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

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Population Status and Trend<br />

Status <strong>of</strong> cougar populations in Oregon is monitored using a deterministic computer model<br />

(Keister and Van Dyke 2002) adapted to represent population changes at <strong>the</strong> regional level,<br />

characteristics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> harvest, and trends in non-hunting mortalities. Modeled population trend<br />

continues to increase (Fig. 3). However, as total mortality has increased (Table 3), and<br />

populations approach assumed density dependence limits in <strong>the</strong> model, growth rate in <strong>the</strong><br />

modeled population has declined and is approaching zero (Fig. 3).<br />

Modeled Population<br />

6000<br />

5000<br />

4000<br />

3000<br />

2000<br />

1000<br />

0<br />

1994<br />

1995<br />

Zone A Zone B Zone C Zone D<br />

Zone E Zone F Growth<br />

1996<br />

1997<br />

1998<br />

1999<br />

2000<br />

2001<br />

Year<br />

2002<br />

2003<br />

2004<br />

2005<br />

2006<br />

2007<br />

Figure 3. Modeled (Keister and Van Dyke) cougar population<br />

growth in Oregon, 1994–2007.<br />

0.14<br />

0.12<br />

0.08<br />

0.06<br />

0.04<br />

0.02<br />

<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ninth</strong> <strong>Mountain</strong> <strong>Lion</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> 27<br />

0.1<br />

0<br />

Growth Rate

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