Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

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110 ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND EVOLUTION OF A COMMON COUGAR RETROVIRUS ROMAN BIEK, Fish and Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA, email: rbiek@selway.umt.edu MARY POSS, Fish and Wildlife Biology Program and Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA, email: mposs@selway.umt.edu Abstract: As for most wildlife species, little is known about the organisms that infect cougars in the wild. In an ongoing project, we are studying a retrovirus related to domestic cat-FIV that is naturally found in North American cougars with the aim of assessing the virus’ possible demographic consequences on the cougar host as well as its epidemiology and short-term evolution. Tests for possible effects on survival and reproduction as well as secondary exposure to other pathogens in infected individuals are conducted based on a large data set compiled from several intensively studied cougar populations. In addition, DNA sequences of virus obtained from infected individuals are used to determine the genetic population structure of cougar-FIV in the Rocky Mountain region. We determined that that this virus is changing its genetic composition within a matter of decades. Because restrictions of cougar movement will be reflected in the distribution of closely related viruses, distributional data for the virus are thus likely to contain information about current patterns of connectivity among cougar populations. A preliminary analysis of these data indicates that spread of the virus occurs mainly locally but also showed evidence for recent transmission events over distances > 300 km. These results show that studying the ecology of cougar-FIV can provide important insights into the ecology of the cougar host even beyond immediate disease impacts. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP
CHARACTERISTICS OF MOUNTAIN LION BED, CACHE AND KILL SITES IN NORTHEASTERN OREGON JAMES J. AKENSON, Taylor Ranch Field Station, HC 83 Box 8070, Cascade ID 83611, USA, email: tayranch@directpc.com M. CATHY NOWAK, Cat Tracks Wildlife Consulting, P.O. Box 195, Union, OR 97883, USA, email: mcnowak@eoni.com MARK G. HENJUM, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 107 20 th Street, La Grande, OR 97850, USA GARY W. WITMER, USDA APHIS National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 La Porte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA Abstract: We described mountain lion (Puma concolor) habitat characteristics during two studies in the same area of northeastern Oregon during the 1990s. In the first study (1992-1994) we evaluated micro-habitat features associated with 61 diurnal bed sites that were not associated with kills. We used similar techniques in the second study (1996- 1998) to evaluate habitat features at 79 cache sites near lion-killed prey. A dog was used to find 93% of the diurnal bed sites. Radio telemetry triangulation was used in the second study. Characteristics of diurnal bed sites and cache sites were compared with random habitat plots. Rock structure and downed logs were identified as important habitat components at diurnal bed sites. Canopy cover at cache sites was significantly higher than at random sites. Cache sites also were associated with rock structure, but not to the same degree as diurnal bed sites. In both studies mountain lions used sites in close proximity to habitat edges more frequently than expected based on random plots. Understanding the similarities and differences of habitat use at diurnal bed, cache and kill sites sheds light on the ecological adaptation of mountain lions to the multiple environmental influences and disturbances of managed forests. 111 Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop Key words: Puma concolor, microhabitat use, diurnal bed site, cache site, kill site, habitat edge, forest management Mountain lion recovery has been one of the great wildlife conservation success stories of the 20 th century. As we move into the 21 st century, the challenges for mountain lion conservation are less related to species persecution, and more related to concerns with habitat fragmentation and issues of human-lion coexistence on the expanding fringe of urbanization. The interface between human resource development and mountain lion habitat use has persisted for centuries in North America. Historically, mountain lions have occupied most habitats occurring on this continent. Mountain lions have typically been associated with the rugged, rocky, forested terrain of the Rocky Mountains in the western United States; however, this species is so adaptable it can thrive in deserts, swamps, tropical jungles, and sub-alpine forests (Hornocker 1976). The lion has come into conflict with humans on several fronts. In the past, the majority of interactions between humans and mountain lions were associated with settlement and agricultural practices (Young 1946). With increasing human population and urban sprawl, the zone of conflict has shifted to the urban-wildland interface (Beier 1995). Habitat fragmentation can take a more subtle form than the direct effect imparted by urbanization. Across much of the mountain lion’s range, logging has occurred at various intensities. Studies in Utah and Arizona, found that mountain lions either avoided active timber sale areas (Van Dyke
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface..........
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COUGAR PREDATION ON PREY IN YELLOWS
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PREFACE vii PREFACE The Wyoming Gam
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ix IN MEMORY
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2 STATUS OF MOUNTAIN LION POPULATIO
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4 STATUS OF MOUNTAIN LION POPULATIO
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CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REP
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8 CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS R
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10 CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
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12 CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
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COLORADO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
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16 COLORADO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS RE
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FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVAT
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20 FLORIDA STATUS REPORT · Lotz an
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26 IDAHO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
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28 IDAHO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
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30 MONTANA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REP
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32 NEVADA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPO
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40 NEW MEXICO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
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42 NEW MEXICO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
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44 SOUTH DAKOTA MOUNTAIN LION STATU
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50 TEXAS MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
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52 UTAH MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPORT
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN
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Page 70 and 71: WASHINGTON COUGAR STATUS REPORT RIC
Page 72 and 73: 62 WASHINGTON COUGAR STATUS REPORT
Page 74 and 75: WYOMING MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPORT
Page 76 and 77: 66 WYOMING MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REP
Page 82 and 83: 72 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf F
Page 84 and 85: 74 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf C
Page 86 and 87: 76 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf A
Page 88 and 89: 78 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf f
Page 90 and 91: 80 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf b
Page 92 and 93: 82 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf N
Page 94 and 95: 84 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf C
Page 96 and 97: 86 CRYPTIC COUGARS · Tischendorf m
Page 98 and 99: 88 IMPROVING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF M
Page 100 and 101: 90 REDUCING PUMA ATTACKS · Fitzhug
Page 110 and 111: 100 REDUCING PUMA ATTACKS · Fitzhu
Page 112 and 113: 102 REDUCING PUMA ATTACKS · Fitzhu
Page 114 and 115: 104 A CONCEPTUAL MODEL AND APPRAISA
Page 116 and 117: 106 MOUNTAIN LION MOVEMENTS AND PER
Page 118 and 119: 108 PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF FLORIDA
Page 122 and 123: 112 MOUNTAIN LION BED, CACHE AND KI
Page 130 and 131: 120 EFFECT OF ROADS ON HABITAT USE
Page 132 and 133: 122 COUGAR ECOLOGY AND COUGAR-WOLF
Page 134 and 135: 124 ARE PUMAS OPPORTUNISTIC SCAVENG
Page 136 and 137: 126 COUGAR PREDATION ON PREY IN YEL
Page 138 and 139: 128 COUGAR TOTAL PREDATION RESPONSE
Page 140 and 141: 130 CHARACTERISTICS OF COUGAR HARVE
Page 146 and 147: 136 DEFINING AND DELINEATING DE FAC
Page 148 and 149: 138 MANAGEMENT OF COUGARS (PUMA CON
Page 150 and 151: 140 PROJECT CAT (COUGARS AND TEACHI
Page 152 and 153: 142 ESTIMATING COUGAR ABUNDANCE USI
Page 154 and 155: 144 PRESENCE AND MOVEMENTS OF LACTA
Page 156 and 157: 146 RECONCILING SCIENCE AND POLITIC
Page 158 and 159: 148 PUMA MANAGEMENT IN WESTERN NORT
Page 160 and 161: 150 MOUNTAIN LIONS AND BIGHORN SHEE
Page 162 and 163: 152 DISPERSAL IN MALE PUMAS · Laun
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160 DISPERSAL IN MALE PUMAS · Laun
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162 ASSESSING GPS RADIOTELEMETRY RE
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164 FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE OF COUGARS
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166 DEPREDATION TRENDS IN CALIFORNI
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168 PUMA ACTIVITY AND MOVEMENTS IN
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170 MOUNTAIN LION SURVEY TECHNIQUES
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172 CRITICAL COUGAR CROSSING AND BA
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174 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Chris Beld
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176 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Steve Fitz
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178 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Mollie Hog
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180 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Cheryl Le
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182 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Ryan Nelso
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184 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Harley Sha
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186 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Patricia W
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Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

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