Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27
Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27
Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27
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102 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP<br />
1. What is your goal for management <strong>of</strong> <strong>mountain</strong> <strong>lion</strong>?<br />
BRITISH COLUMBIA<br />
Management goals for cougar are to maintain viable populations over <strong>the</strong>ir current range, to provide for recreational<br />
hunting opportunities, and to reduce cougar problems through site-specific control, preventative husbandry, and harvest<br />
manipulations.<br />
2. What percent <strong>of</strong> your state/province is occupied <strong>mountain</strong> <strong>lion</strong> habitat? How many square miles does this<br />
represent?<br />
About 560,000 square kilometers or 60 percent <strong>of</strong> B.C. is cougar habitat.<br />
3. What is your estimated <strong>mountain</strong> <strong>lion</strong> population?<br />
Estimated cougar population is >4,000, based solely on regional intuition.<br />
4. What is <strong>the</strong> five-year trend in <strong>the</strong> population size?<br />
The five year trend in population size is stable or increasing in all management regions with huntable cougar<br />
populations. Sightings and animal control complaints indicate cougar are also established in Regions 6 and 7, but <strong>the</strong>re<br />
are insufficient data to allow a hunting season.<br />
5. What is your <strong>mountain</strong> <strong>lion</strong> depredation policy?<br />
5a. How many depredation incidents occur annually?<br />
5b. How many <strong>lion</strong>s are killed annually because <strong>of</strong> depredation?<br />
6. What is your <strong>mountain</strong> <strong>lion</strong> public safety policy?<br />
6a. How many public safety incidents related to <strong>lion</strong>s occur annually?<br />
6b. How many <strong>lion</strong>s are killed annually for public safety reasons?<br />
Any cougar which threatens or attacks humans or livestock is to be pursued and killed if possible. Animals are only<br />
relocated if <strong>the</strong>y have not caused a problem (usually just passing through and ended up in <strong>the</strong> wrong place at <strong>the</strong> wrong<br />
time), can be captured without threat <strong>of</strong> injury to personnel or <strong>the</strong> cat, and are an adult in good condition. All relocated<br />
animals are ear-tagged.<br />
Depredation and human safety incidents cannot be quantified and separated on a provincial basis without recourse to<br />
original Conservation Officer Service reports, which are not readily available. On a provincial scale, <strong>the</strong>re are very few<br />
actual attacks on people, about one every o<strong>the</strong>r year. There are numerous complaints <strong>of</strong> cougar predation on livestock<br />
from all areas with cougar populations. On an annual basis, <strong>the</strong> total number <strong>of</strong> cougar killed for Animal Control<br />
averages 64 over <strong>the</strong> last five years and is increasing (31 in 1990 fiscal to 104 in 1994: <strong>the</strong>se figures do not include<br />
those animals relocated or complaints where a cougar was not located). Most AC kills take place in Region 1,<br />
Vancouver Island.<br />
7. What management actions do you use to reduce public safety incidents?<br />
All Ministry personnel interviewed by <strong>the</strong> press on <strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> cougar emphasis preventative measures to avoid or<br />
survive cougar encounters. Numerous talks to school children are given on cougar and bear safety every year. B.C.<br />
Environment, Wildlife Branch has also put out a brochure Safety Guide to Cougars, available at all Ministry <strong>of</strong><br />
Environment, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Forests <strong>of</strong>fices, and Government Access Centres.