Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27

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42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP (5 M, 9 F) at 2-3 yrs old, 8 (3 M, 5 F) at 4-5 yrs old, 8 (5 M, 3 F) at 6-7 yrs old, and 1 female was estimated to be $8 yrs old. The age distribution is characteristic of an exploited mountain lion population (Smith 1990). Status. The causes of mortality or status of 44 radiocollared mountain lions in west Texas were assessed (Pence et al. 1976, Smith et al. 1986, Davin 1987, McBride and Ruth 1988, Davin 1989, Waid 1990, Packard 1991, Ruth 1991). Forty-three percent (19/44: 11 M, 8 F) died from predator control efforts or sport hunting, 11 % (5/44: 2 M, 3 F) died of natural causes (intraspecific related, disease), 9% (4/44: 1 M, 3 F) died from other causes (capture related, unknown causes) and 23% (10/44: 4 M, 6 F) were alive at the end of their respective studies, and status of 13% (6/44: 3 M, 3 F) of the mountain lions was unknown (dispersed or relocated beyond monitoring range). Density Estimate. We extrapolated density estimates from 4 studies on the BBNP (McBride 1976, Krausman and Ables 1981, Leopold 1984, Waid 1990) and 1 study from the CACA-GUMO area (Smith et al. 1986). We used a conservative density estimate by assuming effective area size to be 1.5x greater than the actual area reported in the study area description. This estimator accounts for mountain lions ranging beyond study area boundaries. Densities were calculated using the number of mountain lions estimated to be on the respective study area/(1.5 x study area size). Our calculations yielded densities that range from 1.39-4.88 mountain lions /1000 km 2 on the BBNP and a density of 15.45 mountain lions/1000 km 2 for CACA-GUMO. Home Range. Reported home range sizes of west Texas mountain lions were variable (McBride 1976, Smith et al. 1986, Waid 1990). In Andersen's (1983) review of McBride (1976) an average home range size of 1,032 km 2 was calculated for both males (n = 2) and females (n = 4), while Waid (1990) reported a home range of 792 km 2 for 1 male and an average home range of 159.3 km 2 for females (n = 5). Smith et al. (1986) reported even smaller ranges of 207 km 2 and 59 km 2 for males (n = 4) and females (n = 4), respectively. PRESENT RESEARCH There currently are 3 mountain lion research projects ongoing in Texas. The TPWD is currently collecting reports of mountain lion sightings and mortalities throughout the state. Russ (1997, this preceding) provides a review of the 14yr database. The TPWD is also funding 2 ecological studies on the Texas mountain lion. The first is being conducted by TPWD personnel in west Texas on the state owned Big Bend Ranch State Natural Area (BBRSNA). The second study (South Texas Mountain Lion Project [STMLP]) is being conducted by the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in cooperation with the TPWD. Research is being conducted on private-ranch lands in the South Texas Plains encompassing 4000 km 2 . This is the first attempt to study the mountain lion population of South Texas and is the most eastern study other than those of the endangered Florida "panther". FUTURE RESEARCH SUGGESTIONS Trend Data The statewide mountain lion sightings and mortalities database assembled by the TPWD has been under scrutiny by various public concern groups. With proper assumptions and interpretations, the database can determine long-term trends in mountain lion sighting and mortality reports. We recommend efforts should be made to address some of the fallacies with the database. We caution the use of mountain lion sightings as an indicator of mountain lion distribution. Efforts to accumulate a total count on mountain lion mortalities should be made and supported from all levels in the field rather than volunteered information. Complete data should also be taken on mountain lion mortalities (i.e., sex, weight, morphological measurements-canine measurements). Field personnel should be trained in mountain lion habits and data collection and encouraged to investigate reported sightings and mortalities in areas of the state where the presence of mountain lions is controversial. Ecological Studies Future radio-telemetry studies in Texas, should be long-term in nature. The 2 existing studies are but 2-3 yr duration and should be continued for another 2-3 years. Efforts should also be made to assess mountain lion populations other than those in the Trans-Pecos Region. The STMLP is the only study that has occurred outside of the Trans-Pecos Region. Future mountain lion research should focus on the other regions that have yet to be studied (i.e., Rolling Plains, Pineywoods, Edwards Plateau, Post Oak Savannah, Coastal Prairies). State personnel should actively pursue mountain lion sightings in these regions to validate their authenticity. Management Mountain lion research in Texas is in its infancy. Knowledge of mountain lions in Texas (statewide) is inadequate with respect to their distribution, numbers, and basic ecology. The status of a game animal, would allow the TPWD to collect more comprehensive data on mountain lion harvest. Mountain lions in Texas should be managed on a regional level, where regulations are based on the health of and our knowledge of the mountain lion populations in specific areas. Game status, with the use of a stamp or permit would also generate funds for increasing data collection. The several roundtables that have been held regarding the mountain lion in Texas appear to attract the 2 extremes. We suggest a random mountain lion questionnaire to survey the attitude, views, and knowledge of Texans on mountain lion ecology and conservation efforts. The Boone and Crockett Club, the Caesar Kleberg
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP 43 Foundation for Wildlife Conservation (manuscript 97-105), the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Welder Wildlife Foundation (Contribution #485) are acknowledged for financial assistance of field research associated with this review. LITERATURE CITED Anderson, A.E. 1983. A critical review of literature on puma (Felis concolor). Colo Div. Wildl. Spec. Rep. 54. 91pp. Davin, M. 1987. Mountain lion project. USDI Nat. Park Serv. Final Rep. FY87. -----. 1989. Mountain lion project. USDI Nat. Park Serv. Final Rep. FY88. Leopold, B.D., and P.R. Krausman. 1986. Diets of three predators in Big Bend National Park, Texas. J. Wildl. Manage. 50:290-295. McBride, R.T. 1976. The status and ecology of the mountain lion (Felis concolor staleyana) of the Texas-Mexico border. M.S. Thesis, Sul Ross State Univ., Alpine, Texas. 160pp. McBride, R.T., and T.K. Ruth. 1988. Mountain lion behavior in response to visitor use in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas. USDI Nat. Park Serv. Final Rep. Packard, J.M. 1991. Behavior of high risk mountain lions in Big Bend National Park, Texas. USDI Nat. Park Serv. Final Rep. Pence, D.B., J.J. Warren, D.D. Waid, and M.J. Davin. 1986. Aspects of the ecology of mountain lions (Felis concolor) in Big Bend National Park. USDI Nat. Park Serv. Final Rep. Russ, W. B. 1997. The Status of mountain lions in Texas. Pages 69-73 in W. D. Padley ed. Proc. fifth mountain lion workshop. So. Calif. Chapter, The Wildlife Society. Ruth, T.K. 1991. Mountain lion use of an area of high recreational development in Big Bend National Park. M.S. Thesis, Texas A&M Univ., College Station. 218pp. Smith, R.L. 1990. Ecology and field biology. Fourth ed., Harper and Row, Publ., New York. 922pp. \Smith, T.E., R.R. Duke, M.J. Kutilek, and H.T. Harvey. 1986. Mountain lions (Felis concolor) in the vicinity of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, N.M. and Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX. Harvey and Stanley Assoc., Inc., Alviso, CA 137pp. Waid, D.D. 1990. Movements, food habits, and helminth parasites of mountain lions in southwestern Texas. Ph.D. Diss., Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock. 129pp.
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