Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

168
PUMA ACTIVITY AND MOVEMENTS IN A HUMAN-DOMINATED LANDSCAPE:
CUYAMACA RANCHO STATE PARK AND ADJACENT LANDS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA
LINDA L. SWEANOR, Wildlife Health Center, University of California - Davis, Southern
California Puma Project Field Station: P.O. Box 1114, Julian, CA 92036, USA, email:
lsweanor@mindspring.com
KENNETH A. LOGAN, Wildlife Health Center, University of California - Davis, Southern
California Puma Project Field Station: P.O. Box 1114, Julian, CA 92036, USA, email:
klogan2@mindspring.com
JIM W. BAUER, Wildlife Health Center, University of California - Davis, Southern California
Puma Project Field Station, P. O. Box 1203, Julian, CA 92036, USA, email:
jwbauer@uia.net
WALTER M. BOYCE, Wildlife Health Center, University of California - Davis, One Shields
Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA, email: wmboyce@ucdavis.edu
Abstract: Although puma attacks are exceedingly rare, statistics indicate dangerous encounters
between humans and pumas are on the rise. In California there have been 7 verified puma attacks
resulting in 2 human deaths during the last 10 years; 2 of those attacks and 1 death occurred in
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (CRSP). Because of the high number of reported puma sightings
in CRSP each year (range = 18-50 from 1993-2002) and the large, increasing number of human
visitors (over 500,000 people visited the 50-square-mile park in 2001), park authorities were
concerned about the potential for further dangerous puma-human encounters. A study was
initiated in January 2001 to understand puma behavior relative to human activity, to help
minimize conflicts between pumas and humans, and to assist the development of long-term
conservation strategies for pumas in the CRSP area. Specific objectives of the project were to:
determine the number and characteristics of pumas using CRSP; map puma home ranges and
determine important puma habitats and their juxtaposition relative to human use areas; examine
puma movements (e.g., daily, seasonal) relative to areas of human activity (e.g., trails, roads,
campgrounds); examine puma diet to determine what prey species are most important as puma
food and to what extent, if any, domestic animals contribute to their diet; and use the data to
formulate management recommendations. To obtain information on puma home ranges,
movements and behavior, and to find prey killed by pumas, independent and adult pumas are
being captured and fitted with Televilt GPS collars. As of March 2003, 11 pumas (6 adult males,
5 adult females) had been captured in and around CRSP and fitted with GPS collars. To date,
collars have yielded over 6400 locations. Additionally, human use of trails is being measured
seasonally by placing infrared counters (TrailMaster monitors) along 4 trail systems within
CRSP. This paper reports on project progress to date.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP