Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

More documents

Recommendations

Info

122 COUGAR ECOLOGY AND COUGAR-WOLF INTERACTIONS IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: A GUILD APPROCH TO LARGE CARNIVORE CONSERVATION TONI K. RUTH, Associate Conservation Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2023 Stadium Dr. Suite 1A, Bozeman, MT 59030, USA, email: truth@montanadsl.net POLLY C. BUOTTE, Research Assistant, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2023 Stadium Dr. Suite 1A, Bozeman, MT 59030, USA, email: polly_thornton@hotmail.com HOWARD B. QUIGLEY, Beringia South, 3610 W. Broadwater, Suite 111, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA MAURICE G. HORNOCKER, Senior Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2023 Stadium Dr. Suite 1A, Bozeman, MT 59030, USA Abstract: Successful restoration of large carnivores in the Northern Rockies and the concomitant increase in carnivore abundance and distribution will challenge humans as human development increases throughout the West. Presently, there is little understanding of how reintroduction/reestablishment of endangered large carnivores (wolves and grizzly bears) may affect the population characteristics, distribution, and behavior of other large carnivore populations, such as cougars. If restored wolves limit cougar populations in number or distribution, this limitation may have synergistic effects with current relaxation of cougar hunting regulations and rapid development. An added stress such as low prey availability (e.g. caused by hard winter or disease) could further impact populations. Understanding competitive relationships between large carnivores and the role that habitat and prey availability play is paramount to predicting and preparing for changes in the Greater Yellowstone region. In order to assess population-level effects of wolf (Canis lupus) reestablishment on cougars (Puma concolor) in and near Yellowstone National Park (YNP), we initiated a Phase II study of YNP cougars in 1998. The study is designed to examine the characteristics of the cougar population including: sex and age structure, density, reproductive and survival rates, dispersal and recruitment events, rate of predation on prey, and spatial and temporal movements. These parameters will be compared with analogous estimates made prior to the wolf restoration event in 1995 (Phase I data, Murphy 1998) and similar parameters documented for the wolf population to assess competition and resource partitioning between the two species. During 1998-2002, 56 cougars were captured in and adjacent to areas used by 35-88 wolves within 3-5 wolf packs on the Northern Yellowstone Study Area, Montana and Wyoming. A sample of 3 to 10 radiocollared wolves was maintained within each wolf pack by the Yellowstone Wolf Restoration program. In this paper we summarize current research findings relative to cougar population changes pre- and post-wolf reintroduction, species interactions, and discuss future study direction. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP
EVALUATION OF HABITAT FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE ABUNDANCE OF PUMAS IN THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT JOEL LOREDO SALAZAR, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Apdo. Postal 63. CP 91070 Jalapa, Ver. México, email: loredosj@ecologia.edu.mx LUCINA HERNÁNDEZ, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Apartado Postal 632, 34100 Durango, Dgo., México, email: lucina@sequia.edu.mx JOHN W. LAUNDRÉ, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Apartado Postal 632, 34100 Durango, Dgo., México, email: launjohn@prodigy.net.mx Abstract: Pumas originally occupied all of Mexico but their current status is not well known. This is especially true in the Chihuahuan desert of Northern Mexico. To manage this species in this area, it is important to have some estimation of their status. To evaluate the status of pumas in this area we need to first identify factors that may contribute to their rarity or abundance. Such factors can be placed into three separate but related groups: habitat quality, prey abundance, and human impacts. To evaluate these various factors, we selected two mountain ranges in the northern Chihuahuan desert where previous work indicated differences in the relative abundance of pumas. The area of low puma abundance was El Cuervo near Aldama, Chihuahua and the area of high abundance was Sierra Rica in the Canyon de Santa Elena protected area. In the field we estimated habitat quality by measuring shrub density, cover, and height. We also estimated prey (wild and domestic) abundance by counting fecal groups along random transects. With the use of GIS technology we assessed human impacts by determining the number of roads, number and size of towns, and overall density of humans in a 20 km radius around each range. Our results indicate that habitat quality was similar between the two areas. However, wild and domestic prey was higher in Santa Elena and all measurements of human impact were higher in El Cuervo. We concluded that habitat quality was not a factor contributing to relative puma abundance. However, the increased presence of and access by humans in El Cuervo is the main contributing factor via illegal hunting of pumas and their prey. Future work will test this hypothesis in other areas of the Chihuahuan desert. If this hypothesis is supported, it indicates that conservation efforts of pumas in Northern Mexico need center on environmental education rather than habitat protection/restoration. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP 123
Page 1 and 2:
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN
Page 3 and 4:
TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface..........
Page 5 and 6:
COUGAR PREDATION ON PREY IN YELLOWS
Page 7 and 8:
PREFACE vii PREFACE The Wyoming Gam
Page 9:
ix IN MEMORY
Page 12 and 13:
2 STATUS OF MOUNTAIN LION POPULATIO
Page 14 and 15:
4 STATUS OF MOUNTAIN LION POPULATIO
Page 16 and 17:
CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REP
Page 18 and 19:
8 CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS R
Page 20 and 21:
10 CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
Page 22 and 23:
12 CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
Page 24 and 25:
COLORADO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
Page 26 and 27:
16 COLORADO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS RE
Page 28 and 29:
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVAT
Page 30 and 31:
20 FLORIDA STATUS REPORT · Lotz an
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
26 IDAHO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
Page 38 and 39:
28 IDAHO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
Page 40 and 41:
30 MONTANA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REP
Page 42 and 43:
32 NEVADA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPO
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
40 NEW MEXICO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
Page 52 and 53:
42 NEW MEXICO MOUNTAIN LION STATUS
Page 54 and 55:
44 SOUTH DAKOTA MOUNTAIN LION STATU
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
50 TEXAS MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPOR
Page 62 and 63:
52 UTAH MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPORT
Page 64 and 65:
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
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 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
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 120 and 121: 110 ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND EVO
Page 122 and 123: 112 MOUNTAIN LION BED, CACHE AND KI
Page 130 and 131: 120 EFFECT OF ROADS ON HABITAT USE
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
Page 172 and 173: 162 ASSESSING GPS RADIOTELEMETRY RE
Page 174 and 175: 164 FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE OF COUGARS
Page 176 and 177: 166 DEPREDATION TRENDS IN CALIFORNI
Page 178 and 179: 168 PUMA ACTIVITY AND MOVEMENTS IN
Page 180 and 181: 170 MOUNTAIN LION SURVEY TECHNIQUES
Page 182 and 183:
172 CRITICAL COUGAR CROSSING AND BA
Page 184 and 185:
174 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Chris Beld
Page 186 and 187:
176 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Steve Fitz
Page 188 and 189:
178 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Mollie Hog
Page 190 and 191:
180 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Cheryl Le
Page 192 and 193:
182 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Ryan Nelso
Page 194 and 195:
184 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Harley Sha
Page 196:
186 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Patricia W
show all

Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?