Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPORT: BRITISH COLUMBIA
MATT AUSTIN, Large Carnivore Specialist, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, PO
Box STN PROV GOVT, Victoria BC V8W 9M4, Canada, email:
Matt.Austin@gems7.gov.bc.ca
Abstract: Mountain lions are classified as “Big Game” in British Columbia under the provincial
Wildlife Act. There is no provincial mountain lion management plan, however, there is a species
account within the provincial Wildlife Harvest Strategy. The harvest management goal for
mountain lions is “to optimize population sustainability within ecosystems while allowing for
options and opportunities associated with hunting and viewing.” Mountain lions occupy all
suitable habitats within BC. The distribution of mountain lions has been expanding northward in
recent years due deer population increases resulting from less severe winters. The current
provincial mountain lion population estimate is 4,000-6,000 and likely declining after peaking in
the late 1990s. Declines are related to the severe winter in 1996/97 that reduced deer
populations. Population estimates are based on the “best guesses” of regional biologists based
on anecdotal and harvest/conflict information. Confidence in the population estimate is low but
we have greater confidence in the trend estimate. Mountain lion hunting is allowed under
General Open Seasons in all but two northern regions with negligible populations. There are no
explicit harvest criteria or objectives aside from quotas for female harvest in one region. Both
harvest and mortalities resulting from conflicts increased from 1985 until 1996 and then declined
through 2002. Conservation Officers respond to conflicts with mountain lions through
education, translocation or destruction; compensation is not provided for losses. Known
mountain lion attacks increased during the 20 th century, peaking in the 1990s.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP
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