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

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Censusing Pumas by Categorizing Physical Evidence<br />

Roy T. McBride, Livestock Protection Company, 26690 Pine Oaks Road, Ochopee, FL<br />

34141, roy@livestockprotection.net<br />

Rocky T. McBride, Project Jaguar, Faro Moro Eco Research, P.O. Box 478, Filadelfia,<br />

Chaco, Paraguay 9300, rocktmcbride@yahoo.com<br />

Rowdy M. McBride, Livestock Protection Company, P.O. Box 725, Alpine, TX 79831,<br />

rowdymcbride@sbcglobal.net<br />

Cougar E. McBride, Livestock Protection Company, P.O. Box 455, Alpine, TX 79831,<br />

cougarmc@hotmail.com<br />

ABSTRACT The occurrence <strong>of</strong> Puma concolor can be confirmed by detecting physical<br />

evidence (i.e. tracks, urine markers). However, determining <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> pumas<br />

responsible for creating this sign is problematic. We addressed this difficulty by<br />

categorizing physical evidence (sign) and tested our method during <strong>the</strong> Puma concolor<br />

coryi (Florida pan<strong>the</strong>r) project. Three rules were used to distinguish individuals. (1)<br />

gender was determined by track size or stride length; (2) time (freshness) was determined<br />

by known events within <strong>the</strong> past 24 hours such as wind or rain; (3) distance between<br />

individual track sets was used as an exclusionary tool to avoid overcounting. We verified<br />

accuracy by capture and comparison to 3 o<strong>the</strong>r indices. This method could be adapted to<br />

census o<strong>the</strong>r large felines.<br />

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

185

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