Cougar Damage in Oregon

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Cougar population in the state of Oregon was nearly wiped out in the mid-1960's. However, now the department considers the current population (estimated at about 5,100) to be healthy.

As one can presumptuously determine that as both populations of Oregon residents and Oregon cougars continue to grow, the number of incidents and damage continue to grow as well.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife have developed a management plan to try and reduce both conflict and damage attributed by both growing populations. The action plan only allows for the management of about 3,000 cougars despite the population being higher than that.

The state does not allow for the use of hounds for the use of hunting cougars which Governor Ted Kulongoski agrees with. The full management plan can be accessed here: Final Cougar Management Plan. This action plan is funded by the sales of hunting licenses. As with all life, there must be some balance between species. Unfortunately, the cougar is at a disadvantage. With human population growing at a unprecedented rate, the cougar conflict will continue to remain or worsen.

Finavera Renewables in Oregon

There is a much anticipated future for the state of Oregon, as it has several tidal wave projects in the planning stages. Finavera Renewables is one company in particular with a site chosen near Coos County for a proposed wave energy park. This energy park is planned to be 2-3 miles off the coast and in waters 120ft to 240ft deep. The plan is for a 100MW park which is enough to power between 60,000 and 70,000 homes.

The current status of the the project lies with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) which has granted a preliminary permit approval for the project.

In more recent news, Finavera Renewables held a 'Sustainable Partnership' event in Canada in which Oregon state Governor Ted Kulongoski attended. The purpose of the event was to showcase the developments of renewable energy technologies being taken place in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Due to Oregon's Business Energy Tax Credit, Finavera chose Oregon as a site which has created jobs in Oregon and will lead Oregon as a leader in this new sustainable industry. There was also an acknowledgment on the memorandum of understanding between Oregon and British Columbia which seeks to improve for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as well as improve renewable sources and technologies.