO – as part of your supporting evidence, please attach your list of
“cat facts” compiled while reading Baron’s book.