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

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Oregon <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Lion</strong> Status Report<br />

Donald G. Whittaker, Species Coordinator, Oregon Department <strong>of</strong> Fish and Wildlife, 3406<br />

Cherry Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97303, USA donald.whittaker@state.or.us<br />

Cougar (Puma concolor) occur at varying densities across <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Oregon landscape<br />

(Fig. 1). Persecuted to near extirpation by <strong>the</strong> mid 1960s, <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>n Oregon State Game<br />

Commission was given management authority by <strong>the</strong> 1967 Oregon Legislature. Oregon’s first<br />

Cougar Management Plan was developed in 1987 with revisions in 1993, 1998, and 2006. The<br />

most recent 2006 revision established 5 guiding objectives for cougar management in Oregon:<br />

ZONE A<br />

COAST/NORTH CASCADES<br />

Saddle<br />

<strong>Mountain</strong><br />

Wilson<br />

Trask<br />

Stott Mt.<br />

Alsea<br />

Siuslaw<br />

Tioga<br />

Sixes Powers<br />

Chetco<br />

Melrose<br />

Scappoose<br />

Willamette<br />

ZONE B<br />

SOUTHWEST CASCADES<br />

ZONE D<br />

COLUMBIA BASIN<br />

McKenzie<br />

Indigo<br />

Dixon<br />

Evans<br />

Creek<br />

Applegate<br />

Rogue<br />

Hood<br />

Biggs<br />

White<br />

River<br />

Santiam<br />

Warm<br />

Springs<br />

Indian<br />

Res.<br />

Grizzly<br />

Metolius<br />

Upper Deschutes<br />

Fort Rock<br />

Sprague<br />

Silver<br />

Lake<br />

Keno Klamath<br />

Falls<br />

Maupin<br />

Paulina<br />

Interstate<br />

ZONE C<br />

SOUTHEAST CASCADES<br />

1) Oregon Department <strong>of</strong> Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will manage for a cougar population that<br />

is at or above <strong>the</strong> 1994 level <strong>of</strong> approximately 3,000 cougars statewide.<br />

2) ODFW will proactively manage cougar-human conflicts as measured by non-hunting<br />

mortalities and ODFW may take management actions to reduce <strong>the</strong> cougar population.<br />

3) ODFW will proactively manage cougar-human safety/pet conflicts as measured by human<br />

safety/pet complaints and ODFW may take management action to reduce <strong>the</strong> cougar<br />

population.<br />

4) ODFW will proactively manage cougar-livestock conflicts as measured by non-hunting<br />

mortalities and livestock damage complaints and ODFW may take management actions to<br />

reduce <strong>the</strong> cougar population.<br />

5) ODFW will proactively manage cougar populations in a manner compatible and consistent<br />

with management objectives for o<strong>the</strong>r game mammals outlined in ODFW management<br />

plans.<br />

Maury<br />

Fossil<br />

Wagontire<br />

Warner<br />

Umatilla Indian<br />

Reservation<br />

Columbia Basin<br />

Silvies<br />

Heppner<br />

Juniper<br />

Beatys<br />

Butte<br />

Northside<br />

Ukiah<br />

Desolation<br />

Ochoco Murderers<br />

Creek<br />

<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ninth</strong> <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Lion</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> 23<br />

Steens <strong>Mountain</strong><br />

69<br />

High Medium Low<br />

Walla<br />

Walla<br />

Mount<br />

Emily<br />

Malheur River<br />

ZONE E<br />

BLUE MOUNTAINS<br />

Ca<strong>the</strong>rine Ck.<br />

Sumpter<br />

Sled<br />

Springs<br />

Wenaha<br />

Beulah<br />

Minam<br />

Pine<br />

Keating Ck.<br />

Lookout<br />

Mt.<br />

Whitehorse<br />

Figure 1. Current distribution and relative density <strong>of</strong> cougar in Oregon by<br />

Big Game Management Unit and Harvest Quota Zone.<br />

Starkey<br />

Chesnim.<br />

Owyhee<br />

Imnaha<br />

Snake River<br />

ZONE F<br />

SOUTHEAST OREGON

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