Proceedings of the Ninth Mountain Lion Workshop - Carnivore ...
Proceedings of the Ninth Mountain Lion Workshop - Carnivore ...
Proceedings of the Ninth Mountain Lion Workshop - Carnivore ...
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Movements <strong>of</strong> a Female Cougar on <strong>the</strong> Human-Wildlands Interface<br />
Marilyn Cuthill, Craighead Beringia South, P.O. Box 147, Kelly, WY 83011, USA,<br />
chambley56@hotmail.com<br />
Dan McCarthy, Craighead Beringia South, P.O. Box 147, Kelly, WY 83011, USA,<br />
danmccarthy26@yahoo.com<br />
Travis Bartnick, Craighead Beringia South, P.O. Box 147, Kelly, WY 83011, USA,<br />
travisdbartnick@yahoo.com<br />
Drew Reed, Craighead Beringia South, P.O. Box 147, Kelly, WY 83011, USA,<br />
drew@bswy.us<br />
Howard Quigley, Craighead Beringia South, P.O. Box 147, Kelly, WY 83011, USA,<br />
hquigley@attglobal.net<br />
Derek Craighead, Craighead Beringia South, P.O. Box 147, Kelly, WY 83011, USA,<br />
Derek@bswy.us<br />
ABSTRACT One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most difficult but important aspects <strong>of</strong> large carnivore<br />
conservation will be <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> data about carnivore use <strong>of</strong> areas in and around<br />
human development. Human tolerance <strong>of</strong> large carnivores will be dependent on this<br />
understanding. Unfortunately, very little specific, empirical data are available on <strong>the</strong> use<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se interface habitats. Cougars are <strong>the</strong> most widely distributed large carnivore in <strong>the</strong><br />
Western Hemisphere. They not only occur in some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wildest habitats, but are also<br />
well-established in human-dominated landscapes. Thus, information on cougar<br />
movements and behaviors in <strong>the</strong>se situations could be key to cougar survival in <strong>the</strong>se<br />
landscapes, and provide new understanding for <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> long-term carnivore<br />
conservation worldwide. The Craighead Beringia South-Teton Cougar Project has been<br />
intensively tracking cougar movements in <strong>the</strong> Jackson Hole Wyoming area since 2001.<br />
The majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> study animals have used wild lands and wilderness landscapes.<br />
However, use <strong>of</strong> areas around human development has been well documented for several<br />
study animals. This poster presents specific movement information on one subadult<br />
female cougar. This cougar, estimated to be 3 years <strong>of</strong> age, utilized areas on <strong>the</strong> edge <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> town <strong>of</strong> Jackson for approximately 10 months. We provide specific information about<br />
rates <strong>of</strong> movement, distance to human habitation, and distance to roads.<br />
<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ninth</strong> <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Lion</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong><br />
247