Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27

120 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP
1. What is your goal for management of mountain lion?
UTAH
To manage cougar consistent with prey base, habitat and other biological and sociological constraints to meet the needs
of the resource and resource users.
2. What percent of your state/province is occupied mountain lion habitat? How many square miles does this
represent?
Approximately 60 percent of Utah is considered to be available lion habitat, which provides approximately 41,000
square miles.
3. What is your estimated mountain lion population?
Approximately 2,000 to 3,000.
4. What is the five-year trend in the population size?
Increasing 1990 to 1993, decreasing from 1994 to present.
5. What is your mountain lion depredation policy?
Any lion causing or about to cause damage can be taken by the landowner or their immediate family. The lion is then
turned over to the state within 48 hours. We also have a damage compensation policy where up to 50 percent of the
market value is paid to the livestock owner for confirmed losses of lambs, ewes, rams, and calves. These monies come
from a $50,000 appropriation.
5a. How many depredation incidents occur annually?
150 to 200.
5b. How many lions are killed annually because of depredation?
A ten year average of 36.2.
6. What is your mountain lion public safety policy?
Any lion considered to be a public health and safety risk is removed from that area and released within the same
management unit boundaries unless it is considered unsalvageable or a considerable risk to the public.
6a. How many public safety incidents related to lions occur annually?
Five to ten annually over the past six years.
6b. How many lions are killed annually for public safety reasons?
Average of four to five.
7. What management actions do you use to reduce public safety incidents?