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Proceedings of the Ninth Mountain Lion Workshop - Carnivore ...

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South Dakota <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Lion</strong> Status Report<br />

John Kanta, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, 3305 West South St., Rapid City, South<br />

Dakota, 57702 USA, john.kanta@state.sd.us<br />

ABSTRACT <strong>Mountain</strong> lions historically occurred in South Dakota but were nearly<br />

extirpated in <strong>the</strong> 1900s due to bounties and unregulated hunting on this animal from 1899<br />

to 1966. Since receiving legal protection in 1978, <strong>the</strong> population has reestablished in <strong>the</strong><br />

Black Hills <strong>of</strong> South Dakota. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGF&P) has<br />

invested a large sum <strong>of</strong> money and time to conduct research on mountain lions to<br />

determine population size and distribution, evaluate population fitness, evaluate <strong>the</strong><br />

effects <strong>of</strong> sport harvest, and assess genetic structure <strong>of</strong> lions and numerous o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

objectives. Based on this extensive research as well as o<strong>the</strong>r information SDGF&P<br />

collects, <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong>fered a limited harvest on cougars in 2005 as well as 2006 and<br />

2007. SDGF&P has collected data on lion mortality since 1996 with a total <strong>of</strong> 233<br />

mortalities documented to date. SDGF&P began recording mountain lion reports in 1995<br />

and continues to collect <strong>the</strong>se data on a yearly basis.<br />

<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ninth</strong> <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Lion</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong><br />

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