Jose and Charlotte Salazar are not heroic they are simply very concerned that what happened to them will be repeated due to biased mismanagement of cougars by New Mexico's Game Department.
Those of us who were priveleged to speak with them about their ordeal learned of their great concern that this will happen to someone else, perhaps someone without the athletic ability of Jose sr, who risked his life and safety the way all good parents would to recover his tiny son from the jaws of a mountain lion on a very public family oriented trail in the sandia's.
After hearing their story there was not a dry eye in the meeting. Not one person could look at that little boy and thank God his family was able to pull off a miracle. There are people using the same trail every day without the abilities of Jose Sr but with small children.
What is NMDG&F doing to protect families that wish to recreate in public recreation areas in New Mexico. This attack didn't have to happen. Nor did the two that happened since, nor did any of the other 40 some odd encounters with cougars that have occurred in 2008. Good management has flown out the window with a focus on over-conservation over common sense.
