cougar ecology and behavior in an increasingly urban world brian kertson wildlife science group...
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COUGAR ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR IN AN INCREASINGLY URBAN WORLD
Brian KertsonWildlife Science GroupWACFWRU/SFRUniversity of Washington
COUGAR: A CAT BY MANY NAMES
• Puma concolor – “cat of a single color”• Cougar, Mountain Lion, Puma, Catamount, Panther,
Ghost Cat, Deer Tiger, Devil Cat, Klandaghi, Katalgar, Ko-Icto, ……………..
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Long Tail: 1/3
Smallish Head: ♀Long, Sleek, Muscular
Color: Varies-tawny, reddish, grayAdults: Solid; Kittens: Spotted
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Sexual Dimorphism:-Males: 120-200 lbs
x= 155 lbs-Females: 70-120 lbs
x= 92 lbs
PHYSICAL ABILITY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGfxD5hcInw
SOLITARY AND SECRETIVE
PREDATION
• Stalking predator• Deer (Odocoileus sp.)
and Elk• Physically impressive• Opportunistic and highly
adaptable• Predation rates vary:
-Sex-Reproductive status-Prey consumed
n = 18 cats, 304 kills
CACHING
COUGAR REPRODUCTION
• Mature: 2.5-3.5 yrs
• Breed year-round
• Birth pulse: June-Aug
• Gestation: ~ 92 days
• 1-6 Kittens, avg. 2-3
• No male parental care
DISPERSAL
(Koehler and Maletzke unpubl. data)
HOME RANGE & MOVEMENTS
• Far-ranging :-M: 505 km2
-F: 168 km2
• Overlap: variable• Movements:
-M: 4.17 km/day-F: 2.82 km/day
SOCIAL AND POPULATION DYANMICS
• M: territorial• F: mutual avoidance• Prey: changes
reproductive rates• Self-limiting• Low density:
-1.0-3.0 /100 km2
SCRAPES
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
• Largest geographic distribution of any terrestrial mammal in the western hemisphere
• Extinct in east, but recolonizing
HABITAT
• Cover*• Riparian (rivers,
streams, wetlands)• Edge• Young forest= Prey availability
and vulnerability• Travel- ridges
WASHINGTON STATE
• 88,497 km² of suitable cougar habitat (gray)
• 2,000-3,000 estimated cougars
• Classified as game species
WASHINGTON AND PEOPLE
• Increasing human pops-WA 2030: 8.2 million
• Habitat loss-WA: 27 km² per year
• High levels of interaction• Management needs
COUGAR MANAGEMENT• Pre-1970: Bounty• Post 1970: Game species• High profile, significant interest• Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
-Maintain viable, stable populations -Recreation-Ensure public safety-Aesthetic, cultural value-Predator-prey relationships
URBANIZING LANDSCAPES
COUGARS IN A RAPIDLY URBANIZING WORLD
COUGAR-HUMAN INTERACTION
• Interactions are more commonplace
• Lots of hypotheses, poorly understood
• Function of spatial and temporal overlap of cougars and people
• Investigate cougar ecology and behavior in the Wildland-Urban Interface and residential areas-Use levels-Document behaviors-Interaction levels and patterns
OBJECTIVE
STUDY AREA
Seattle
HOW TO CATCH A COUGAR
+ =
CAPTURE AND MONITORING
• 32 adult and subadults collared-16 male, 16 female
• x = 332 days (SD = 301) • x = 477 relocations/yr (SD = 540)• 27 w/ ≥ 30 relocations• n = 33 cougar yrs
RESIDENTIAL USE
• Residential use common• Overlap:
-93% of cats (n = 27)Average: -Volume = 16.86% ± 17.05-Area = 18.35% ± 16.75
• Exurban and/or near WUI• Full suite of behaviors
Not True Not True
TROLLING FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS?
INTERACTION
• 73 reports investigated• 29% of reports confirmed
-Depredations (goats, sheep, and llamas)-Poor animal husbandry (89%)-55%: bobcats, bears, coyotes
• Avg. = 3.43 km (SD = 3.57) from WUI
INTERACTION RATE
• Marked cougars (n = 32):-1.6 interactions per 1000 radio days
• Adjusted rate: -1.9 interactions per radio days
• 2,323 observations ≤ 500 m from development:-Interactions in 0.0073% of observations
WILDLAND-URBAN ECOLOGY
• Maximize predation opportunities, minimize exposure to residential development
• Minimizes potential for interaction while maintaining role as apex predator
PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT
• Landscape matters:-Threshold residential densities
• Target specific areas:-Exurban and WUI-RUF
Discovery Park
CONCLUSIONS
• Cougars use of residential areas will continue:-Connectivity, cover, and prey
• Residential areas function as modified, not unsuitable habitat
• Must account for spatial ecology• Education and landscape planning is key• Cougars and people coexist better than
previously realized
Questions?