Gov. Spencer Cox on Friday signed a wide-ranging wildlife bill that includes controversial provisions that open a year-round quota-free hunting season on cougars in Utah and allow the use of traps to kill the stealthy predator.

The cougar provisions were never part of HB469, sponsored by Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, but were added on the legislative session’s 43rd day with no discussion or explanation other than the claim that cougar numbers are increasing despite significant increases in cougar deaths in recent years.

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