SALEM – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Thursday reviewed the draft Oregon Cougar Management Plan from ODFW wildlife managers at the Commission’s regular monthly meeting in Salem .

The draft plan updates Oregon ’s Cougar Management Plan, which was last revised in 1993. The new draft was developed during the past year with public and stakeholder input that has included six public meetings, two focus group meetings and more than 2,000 public comments from more than 1,000 individuals.

Oregon ’s cougar population is estimated at more than 5,000 animals, and cougar conflicts have increased during the past decade. The updated plan includes an adaptive management strategy that ensures an abundant Oregon cougar population but also proactively addresses cougar conflicts with human populations, livestock and other big game species.

Interested individuals can obtain a copy of the draft plan on the ODFW Web site, www.dfw.state.or.us. The Commission currently is scheduled to consider adoption of the plan at its Feb. 9 meeting in Salem .

ODFW welcomes comments on the draft Cougar Management Plan. Comments may be submitted via email to cougar.plan@state.or.us, or in-person at public meetings. Written comments should be sent to ODFW Cougar Plan, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE , Salem , Or 97303, and submitted by 5 p.m. Feb. 8 to allow time for review and distribution to the Commission. However, all comments will be accepted until conclusion of the cougar hearing Feb. 9.

The seven-member Commission is the rulemaking body for fish and wildlife issues in Oregon. The next regular Commission meeting is Feb. 9-10 in Salem .