20327 Newsletter:20327 Newsletter 7/18/08 4:44 PM Page 2 ... · stretched across the scene as they assess the fatal result of several rounds of bullets fired by the police on this,

the summer 2 0 0 8

“State in Crisis”:Washington

by Chris Papouchis

n Washington, as in many western U.S. states, the managementof cougars has become highly politicized. Since voters approved a 1996 ballot initiative that banned the hunting of cougar withdogs, a major turf war has been waged over cougar policy. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, anticipatingdeclines in hunting opportunities and revenues as a result of thehound ban, increased the number and reduced the cost of cougarhunting tags and extended the duration of the hunting season.Rural politicians led a backlash against theinitiative in the state legislature, arguingthat the ban resulted in an increased rateof conflicts and compromised public safety.Today, public opinion surveys and mediaarticles indicate that Washington residentsare strongly divided about how cougarsshould be managed, and who should beallowed to influence cougar policy.

This past April, WDFW released its planfor cougar management in the statethrough 2015. One of WDFW’s statedgoals for cougar management is to “pre-serve, protect, perpetuate, and managecougar and their habitats to ensure healthy, productive popula-tions.” Yet, the plan provides no discussion or analysis of theimpacts of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation on cougarpopulations in the state, or how the human-caused mortality willinfluence cougar population viability and metapopulation dynam-ics. Moreover, it provides no inventory of areas that serve, or

could serve, as cougar refugia that would serve as biological savings accounts for cougar populations. In point of fact, the management plan contains no substantive discussion of howWDFW plans to meet its goal of conserving cougar populations.

Furthermore, although the plan stated that “Science is the core ofwildlife management, the basis for achieving the agency’s man-date, and the foundation of this plan,” key aspects of the strategyfor cougar management are not supported by the best availablescientific information. Notably, the plan provided no scientific evi-dence to support WDFW’s claims that hunting and other cougarpopulation reduction techniques improve public safety, reducecougar-livestock conflicts, or enhance deer and elk populations.Moreover, the plan does not incorporate or even mention thefindings of several Washington State University studies that suggest WDFW’s management strategies are not meeting their

stated objectives. For example, one WSUstudy found that at a time when someresidents and politicians in NortheasternWashington thought that cougar popula-tions and conflicts were increasingoccurred during a period that cougarnumbers were in fact declining. This andother studies in Washington suggests thatthere is a disconnect between the bestavailable science, public perception ofcougar populations, and current manage-ment strategies, which is highly problem-atic for our prospects for conservingcougar populations in Washington.

In short, there is a pressing need to improve cougar managementin Washington so that it reflects the best available scientific information, addresses the diverse value demands of the public,and ensures the long-term conservation of cougar populationsthroughout their range.

3 4Cougars

Moving

East

Orphaned

Kit tens in

Jackson

Hole6 11

9th Annual

Mountain

Lion

Workshop

Contest

Winner

COUGAR FUND

I

Photo: Kenton Rowe

20327_Newsletter:20327_Newsletter 7/18/08 4:44 PM Page 2

With a very long Wyoming winter behind us, we are

finally enjoying our short-lived but brilliant summer

days. The elk are in the high country, visitors to our

neighboring national parks are at their height, and

cougar mothers with new cubs are busy providing for

their needy charges, keeping them fed

and moving them every few days.

Imagine the 8 year-old girl in Oregon

who knew not to run when a cougar

confronted her, and then watched

later when her father shot the animal,

or how the loss of cougars and other

top predators in Yosemite has dramati-

cally affected key plant and animal populations in this

popular national park. And then there is the image of

the 150-pound cougar shot and killed in the Roscoe

Village neighborhood of north Chicago, crime tape

stretched across the scene as they assess the fatal result

of several rounds of bullets fired by the police on this,

the first cougar sighted in the Chicago area since the

19th century.

News stories such as these remind us that there is still

much work to be done on the public relations, science

and education front, the Cougar Fund’s primary areas

of focus. To that end, we are in the beginning phases

of a major online communications initiative that will

be the definitive online resource for “All Things

Cougar”. Incorporating a timeline and the natural his-

tory of the species along with first person storytelling

and lesson plans to use in the classroom or homeschool

setting are just the first few elements of this wide-

reaching program.

Listening to Cougar, the anthology fellow trustee and

friend Marc Bekoff and I edited, is in its third print-

ing, with a paperback edition due to come out this

autumn. A Spanish language version is also in the

works. The success of this collection of writing

exhibits the keen public interest in Puma concolor and

how the public, with greater and better information,

can become active participants in conservation by

choosing to safely and consciously co-exist with this

key carnivore.

With all the work that lies ahead of us, your contin-

ued support and contributions are more appreciated

than ever. Thank you for your concern, and for doing

your part to Protect Americas’

Greatest Cat. ™

Cara Blessley Lowe

Co-founder & President

from the

PresidentCara Blessley Lowe

...there is still much work to be done on the public relations, science and education front, the Cougar Fund’s primary areas of focus.

Dear Friends & Supporters of the Cougar Fund,

Photo: Sue Cedarholm

www.cougarfund.org


Over-hunting in some areas coupled with an everincreasing human presence in cougar habitat has resultedin cougars being displaced and venturing into areas—suchas suburban or even urban neighborhoods—that theywould traditionally prefer to avoid.

Because cougars are an often misunderstood and misrepre-sented species, the Cougar Fund strives to ensure theintegrity of information dispersed on the species in hopes of promoting a better understanding of the animal. It is with these efforts in mind that the Cougar Fundcomments on media stories involving cougars. There have been several human encounters this year, some of which ended with relocation, while others ended with the cougar being killed.

One of the most recent and nationally visible incidentsinvolving a cougar in an urban area was the Chicagocougar that was killed this April in the Roscoe Villageneighborhood. However, as many have expressed, thisunfortunate scenario could have ended in a much differentway. The Cougar Fund agrees that in cases where a catis directly threatening humans, lethal removal is absolutelyappropriate and necessary to protect the people involved.

Yet, to pose an alternative scenario, when cougars areseen in California, a state with healthy cougar populationsthat does not allow sport hunting, local authorities workwith the state game agency and trained professionals such as local vets and animal control to remove the cougar from the area by tranquilizing and relocating it.The numerous sightings and reports to local Chicagoauthorities in the hours leading up to the cougar’s deathsuggest that there was time to weigh alternatives thatwould have avoided ending the cougar’s life. With somany police officers available to offer protection to them-selves and those around them, tranquilizing the cat shouldhave been considered first, lethal force second.

By nature, cougars are reclusive, preferring to avoid contact with humans at all costs. They even avoid othercougars, except during mating season. Cougar and human interactions are extremely rare, but may occur as humansventure further into cougar habitat, despite the fact thatviable cougar populations were hunted to extinctionthroughout the east. Cougars are a self-regulating species,determined by food, habitat and social order. The greatestcause of mortality amongst cougars is human-related.

Only 19 people have been killed by cougars since 1900.Compare this with a statistic from the National SafetyCouncil which averages around 50 deaths each year bycontact with “wasps, bees, and hornets” or the over 5,500pedestrian-automobile deaths each year.

Life, be it in the city or in the wilderness, is never with-out risks. That such a reminder would be accompanied bythis unfortunate outcome is not lost on those who valuethe presence of an intact and healthy ecosystem completewith large carnivores such as cougars. While we makeour choices and arrive at our conclusions as individuals, sotoo do we as individuals contribute to a society that willcollectively decide whether or not to leverage toleranceand understanding with the facts at hand.

While there is the possibility of increased sightings innon-traditional areas, the Cougar Fund does not wish topropagate the sentiment that cougars are rapidly spreadingeastward or into urban areas as has been suggested bysome media coverage. Rather we would reiterate thatcougars are a self-regulating and highly reclusive species.A single cougar requires a minimum of 50-100 square milesto breed, raise young, hunt and survive, however, thatneed for space does not necessarily mean cougars will continue to move eastward or into urban areas.Sound cougar management policy and increased humancare when present in cougar country will help ensuresafety for both people and cougars.

3

AreCougarsMovingEast?

Comments on the Chicago

Cougar

by

Emorie Broemel

& Sara Carlson

Photo: Thomas D. Mangelsen

Photo: Thomas D. Mangelsen

www.cougarfund.org


Jackson Hole, a place where people who are wild about

snow struggle to make a living and their wild cousins

struggle simply to live through the cold dark months.

It has been a long, deep winter. A paradox of delight

at the “best powder ever” and despair as news of three

known starvation related cougar mortalities and an

illegal matriarch kill surfaced within our relatively small

geographic area.

Thus the scene was set for the seemingly more positive

news of a rescue and placement operation when three

cougar kittens were left orphaned and wandered into

residential Wilson in mid-March.

It doesn’t take much for wildlife savvy Jacksonites to

notice cougar kittens in their backyards, and soon

Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials were

on their way to investigate. Two kittens were captured

together and transported to the Sybille Research Facility

in Wheatland, WY before their more elusive sibling was

located and secured.

In Wyoming, as in most states, the state run Game and

Fish Agency has jurisdiction over that state’s wildlife

unless it is a migratory bird or an endangered species, in

which case USFWS has authority. While the decision

for what to do is exclusively theirs, the staff at the Game

and Fish Office in Jackson once again extended the hand of respect and cooperation to the Cougar Fund byseeking the Cougar Fund’s input in finding the best possible situation for the orphans. By coincidence, theChahinkapa Zoo in North Dakota had recently contactedthe Cougar Fund requesting leads about possible orphansbecause of the death of its male cougar. Too young tosurvive by themselves and too habituated to people bytheir short sojourn around the Wilson township to begood candidates for rehabilitation, after establishing thatthis facility met G&F requirements it became clear thatthe next stop for the trio after Wheatland would be thezoo in North Dakota.

This is the kind of story that we have come to expect,

living as we do, “on the edge of wildness”, but it is not

necessarily one with the archetypal “happy ending” as

no one would ever argue that captivity is the preferred

option for any wild creature.

When I first started to research the subject, the idea was

to explore what options, if any, existed as destinations

for the cougar orphans. I wanted to identify the hierarchy

of decision making, and to give you an idea of what life

in the care of humans was going to be like. I discovered

that the task was not going to be nearly as straightfor-

ward as it seemed. What follows is an attempt to put

into some perspective the complex and often chaotic

interweaving of systems, regulations, or lack thereof, and

AnOrphanedKitten’sJourney

by

Penny Maldonado

This is the kind of story that we have come to expect, living as we do, “on the edge of wildness”, but it is not necessarily

one with the archetypal “happy ending”...

Photo: Bob Smith

Photo: Brad Boner

www.cougarfund.org


5

options that form an indefatigable maze in the search for facts about wild

animal captivity in America today.

The scope of the captivity dilemma is so vast, a brief history and some

statistics may help. The three Wilson kittens will actually be joining the

approximately ten to fifteen thousand great cats living in captivity in the

US today. This figure is divided between many types of environments,

including zoos, sanctuaries, preserves, research facilities, private wildlife

centers, the entertainment industry, rehabilitation facilities and in home

pet ownership.

You may already be asking, “Where did all these animals come from?”

Well, to cut a long story short we really have to go back as far as the

Romans as an example of mans’ desire to intimidate and entertain by

caging wild cats as a symbol of status and power. Over the centuries the

accumulation of exotic animals increased and evolved through menageries,

zoological gardens to zoos, circuses, roadside exhibits, mega dollar Vegas-

style entertainment and theme parks. As the public became more enam-

ored with these commercial ventures as a recreational destination and

with the lure of baby animals in particular, breeding was encouraged that

resulted in many surplus and non-commercially attractive animals.

The unregulated growth of personal ownership of big cats often leads to

tragedy as people realize too late that the cute kitten they purchased over

the internet for the same price as a pedigreed dog grows up, eats twelve

pounds of meat per day, destroys their house, attacks their neighbor’s

toddler and is instinctively feral. A number of groups and membership

associations that support and politically lobby for the right to private

ownership of wild felids are available to offer their expertise.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how professional and accurate and

well-researched these organizations are, or however much they advocate

and expound the ideal of responsible wild animal ownership—they cannot

deny or prevent the number of cases where a failed pet, usually a hungry

rambunctious juvenile, has no home.

There has been an increase in a genre know as “edutainment” where sup-

posedly tamed cats are taken to public venues where they can interact—for

a fee—and for photo purposes with the public. This is apparently a chance

to teach people about the plight of the planet. Visits to schools, fundrais-

ers, etcetera using kittens as props obviously requires a supply of kittens,

so, as they grow we yet again find hungry rambunctious juveniles in

search of a home.

It has been weeks since I started to explore the possibilities for the

orphaned kittens now that they have entered captivity in America. The

Cougar Fund thought this would be a fairly simple comparison between

the choices of zoos and sanctuaries as destinations. What I discovered was

an alarming nationwide lack of cohesive regulation between federal and

state law that allows the existence of a plethora of facilities from back

yard “pseudo-sanctuaries” to hunting havens that call themselves sanctuar-

ies. There is no single guideline that designates a facility as an appropriate

home. The membership organizations {AZA, ASA, TAOS} are just that,

organizations where anyone can buy a membership and are not federally

or state regulated. These groups’ only recourse to a facility they don’t

approve of is withdrawal of their “sticker” and, to be honest how many

people does that really turn around at the gate?

Each agency that may become responsible for finding a home for a wild

animal has its own method of selection. The Wyoming Game and Fish

relies on their state vet. USFWS lets their agents decide through their

knowledge and networking of facilities among themselves and other

agents. Sanctuary directors that I spoke with said it is largely a matter of

experience and “feel”. It’s what you DON’T see. Is the facility closed off?

Is it run down? Do administrators make excuses? How are the conditions

of the animals? Is there an independent board of directors? Basically there

is no substitute for having someone visit the facility before a recommenda-

tion to place an animal. The danger of the system as it stands is that once

an animal enters in it can conceivably end up anywhere from a zoo to a

canned hunt.

I can think of no better ending than a quotation from the Cougar Fund’s

own board member Marc Bekoff who on Earth Day 2008, told the

Tallahassee Democrat “There’s a huge paradigm shift happening. Most

people don’t want to see animals in cages now. They are more demanding

of zoos in terms of ethical standards. That more sanctuaries are springing

up instead of roadside zoos is a good thing. But sanctuaries vary just like

zoos. There are good sanctuaries and bad sanctuaries. The good ones give

the animals the very very best they can.”

To read this article in its entirety, please visit our website at

www.cougarfund.org

A picture should now be emerging of the enormous competition that any orphaned cougar kitten faces when trying to find a safe captive haven.

www.cougarfund.org


Reliable information on populations is essential for

the successful conservation and management of many

carnivore species. Carnivores such as cougars Puma

concolor are particularly difficult to study due to their

large home range sizes, low densities and secretive nature.

The conventional method is time-consuming, expensive

and logistically difficult. For difficult-to-study species

such as cougars, noninvasive genetic monitoring may be a

useful alternative. DNA extracted from hair or scat can

be used to identify individuals, determine genders and

relationships, examine patterns of gene flow and estimate

population size. The ability to identify individuals from

samples collected through noninvasive sampling method

provides many opportunities for developing population-

monitoring tools, but the utility of these survey methods

is dependent upon the collection of samples and the accu-

rate genotyping of those samples.

In January 2003, we initiated a three-year study to evaluate

the merits of noninvasive genetic sampling methods for

monitoring cougar populations in Yellowstone National

Park (YNP), USA. The goals of this study were to devel-

op a noninvasive hair sampling method for cougars and to

examine the reliability of the genetic data derived from

those hair samples. This study was conducted in conjunc-

tion with the Yellowstone Cougar Project, a long-term

research project on cougars in Yellowstone National Park.

We compared the effectiveness of the two collection

methods to obtain hair samples and produce accurate

individual identifications and gender. We also evaluated

the accuracy of the noninvasive genotype by comparing

them to genotypes from blood and tissue samples collected

during cougar capture. The results from this study show

that snow tracking is a better method than hair snaring

for collecting hair samples in YNP and the genetic data

generated from these samples produced accurate individual

identifications and genders.

To read about more about this research, please visit

www.cougarfund.org.

Michael A. Sawaya, Hornocker Wildlife Institute / Wildlife Conservation Society, Ecology Department – Montana State University

Toni K. Ruth, Hornocker Wildlife Institute / Wildlife Conservation Society

Steven T. Kalinowski, Ecology Department – Montana State University

Photo Contest WinnerCongratulations to Jesse Varnado, the winner of our Winter Newsletter photo contest!

Jesse submitted his prize-winning photo to the Cougar Fund and received $100 for his shot of this cougar in the wild.

Evaluation ofNon-invasive

Genetic Sampling Methods for

Cougars Using aRadio-Collared

Population in YellowstoneNational Park.

by

Michael A. Sawaya,

Toni K. Ruth &

Steven T. Kalinowski

www.cougarfund.org


Toni K. Ruth is a Wildlife Research Scientist with the

Selway Institute established and directed by Dr. Maurice

Hornocker. As a young girl, Toni grew up in the outdoors,

frequently going on family camping and fishing trips and

often spent time reading while perched in the top of an

oak tree. Her high school

hopes of becoming a marine

biologist evolved into

a Bachelor’s of Science degree

in wildlife from the School

of Forest and Resource

Conservation at the

University of Florida. Soon

after her experience on the

Panther Project, Toni began

research investigating cougar

behavior in and near human recreational development in

Big Bend National Park. This research resulted in a

Master’s degree in Wildlife Science from Texas A&M

University and provided an alternative management plan

for cougars in Big Bend National Park. Between 1998 and

2006, she was the project leader researching the effects of

wolf reestablishment on the cougar population in

Yellowstone National Park.

Since then, she has studied cougar populations in Texas,

New Mexico, Montana, and Idaho. She previously worked

with the Hornocker Wildlife Institute for 11 years and the

Wildlife Conservation Society for 5 years. Toni oversees

two graduate student projects and served on the steering

committee for the 9th Mountain Lion Workshop in

May 2008. She also serves as Secretary of the Board for

the non-profit Salmon Valley Stewardship, a group that

works to promote a healthy environment and a sustain-

able economy in Lemhi

County, Idaho.

Toni is currently working

on analyzing data, writing

manuscripts, and writing

a book on cougar ecology

and interactions with other

carnivores in the Northern

Yellowstone Ecosystem.

She hopes to continue

working on integrated multispecies approaches to provide

sound scientific research on which to base conservation

decisions in human dominated landscapes, as well as

to make educational contributions at a local and communi-

ty level. Toni feels “connected to the communities

I have lived in through my knowledge of cougars and

what they have taught me. Interestingly, my life has

mirrored my initial fascination at the variety of habitats

cougars are adapted to. In this regard I have been fortunate

to study them in these various environs. My biggest

thrills still come from finding a cougar track in the snow,

desert sand, or mud and knowing that a cougar could be

watching me nearby!”

Heros of the

CougarWorld:

Toni K. Ruth

7

The Cougar Fund Welcomes Emorie Broemel , Communicat ions Coordinator

A native Tennessean, Emorie graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee

with a B.A. in Political Science. Prior to graduating, she held an internship with United States

Congressman Jim Cooper as well as completed an honors thesis in the Political Science department.

She spent a summer in Jackson before moving to the area permanently in 2007. Emorie joined

the Cougar Fund in 2008 and enjoys hiking, Italian cooking, and yoga in her free time.

Photo: HWI /WCS

Photo: HWI /WCS


Arizona: Cougars have been legislativelyclassified as a big game animal in Arizona since 1970.The State currently maintains a harvest of between250-300 cougars each year and maintains a bag limitquota for cougars in areas with translocated bighornsheep or declining bighorn sheep and mule deer to encourage site specific sport harvest by hunters. The state reports that new regulations for the stateinclude a required carcass check-out by all successfulcougar hunters, collection of a tooth for aging and a reduction of the hunting season from 12 to 9months. There is also a new wildlife conflictresponse protocol, which aims to increase consistencyin management and public safety by breaking cougar behavior down into 2 categories: acceptableor unacceptable.

California: There is no sport-hunting season for Cougars in the state of California. In 1990cougars were legally classified as a “specially protected mammal” by the passage of a voter initiative (Proposition 117). Prior to that initiative,from 1987-1990, cougars were classified as “gamemammals,” although no hunting season was conduct-ed during that time. Cougars may only be killed if a depredation permit is issued after sight verification and with a request from the landowner.The number of depredation permits had dropped off, but increased again in 2007. The number of public safety threats posed by cougars was very low and incidents have fallen. Officials state that an informed public was the most effective solution to combating the fear of a cougar encounter.

Colorado: Since 1965, cougars have been classifiedas Big Game in Colorado. Harvest is managed using aharvest limit quota system without female sub-quotas.Hunters may take one lion of either sex each season.Officials believe that quotas that are too low leadhunters to be less selective, therefore caring lessabout which sex they take. New gender identificationeducation aids hunter’s ability to refrain from takingfemales. Colorado is working to manage successfullyat the urban wild-land interface and balance diver-gent perspectives towards lion management.

Florida: Although the Florida panther has longbeen considered a unique subspecies of cougar, agenetic study of cougar mitochondrial DNA findsthat many of the supposed subspecies are too similarto be recognized as distinct, which results in theclassification of the Florida Panther as one species,the North American Cougar Puma concolor.Biologists estimate roughly 80-100 Florida panthersremain in the wild, and a majority of them live in the southwest portion of Florida. SouthernFlorida is a fast-developing area, and declining habitat threatens this species. The two highest causesof mortality for the Florida panther are automobileinjuries and aggression between panthers for territory. The primary threats to the population as

a whole include habitat loss, habitat degradation, and habitat fragmentation. There is no record of aFlorida panther attacking a person.

Idaho: The Idaho Department of Fish & Gamebelieves that the hound hunting of cougars stillaccount for 80% of all cougar mortality. Recently the state made it mandatory for hunters to submit atooth from all harvested animals to document age.Cougar populations appear to be more closely tied to elk and deer populations than originally thought,since as elk populations in North Central Idahodeclined, so to did the harvest of lions. There hasbeen more interest and concern regarding theorphaning of kittens in the state, as well as sightingsof cougars in urban settings.

Montana: The total harvest of cougars inMontana in 2007 was 309, which represent a slightincrease. 70% of cougar permits offered were filledwith 20% of those being female. The Missoularegion will begin using limited entry permit huntingfor cougars in 2008. This limited entry partly aimsto reduce the large number of non-resident huntersin MT, which has resulted in gross over-commercial-ization of the species. This year the state hired acougar conflict specialist, which has proven extreme-ly helpful. The number of cougars in the state,whether raised or lowered, did not positively or neg-atively affect conflicts throughout the state. Thiscoming year, MT is planning on completing and pub-lishing the Garnet Mountain Puma Research Projectand updating the 1996 Puma Management Plan.

Nevada: The state notes that the addition oflocally abundant alternative prey such as elk,bighorn sheep, and wild horses, the lion populationcontinues to remain stable to increasing, despite adecrease in deer numbers beginning in the late 1980s.Since 2003 DNA in the form of muscle samples havebeen collected from harvested cougars, as well as the first premolar to determine age. Legislation wasproposed, then defeated in 2007 that declared anopen season on cougars with no restriction on how,when or how many cougars could be killed. Nevadais the only state that maintains a policy of refundingthe cost of tags to “unsuccessful” hunters.

New Mexico: The New Mexico Departmentof the Game & Fish states that a variety of huntingstructures over the years has evolved into the current dual hunting season of yearlong seasons(April – March) on private lands and a 6 months(October – March) season on public lands. The baglimit is one cougar; exceptions include a two cougarbag limit and yearlong seasons on public lands incertain management units. In 1999, the Departmentinitiated a zone management structure with harvestlimits, which continues today. The Department con-tinues to look at habitat-based models for improvedprecision and management utility.

Stateof the

States

An Update on Cougar

ManagementAcross

the West.

Photo: Kenton Rowe

www.cougarfund.org


North Dakota: As of August 2007, the North Dakota Game & Fish Department expanded the state’s hunting season and createdtwo new zones for hunting cougars – one zone with a limit of five (5) cougars and the other with no restrictions on how manycougars can be killed at all! Statewide, 6 cougars (one male and five females) were killed and 10 cougars (7 males and 3 females) died from non-harvest mortality. Only 4 years ago did the state acknowledge that there might be viable cougar populations, which are only based on sightings from the public. It was then that the NDG&F implemented an “experimental” hunting season with a statewide limit of five. Cougars killed by the department or private landowners, as well as road kill, incidental deaths by trapping or lions taken onIndian lands are not counted towards harvest objective quotas.

Oregon: A law signed on June 27th, 2007 brought back hound-hunting of cougars which essentially overturned a measureenacted by voters in 1994 that prohibits the use of packs of houndsto hunt cougars. The new law permits the agency to train citizens to act as "agents" on its behalf, and to use their hounds to huntcougars. If the number of cougars drops to 3,000 or less, as deter-mined by surveys, then the hunts will stop. The goal of this newlaw in conjunction with Oregon’s Cougar Management Plan is tokill cougars that might attack people or livestock. Scientists say thenew law may have the opposite of its intended effect. Hunting inthat state actually led to more cougars--and more complaints aboutproblem animals. In recent months, the state has made changes inrecording and reporting harvest information. Hunting rates are up,coincidental with deer and elk harvests, however more deer and elkhunters have been targeting cougars because Oregon offers the“sports pac” license, which grants tags for black bear, a generalcougar tag, one elk, one deer, upland game bird validation, Oregonwaterfowl validation, spring turkey and combined angling harvesttag for $130. Residents are charged $10.00 for a general cougar tag.

South Dakota: In 2005, the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parksremoved the cougar from the state’s threatened and endangeredspecies list. Now, despite the lack of data and scientific evidence thatreflects actual population numbers, a legislative committee approvedthe SDGF&P Commission’s plan to increase the number of cougarsthat can be killed to 35, with no more than 15 females being shot. In 2006, the maximum number of lions that could be killed was 25,with no more than 8 females shot. Only residents are able to obtaina license at a fee of $15.00.

Texas: There is currently an open season on cougars in Texas.Texas Parks & Wildlife do not have population estimates and rely on sighting, whether verified or not. The state claims that the population of cougars in Texas is steadily increasing, despite the loss of habitat and fragmentation that is occurring throughoutthe state. Long-term effective population size for cougars in Texaswas estimated to be 5,607 animals using ecological niche modeling to estimate distribution.

Utah: The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources states that in1999, the Division completed the Utah Cougar Management Plan.This plan was developed with the assistance of a public basedCougar Discussion Group, which will guide management for cougars through 2009. The Division manages to sustain cougar densities on all management units except those that have approved

predator management plans. After an informal survey of 453 cougar hunters in the state, they found most hunters surveyed felt the cougar population was down. All cougar complaints are handled under the guidance of a Nuisance Cougar Complaint policy. Most cougar conflicts are handled through lethal control.

Washington: On March 13, 2008, Washington House Bill 2438was signed allowing a cougar pursuit/ kill season with dogs to con-tinue for 3 additional years, for a total of 7 years as part of a contin-uing pilot program. Washington claims it is currently conductingresearch on a variety of projects including population size, survival,and change in predation events. In addition, the state conducted apublic opinion survey of resident attitudes towards cougars/ manage-ment. Currently there is a proposed test (sex/ age ID) on the tablebefore licenses are granted, which can be taken on-line. Reportedly26 orphaned kittens were confirmed in the last four years.

Wyoming: In 2006 the Wyoming Game & Fish revised thecougar management plan by incorporating scenarios aimed at adap-tively managing specific hunt areas and management units related tosource, sink or stable population levels. Wyoming now delineates31 hunt areas that are grouped into 5 management units. Beginningin hunt year 2007, all human caused mortalities now count towardsthe annual quota. The Department does not estimate cougar popula-tions; rather, population trends are assessed through sex and agecomposition of harvest data. While field research provided by out-side organizations indicated a decline in female populations, as wellas a decline in recruitment in northwest Wyoming, the Departmentdid not implement a lower female sub quota or reduce hunt quotasto reflect the data. The Wyoming Game & Fish conducts statewideinformation and education related to living in cougar country annu-ally and provides cougar specific hunter education on their website.

If you have updated information in your state, we would be interested in hearing from you.

Contact the Cougar Fund at [email protected].

9

www.cougarfund.org

WA

OR

CA

WYID

ND

SD

TX

CO

NM

NVUT

AZ

MT


TheCougarFund

Projects &Programs

OnlineCommunication,Education and

Public AwarenessInitiative

ColoradoElementaryStudents

Raise Money forCougars

The Cougar Fund is proud to announce the launching

of our new online communication, education and public

awareness initiative that will merge our public awareness

campaigns with an educational push to engage students

and teachers and provide needed information to the many

stakeholders involved with cougar issues.

This project will fill a crucial niche and deliver a much-

needed service that no other organization currently pro-

vides. Educators, state agencies,

activists, county planning commis-

sions, conservation volunteers and

other NGOs will have ongoing

access to the most current materials

provided through this initiative.

Some of the many core elements of

this program will include K-12 edu-

cational materials, a complete natural history of the

cougar, an information clearinghouse to include all

past and present cougar field research, a citizens’ action

packet, a cougar field guide, a graphic interactive that

explains cougars’ effects on the landscape, and how

human choices impact the cougar’s long term chances

of survival. There will also be an archive of the

Cougar Fund’s short films and advocacy materials for

classroom, public and individual use.

Constant and expanding pressure on cougar habitat in the

form of development, residential and recreational use and

ongoing landscape fragmentation by roads and other

human incursions apply direct pressure to the species’

long-term survival. By closing the gap in communications

among key stakeholders and providing an empowering

experience to landowners, residents, outdoor enthusiasts,

students and scientists, this initiative will be effective in

replacing long-standing myths with facts.

Ultimately this initiative aims to

garner a greater empathy and respect

for a species that plays a key role

in ecosystems, and whose long-term

survival is increasingly challenged

by humans and their impacts.

Puma concolor will persist into the

future only to the extent that human beings choose to

adjust these behaviors accordingly. As a result, cougars

will face a far better future for decades to come.

The Cougar Fund is still actively raising funds for this

exciting and meaningful online initiative. If you would

like to help support this specific program, please mention

the public awareness and education initiative in your

next donation or contact The Cougar Fund by phone or

email today!

Visit www.cougarfund.org to see the latest changes.

This spring, a group of Colorado elementary students

at Hyland Christian School in Westminster held a

fundraiser to “save the cats.” To raise money for cougar

conservation, the children—ages 7 to 12—drew a tree and

a cougar on poster board, then sold leaves for fifty-cents

to cover the tree. Through their efforts, the kids raised

$107.00 that they generously donated to the Cougar Fund!

The Cougar Fund would like to thank Jeremy, Garret,

Tim, Emmy, Guy, Heidi, Logan, Lydia, and Josiah for

their hard work and care for the cougars. Jeremy told

the Cougar Fund, “We hope this money helps!”—yes, it

surely does!Photo: Rebekah SunderRaj

Photo: Bob Smith

www.cougarfund.org


Monthly Giving Circle

The 9th Annual Mountain Lion Workshop, hosted by

the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, took place in

Sun Valley, Idaho on May 5-8, 2008. The annual work-

shop is designed to provide a forum for researchers,

managers and others to exchange information about

new research and management

techniques. This year’s theme was

“Cougars: Past, Present and Future

Challenges.” As the body of scien-

tific information about cougars

grows, so do the challenges facing

wildlife managers. Representatives

from game agencies, as well as

biologist from various organiza-

tions, come together during these

workshops to present the latest

scientific information and to share current state cougar

management procedures and information.

During the Mountain Lion Workshop, renowned big cat

expert Maurice Hornocker spoke at a banquet held in his

honor where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wilber Wiles, fellow assistant/houndsmen and friend of

Hornocker, was also honored at the banquet where he

received the Idaho Conservation Award.

Hornocker and his students at the

University of Idaho carried out the

very first initial cougar research efforts

in the 1960s. As a result of this work,

mountain lions were given greater

respect by both game managers and

the public. Hornocker, a wildlife

biologist and one of the world’s foremost

authorities on the great cats, pioneered

the use of radio telemetry to conduct

field studies of cougars and jaguars. Maurice Hornocker

is the director of the Hornocker Wildlife Institute at the

University of Idaho. 11

NinthAnnual

MountainLion

Workshop

These feisty feline delights are the cat’s meow because you bake them up fast with refrigerated dough.

I NG R EDI E N TS1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

1/3 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces (72)

2/3 cup pecan halves (48)

48 thin pretzel sticks (each 2 1/2 inches long), halved

Makes: 2 dozen cookies

D I R EC T ION S1. Place cookie dough in freezer at least 1 hour.

2. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut cookie dough into 24 slices. On ungreased cookie sheets, place slices 3 inches apart. For ears, press 2 pecan halves onto top of each cookie, overlapping edge of cookie. For eyes and nose, press in candy pieces. For whiskers, place 2 pretzel pieces on each side of nose; press in slightly.

3. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.

*High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 9 to 11 minutes.

Cougar Kitten Cookies

The Cougar Fund would like to recognize our two long time “Monthly Giving Circle” members, Ms. Charlotte Heldstab and Mrs. Shirley Galle. Each month, these members generously give to show their support for our

programming as we continue our work and extend our efforts to the growing need for sound science in wildlife

management and the spirit of a well-educated public who can demand such expertise from those officials charged with

conserving our wildlife resources. Every gift counts in the effort to help “Protect Americas’ Greatest Cat™.”

To join the Cougar Fund or renew your membership, please visit www.cougarfund.org or call 307.733.0797

Thanks to Charlotte Heldstab for this Recipe!

www.cougarfund.org


Listening to CougarListening to Cougar was published in December 2007 to an

enthusiastic response from readers and wildlife lovers all over the country. A Spanish language version is being developed, and the book is now in it’s third printing, with

a paperback edition due to come out this autumn.

The storytellers in this collection of essays are outdoor enthusiasts, biologists, spiritualseekers, writers—even hunters. Some speak from personal contact with mountain lions;others explore the animal’s role in nature and American Indian folklore. Whatevertheir genesis, the stories all promote peaceful co-existence by appealing to human tolerance and understanding ofwhat this animal’s absence would mean to the ecosystem and to the human soul. - Santa Fe - New Mexican

This excellent and compelling collection of primarily personal essays by conservationists on their encounters withcougars successfully gives voice to a “controversial” animal. In “The Growl,” naturalist Steve Edwards traces his jour-ney from fear, after finding a cougar under his cabin, to collaboration, as he helps what he dubs the “innocent” ani-mal avoid being killed by state police. Cougar expert David Stoner describes in detail how the animals live in theColorado Plateau, which he calls one of the most rugged and least accessible landscapes left in North America, whileAmerican Indian expert Steve Pavlik examines the role of the cougar in Navajo mythology, emphasizing the impor-tance of mountain lion beliefs and practices in traditional culture. But most notable are those essays that explore the“psychological value” of cougars, exemplified by teacher and activist Suzanne Duarte’s “My Bush Soul, the MountainLion,” a beautiful evocation of and tribute to her experience with the spirit of the mountain lion and how it beganher initiation into the “deeper secrets of the psyche.” With its wide range of scientific and cultural approaches, thisimpressive collection will help to shed light on America’s greatest cat. - Publishers Weekly Copyright © Reed BusinessInformation, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Contributors include: Rick Bass, Marc Bekoff, Janay Brun, Julia B. Corbett, Deanna Dawn, J. Frank Dobie, Suzanne Duarte, Steve Edwards, Joan Fox, Gary Gildner, Wendy Keefover-Ring, Ted Kerasote, Christina Kohlruss, Barry Lopez, BK Loren, Cara Blessley Lowe, Steve Pavlik, David Stoner, and Linda Sweanor.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Cara Blessley Lowe President & Co-Founder

Thomas D. MangelsenCo-Founder

Dr. Rick HopkinsSecretary

Webb BlessleyTreasurer

Dr. Marc Bekoff

Howard W. Buffett

Dr. Jane Goodall

Dr. Rick Hopkins

Patricio Robles Gil

Corey Rutledge, Esq.

John E. Swallow

ADVISORY BOARD:

Dr. Susan G. Clark

Dr. Brett G. Dickson

Ted Kerasote

Linda L. Sweanor, M.S.

Staff:

Sara L. CarlsonProgram Director

[email protected]

Emorie D. BroemelCommunications Coordinator

[email protected]

PO Box 122Jackson, WY 83001

Printed on recycled paper

307.733.0797www.cougarfund.org


Documents

20327 Newsletter:20327 Newsletter 7/18/08 4:44 PM Page 2 ... · stretched across the scene as they assess the fatal result of several rounds of bullets fired by the police on this,