Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27

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54 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP EFFECTS AND PATTERNS OF MOUNTAIN LION PREDATION OF LIVESTOCK ON SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED PROPERTIES IN SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL Marcelo Mazzolli. Projecto Puma, Parque Ecológico do Córrego Grande, R. João Pinho Duarte Silva, 535, 88037-000 Florianópolis - SC - Brasil C. Bartlet-Ryan. Projecto Puma, Parque Ecológico do Córrego Grande, R. João Pinho Duarte Silva, 535, 88037-000 Florianópolis - SC - Brasil M. Graipel. Projecto Puma, Parque Ecológico do Córrego Grande, R. João Pinho Duarte Silva, 535, 88037-000 Florianópolis - SC - Brasil Keywords: Brazil, Livestock, Mountain Lion, Predation, Puma concolor Abstract The effects of mountain lion predation on livestock from 15 different farms were analyzed. Surveys were done from 1993 through 1995. The effects of predation are weighed against losses to other factors. The patterns of predation were recorded when possible, including period of day, frequency during the year, climate and livestock management. Livestock losses to mountain lion predation is probably the greatest source of conflict between humans and this felid. According to Currier (1983) it is likely that persecution by humans is the main cause of mountain lion mortality. Studies of predator-livestock interactions should ultimately furnish information to diminish livestock losses and mountain lion hunting. This information is especially important in areas where these predators are found in low numbers and there is interest in protecting their populations and avoid conflicts with man. Jaguars (Panthera onca) are nearly extirpated from the study area, and maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are rare and geographically restricted to few locations, making the mountain lion the primary predator responsible for attacks on livestock. STUDY AREA The study area lies westward of the mountainous areas of Serra Geral, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and includes the counties of Lages, Bom Retiro and Rancho Queimado. The Serra Geral is part of a plateau formation extending from the south to northwest Brazil, formed through a series of basaltic lava spills. It is characterized by steep cliffs covered with dense Ombrofilous Forest (Atlantic Forests) in southern Brazil up to 800 meters. Between 800- 1,890 meters the vegetation changes to cloud forest, a pioneer association within the Mixed Ombrofilous Forest (Araucaria Pine Forest). Extensive natural fields (Steppe) are found above and westward of the cliffs, with patches of cloud forest. Most of theAraucaria Forest has given way to cloud forest and fields, as a consequence of expanding livestock enterprises. Also within the study area are Dr. Pedrinho and Itaiópolis counties, within the domains of both Atlantic and Araucaria Forest (Fig. 1 and 2). METHODS In 1988 the authors began responding to complaints from farmers who reported livestock losses to mountain lions. The complaints were usually made to the Brazilian Institution of Environment (IBAMA), which redirected calls to the staff. Some of the resulting data on mountain lions have been published in Mazzolli (1993), but all information concerning livestock are summarized here, including data collected in 1994. Most livestock loss information from earlier years could not be included in some analysis because we lacked a systematic questionnaire; however, figures 9-13 include earlier data. Farms also lacked recorded information on losses, and we found that 2 years back is the best we could expect from farm keeper's memory without too many biases. When asked before this time frame, the keeper usually did not remember details of weather, time, livestock positioning, and livestock losses. Number of lions killed were mainly based on skulls collected from the visited farms, and distinguished by sex based on strong dimorphism (Mazzolli 1992). The skulls were divided by age according to cementation of skull fissures. Because there is no government refunding for livestock losses to predators in Brazil, the information given are accurate, as long as keepers would identify livestock losses to lions. Several questions concerning mountain lion behavior were asked (e.g. dragging and burying carcasses, tracks, lion
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP 55 53 52 51 50 49 SOUTH AMERICA 53 BRAZIL SANTA CATARINA 22 52 21 51 20 Lages 19 1 3 Itaiópolis 50 4 2 13 Doutor Pedrinho 5 14 Bom Retiro Serra Geral mountain range 16 10 15 11 6 7 8 9 49 17 12 Rancho Queimado Figure 1. The study areas are represented by county limits: Lages (Cochilha Rica-Rincao do Perigo, Bocaina do Sul- Mineiros, Capao Alto-Sto Cristo, Capao Alto/Capao Verde), Rancho Queimado (Alto da Boa Vista), Dr. Pedrinho (Bom Sucesso and Rio do Cedro), Bom Retiro (Campo dos Padres) and Itaiopolis (toldo). Grey areas represent primary remnant vegetation above 800 meters. Numbers indicate mountain lion locations from Mazzolli (1993): 1-Praia Grande (Pedras Brancas), 2-Meleiro (foothill zone of Serra Geral), 3- Sao Joaquim (river Sao Mateus/chapada Bonita/colegio), 4-Urupema (Morro do Capote), 5-Urubici (River Baiano), 6-Bom Retiro (Paraiso da Serra), 7-Alfredo Wagner (Caete), 8-Anitapolis (Maracuja), 9-Sao Bonifacio (Neeketer farm), 10-Antonio Carlos (Santa Maria/Faxinal), 11-Blumenau (Source of the Garcia River), 12-Brusque (Limeira Alta, 13-Rio dos Cedros (Alto Palmeiras), 14- Rio negrinho, 15- Joinville (D. Francisca Road/Waterfall 1 of River Cubatao), 16-Campo Alegre, 17-Garuva (plains and foothill zone of Serra do Mar), 18-Itapoa (plains of Bom Futuro and Bara do Sal Mirim), 19-Rio do Campo (Azul River), 20-Curitibanos (das Pedras River), 21-Agua Doce, 22-Ponte Serrada (Between rivers Chapeco and Chapecozinho). routes, sightings, vocalization). Several farms in the same region were visited to check consistency of attacks to livestock, and some have been visited a few days after depredation incidents, although not all of them have been included in this paper. Livestock were converted to US Dollars/head to standardize units and avoid underestimating cattle losses. Because of insufficient data on age class herds were considered as belonging to the same weight or price class. Cost/head estimates include the following: cattle $210.00, goat $50.00, sheep $50.00, swine $60.00. Prices are based on local market. Because the methodology involved visiting farms that suffer attacks from mountain lions, few farms within mountain lion range with no attacks to livestock were visited. RESULTS Six farms covered 40-100 ha, four covered 150-400 ha, and five have covered 500-2,500 ha, averaging 840 ha (Table 1). The majority of farms use livestock breeding seasons to protect newborn livestock from winter stress, when temperatures may drop to -10EC in some areas. Livestock is raised loose on wide ranges. Figure 3 compares 18 26 27 28 29
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