PWD BK W7000-893 Proceedings.CDR - Mountain Lion Foundation

sixth Mountain Lion w o r k s h o p 53
USING GPS COLLARS TO ESTIMATE MOUNTAIN LION
PREDATION RATES AND SELECTION OF LARGE PREY
CHUCK R. ANDERSON, Jr., Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Box 3166, University
Station, Laramie, Wyoming 82071.
FRED G. LINDZEY, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Box 3166, University Station,
Laramie, Wyoming 82071.
Abstract: We collared 10 mountain lions (Puma
concolor) with Global Positioning System (GPS)
transmitters between September 1999 and April
2000 to identify detailed winter movement
patterns and evaluate prey selection and predation
rates. GPS collars were fitted on 2 adult males
(3 years old), 3 juvenile females (1.5-2.5 years old),
and 5 adult females. We retrieved collars during
spring 2000 and plotted GPS locations on
1:100,000-scale topographic maps in Arc-ViewTM
to identify potential predation sites from location
clusters. GPS positions averaged 3-5 locations/day/individual
of the 6 programmed
location attempts. We are verifying predation sites
using hand-held GPS navigation units to locate
clusters from GPS collars. We have detected prey
remains at 53 location clusters (34 mule deer
(Odocoileus hemionus), 14 elk (Cervus elaphus) ,
and 5 pronghorn (Antiliocapra americana)), and
mean error from cluster center to prey remains was
39 m (range: 0-90 m). Preliminary results suggest
that location clusters with nocturnal locations for
2 nights exhibit a high probability of being a
predation site. Efficacy of GPS collars to estimate
mountain lion predation rates and prey selection,
and methods of estimation will be presented.
VIRAL DISEASES AND COUGAR DEMOGRAPHY
ROMAN BIEK*, Wildlife Biology Program, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812.
CHUCK R. ANDERSON, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming,
Laramie, WY 82071.
TONI K. RUTH, Hornocker Wildlife Inst., 2023 Stadium Drive, Suite 7, Bozeman, MT 59719.
KERRY M. MURPHY, Yellowstone Center for Resources, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.
MARK R. JOHNSON, Yellowstone Center for Resources, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.
COLIN M. GILLIN, Center for Conservation Medicine, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North
Grafton, MA 01536.
MARY POSS, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812.
Abstract: Viruses are commonly detected in freeranging
cougars (Puma concolor) but little is
known about the demographic implications of
these infections. While viral pathogens can
obviously have an effect on cougar survival and
fecundity, cougar population parameters such as
size and movement in turn are likely to influence
the temporal and spatial dynamics of virus infections.
Examining the patterns of virus occurrence
might thus provide important insights into cougar
population characteristics. We tested serum from
more than 120 cougars from 2 locations, Northern
Yellowstone (MT) and Snowy Range (WY), for
evidence of exposure to several viral pathogens of
wild felines. In addition, we used polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) to detect current infections with
feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in those
animals. Samples were taken over periods of
several years and included a high proportion of
family groups as well as a number of sequential
samples from the same individuals. We present
results on the observed patterns of virus exposure
and infection in the 2 populations and discuss
possible implications for cougar demography.
Furthermore, we introduce the idea of using the
phylogenetic relationships of FIV, a retrovirus that
genetically changes at extraordinary rates, to
make inferences on cougar population structure
and disease transmission history.