1)  The DOW Administrative Directive W-20 is the official Colorado Division of Wildlife Statewide Directive regarding cougar-human interactions.  This directive is approved by the DOW Director (approved April 2007) and, when there is a conflict of interpretation, supersedes the specific cougar-human interaction protocols developed for the Front Range cougar-human interaction project.

2) The approved Pilot Study Plan Program Narrative document contains the rationale for the expansion to collaring additional cougars.  The study plan contains 3 Appendices:
          Appendix I:  Approved capture and handling protocols that have remained unchanged from the original study plan that was presented to Boulder County about 10 months ago.
          Appendix II:  Approved aversive conditioning techniques:  This appendix provides detail about aversive conditioning techniques that could be applied to cougars involved in a cougar-human incident.  The basic techniques were included/mentioned in the original study plan but more detail is provided here. The aversive techniques approved for evaluation in the research project are currently available to be used at the discretion of our wildlife managers as per Directive W20.
           Appendix III: Approved Protocols for Front Range Cougar Pilot Research Project: These protocols, approved by the Director of DOW (approved May 2007), provide a guide for the day-to-day decisions that wildlife researchers and wildlife managers may need to make in regards to cougars involved in the Front Range Cougar project. As stated previously, Directive W20 can override these research project protocols as deemed necessary by the wildlife manager/officer responsible for making decisions involving cougars.