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

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Estimating Cougar Population Abundance in Nor<strong>the</strong>ast Oregon<br />

Scott L. Findholt, Oregon Department <strong>of</strong> Fish and Wildlife, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La<br />

Grande, OR 97850, USA, findhos@eou.edu<br />

Bruce K. Johnson, Oregon Department <strong>of</strong> Fish and Wildlife, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La<br />

Grande, OR 97850, USA, johnsobd@eou.edu<br />

ABSTRACT Cougars (Puma concolor) are wide-ranging, long-lived, and very secretive.<br />

Like o<strong>the</strong>r large carnivores, obtaining reliable estimates <strong>of</strong> cougar population densities is<br />

difficult. As part <strong>of</strong> a large study on factors influencing calf recruitment <strong>of</strong> Rocky<br />

<strong>Mountain</strong> elk (Cervus elaphus), we estimated population densities <strong>of</strong> cougars, thus far<br />

over a 6-year period in 2 study areas <strong>of</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>ast Oregon. To determine population<br />

densities we used a capture-recapture (Lincoln-Petersen) estimator and a reconstructed<br />

population method at three different spatial scales. These results were compared to<br />

minimum population estimates <strong>of</strong> all adult (male and female) and subadult female<br />

cougars derived from radiocollaring individuals in each study area. We discuss <strong>the</strong><br />

challenges <strong>of</strong> estimating population densities <strong>of</strong> cougars, reliability <strong>of</strong> different<br />

approaches, and management implications <strong>of</strong> our findings.<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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