Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27

PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP 111
6a. How many public safety incidents related to lions occur annually?
Human/Lion conflicts reported between 1990 and 1995 are as follows:
Year Reports Lions Taken
90 15 13
91 27 08
92 35 17
93 15 08
94 17
95 13
6b. How many lions are killed annually for public safety reasons?
See 6a. above.
7. What management actions do you use to reduce public safety incidents?
Management actions to reduce human/lion conflicts: Hunting is currently the largest management action taken. Any
lion felt to be a hazard to the public is currently removed.
8. How many lions are killed annually by hunters?
Mountain lion harvest from 1990 through 1995 follows:
90 227
91 236
92 357
93 424
94 566
95 (565 to date, the season closes February 15).
9. What is your annual budget for management of mountain lions?
Montana does not have a management budget for individual species.
10. Please summarize current and recent mountain lion research activities.
Research:
95-97 We are currently conducting a study of predation of bighorns by mountain lions, coyotes, and possibly wolves.
To date we have collared five lions and hope to have 10 marked by March 1996.
91-93 A base line study was conducted along the Rocky Mountain Front to determine mountain lion numbers, size of
territories, habitat selection, and food habitats.
90-94 Contributed to the funding of studies carried out in Yellowstone Park by the Hornocker Institute.
81-83 Characteristics of a hunted population and the relationships between hunting pressure and population
characteristics were studied in an area near Missoula.
11. Are there current legislative or initiative actions which would affect mountain lion management in your
state/province?
No legislative or initiative actions are currently under way in Montana.
Report Completed By: John J. McCarthy Telephone: 406) 444-2612
Montana Fish and Wildlife Department