Congratulations to Senators Justin Wade and Michael Sedor of USG for proposing a greater awareness of the mountain lion to Penn State and its rich history. The statue of the lion near Rec Hall and the newly established "Original Nittany Lion" in the Pattee Library entrance provide us with a better understanding of the mountain lion, its history, and its importance to Penn State and Pennsylvanians in general.

According to an article in yesterday's Collegian, Mr. Wade and Mr. Sedor hope to establish "The Penn State Mountain Lion Endowment" fund to help support the conservation of the mountain lion in the eastern United States, start a partnership between Penn State and Cooper's Rock Mountain, and research the feasibility of establishing a "lion sanctuary" near Penn State.

Each of these ideas is worth considering, particularly since the only known "viable" population of mountain lions east of the Mississippi River exists as about 40 to 60 individuals in southern Florida. These "Florida panthers" are highly inbreed and in need of conservation efforts for their long-term survival.

Thus, the ideas proposed by these two senators help to heighten a conservation ethic at Penn State among the entire student body and are both timely and in need of broad support, given our concerns for worldwide loss of biodiversity, ranging from species to valuable ecosystems. The third idea of establishing a lion sanctuary, however, needs careful thought and consideration. Instead, focusing on preservation of habitats and wild populations is much more sound conservation strategy.

In this same article yesterday, mention was made of the idea of acquiring a live mountain lion as a mascot, presumably to be kept on a leash or other restraint on the sidelines of sporting and other events. As a wildlife conservationist, I urge our USG senators and the student body to dispel this idea. It sounds attractive at first but can really cause a backfire for two reasons.

First, the mountain lion is an endangered species. As a land-grant institution concerned about conservation issues, we would be looked upon unfavorably by others if we maintained a live endangered species on the sidelines as a school mascot. Second, the mountain lion is a solitary and potentially dangerous animal. It is second to only the grizzly bear in documented incidences of fatal attacks on humans! Mountain lions are much more likely to be aggressive animals compared to timber wolves that once roamed Pennsylvania's wildlands or black bears that are common today in Pennsylvania.

In short, conservation efforts led by Penn State's student body can be a creative and exciting way to give back something to the mountain lion, which is an animal so important to the Penn State's tradition

Perhaps equally as important, a student-organized fund that supports the conservation of wild populations of mountain lions in the eastern United States, helps to care for injured mountain lions in an established sanctuary, or focuses on the conservation of Pennsylvania's wildlife and its wildlands would be commendable and important in instilling a "conservation ethic" at Penn State.

Thanks to Senators Wade and Fedor for generating some thoughts for Penn State students to consider.