Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27

Goat Losses in % of US$
100
10
1
9.09
Boa Vista
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP 57
35
Estância Rio
Perdido
14.29
7.14
Judas
Tadeu
78.57
Mineiros
Farms
50
Saulo Yung
35.48
Sitio Ruck
3.23
Lion
Other
Figure 5. Comparison of Goat losses between farms (in
% of US$) to mountain lion predation and to other
factors.
total losses for each livestock group with losses due to other
factors. Cattle losses to mountain lions are usually low, but
high to other factors. Sheep and goats have similar
predation rates, and sheep are more vulnerable to disease.
Swine losses to mountain lions are equivalent to other
sources of mortality, but some losses attributed to other
factors may actually be due to unconfirmed mountain lion
predation.
Sheep losses in % of US$
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
24
10
Cab Sto
Cristo
5.88
41.18
Do Aleixo
Dona
Olindina
84
Judas
Tadeu
66.67
Mineiros
37.5
2.67
Palmeira
Velha
2.94
2.94
Potreiro
Velho
Farms
Cattle losses do not demonstrate a pattern across
the farms in mountain lion habitat (Fig. 4). Only four out of
twelve cattle ranches suffered losses to mountain lions.
Cattle losses to other factors are high, and are usually due
to diseases, falls from cliffs, and probably theft. Sheep and
goats, on the other hand, are consistently depredated (Fig .
5 and 6). Swine losses also show inconsistency, but unlike
cattle, attacks from mountain lion may be camouflaged in
the "other factor" category (Fig. 7). Livestock losses for
1994 are shown in Fig. 8.
Of a total of 37 records, 41% (n=15) of all
mountain lion attacks occurred in winter, 30% (n=11)
spring, 24% (n=9) autumn, and 5% (n=2) in summer (Fig
7). Of all recorded attacks, 54% (n=7) were in rainy
weather (including drizzle), 31% (n=4) in good weather, 8%
(n=1) under rain and fog, and 8% (n=1) under fog. Rain in
mountain areas is usually associated with fog, so we believe
the rain and fog numbers are underestimates Also, we had
several complaints of mountain lion attacks under fog
conditions which were unrecorded. Night attacks represent
92% (n=11) of all attacks, and daytime attacks represent 8%
(n=1).
The sex ratio of the livestock predators harvested
by farmers and hunters is 1.3F:1M (13 M, 10F).
Considering age of harvest, 1.1 subadults are harvested for
each adult (5 adult males, 5 adult females, 5 subadult males,
3 subadult females, 3 young).
33.33
São
Domingo
30
Saulo
Yung
Sitio ruck
14.28
Sitio São
Pedro
Figure 6. Comparison of Sheep losses between farms (in % of US$) to mountain lion predation and to other factors.
29.23
Sta Cruz
Lion
Other