Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

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WASHINGTON COUGAR STATUS REPORT RICHARD A. BEAUSOLEIL, Bear / Cougar Specialist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3515 Chelan Highway, Wenatchee, Washington, 98801, USA DONALD A. MARTORELLO, Bear, Cougar, and Special Species Section Manager, Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington, 98501, USA ROCKY D. SPENCER, Dangerous Wildlife Specialist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 42404 North Bend Way SE, North Bend, Washington, 98045, USA INTRODUCTION Cougar (Puma concolor) occur throughout most of the forested regions of Washington State, encompassing approximately 88,497 km 2 or 51% of the State (Figure 1). Cougar became a protected big game species in 1966 and hunting seasons and harvest limits were established under the management authority of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WFDW). In 1967, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill establishing a tag system in Washington. In 1970, WDFW began mandatory reporting of cougar kills and in 1979 inspection and sealing of cougar pelts was required for data collection. In the mid-1980’s WDFW began collecting cougar teeth for age analysis. Figure 1. Distribution of cougars (gray) and cougar management units in Washington. 60 Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop Currently, the statewide cougar management goal is to maintain healthy, self-sustaining cougar populations within each cougar management unit (CMU), except CMU 9, while minimizing the number of negative human-cougar interactions. HUNTING SEASONS AND HARVEST TRENDS Cougar seasons have changed significantly over the last several years (Figure 2). During the November 1996 general election, Washington voters passed Initiative 655 (I-655) that banned the use of hounds for hunting cougar and bobcat, and the use of bait and hounds for hunting black bear. In an effort to mitigate the anticipated decrease in cougar harvest (i.e., post I-655), permit-only seasons were replaced with general seasons, cougar seasons were lengthened from approximately 6 weeks to 7 and one-half months, and bag limit was increased from 1 to 2 cougar/year. Legislation was also passed that provided the authority to the Fish and Wildlife Commission to establish reduced costs for cougar and black bear transport tags, which they did from $24 to $5 in 1996 (cougar tags can also be purchased as part of a big game package). The outcome of these strategies is that the number of hunters purchasing a cougar tag in Washington has increased from 1,000 to 59,000. As a result, annual
350 300 250 200 150 100 50 General Seasons Dogs Allowed Kill report required WASHINGTON COUGAR STATUS REPORT · Beausoleil et al. 61 1979 - 1986 1987 - 1995 1996 - 2002 Figure 2. Cougar season structure and harvest in Washington, 1979-2002. cougar harvest during post I-655 years has increased slightly; however, the composition of the harvest has changed dramatically. The majority of cougar harvested pre-I 655 was done so with the aid of dogs, thus mostly males and older animals were taken. Since 1996, the majority of cougars are harvested either as opportunistic encounters by deer/elk and cougar hunters, or by using tracking and calling techniques. These harvest methods are not as selective as using dogs. Therefore, since 1996, hunters have harvested more females and younger cougars (see oral presentation titled Cougar Harvest Characteristics With and Without the Use of Dogs in this proceedings). POPULATION STATUS AND TREND ANALYSIS The status of cougar populations is currently estimated through computer population simulation models, harvest characteristics, and, to a lesser degree, trends in human-cougar interactions. Based on population reconstruction models, harvest age data, and statewide cougar habitat estimates (using GAP analysis), the cougar population in Permit Seasons Dogs Allowed I 655 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP General Seasons Dogs Banned Washington is likely between 2,400–4,000 animals, and cougar population size is likely declining in a few areas of the state. Typically, the status of local or regional cougar populations are monitored via hunter effort and success, median age data, and percentage of females in the harvest; but only when viewed over several years with consistent harvest methods. Due to the changes in harvest methods during the last several years (predominantly hound hunters during pre I-655 years versus entirely spotstalk hunters during post I-655 years), no reliable trend data exist to accurately assess regional cougar populations or exploitation levels. As such, new population monitoring efforts are beginning in 2003, where cougar density and adult female survival will be evaluated and monitored in key areas of the State. HUMAN CONFLICT Human-cougar interactions are managed through public education, capture-removal, depredation permits, and public safety cougar removals. Since 1995, WDFW has recorded information on human-cougar interactions. Of particular concern is the
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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
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 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 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 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 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
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110 ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND EVO
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112 MOUNTAIN LION BED, CACHE AND KI
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120 EFFECT OF ROADS ON HABITAT USE
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122 COUGAR ECOLOGY AND COUGAR-WOLF
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124 ARE PUMAS OPPORTUNISTIC SCAVENG
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126 COUGAR PREDATION ON PREY IN YEL
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128 COUGAR TOTAL PREDATION RESPONSE
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130 CHARACTERISTICS OF COUGAR HARVE
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136 DEFINING AND DELINEATING DE FAC
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138 MANAGEMENT OF COUGARS (PUMA CON
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140 PROJECT CAT (COUGARS AND TEACHI
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142 ESTIMATING COUGAR ABUNDANCE USI
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144 PRESENCE AND MOVEMENTS OF LACTA
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146 RECONCILING SCIENCE AND POLITIC
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148 PUMA MANAGEMENT IN WESTERN NORT
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150 MOUNTAIN LIONS AND BIGHORN SHEE
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152 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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