Post by Woody Williams on Aug 17, 2005 15:25:31 GMT -5
Mountain lion numbers up in Texas
By KARI KRAMER
East Texas Edition
August 18, 2005 - Mountain lions are making a comeback in Texas.
The Texas mountain lion, also called a cougar, panther, puma, and catamount, is scientifically called Puma concolor (Latin for cat of one color). The animal, which only lives to be approximately 12-years-old in the wild, is a brown color with a wide head and paws. Male mountain lions can weigh up to 165 pounds and grow to be eight feet in length. Females usually weigh about 100 pounds.
According to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine article by E. Dan Klepper, mountain lions “previously inhabited the entire northern hemisphere, from Canada to South America, giving it the broadest known distribution of any wild cat.”
The animals are not as common today, and with only relative population estimates, Texas Parks and Wildlife can only confirm that the number of mountain lions in Texas is increasing, but to what extent is unknown.
John Young is a mammalogist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Austin. He has been working in wildlife biology for 16 years, and has kept up with mountain lion projects and numbers throughout the state.
“Analysis of (Texas Wildlife Services’) animal control activities indicates that the mountain lion population appears to have been slowly growing since the 1930s,” said Young.
He credited the increase in population to several factors. He said many poisons that were used to control nuisance predators in the 1930s and 1940s have since been outlawed, there has been an increased availability of food (such as white-tailed deer), and a regeneration of brush areas suitable for mountain lion habitat has occurred. Young also noted that predator control, due to the decreasing number of sheep and goat ranchers in Texas, has declined.
Given the circumstances, and a few studies done in isolated regions, the signs seem to indicate the population is growing, but the reality is that population numbers are speculative and based on a variety of reports, including sightings.
Mountain lion sightings are increasing, and spottings are a popular manner of estimating mountain lion populations.
“We have been collecting sightings information over the past 20 years and this data indicates that mountain lions can be found in every county in Texas,” Young said. But he added that sightings are often unreliable.
As an example, rumors in East Texas describe sightings of a black mountain lion (often referred to as a black panther) that is a mirror image of the mountain lion, only different in color. Young examined the situation and had this to say.
“The black panther is an Asian species and does not and never has occurred in the United States,” he said. “True black panthers are either black leopards or black jaguars.
“In nature, animals are occasionally born black, this is known as melanism. While it has been confirmed that melansim occurs in leopards and jaguars, it has not been proven in mountain lions,” he explained. “In a search of museum specimens dating back to the mid-1800s, no black mountain lion specimens occur.”
He added that mountain lion sightings often occur at dusk, or at night, and that may also give the appearance that the animal is black.
According to TPWD, male mountain lions have a home range between 25- and 500-square miles. Females’ home ranges are between 8- and 400-square miles. This large area provides ample opportunities for the animal to hunt and gather food, an aspect Young said concerns the general public.
“Some ranchers view mountain lions as predators that need to be controlled, while other ranchers don’t and may even discourage hunters from harvesting a mountain lion on their property,” Young said. “While seeing one excites them, it also greatly concerns them.”
Ranchers, Young said, should understand, that because a mountain lion is present on the property, does not indicate that it will attack livestock.
“Some livestock loss is possible,” he said. “Although, the simple presence of a mountain lion does not mean it will kill livestock.”
He said that often young males will wander an area, looking to establish a home range. In other words, the mountain lion may not be there to stay.
“Mountain lions wander through their home ranges and rarely spend more than a few days in one localized area,” Young explained.
Mountain lions have been known to attack humans, pets, and livestock, but their preferred diet consists of deer, hogs, rabbits, and porcupines. Human attacks occur more often in areas like California, where a more dense population survives. While the exact number of mountain lion attacks throughout Texas could not be found, according to the National Park Service, since 1984, three people have been attacked by mountain lions in Big Bend National Park. Accounts of the first attack could not be obtained, but in 1998, a woman from Harlingen was attacked while defending her children, and in 2003, a Fort Worth man was also attacked.
Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare. “I know it doesn’t make much difference to folks, but we have more car accidents, human deaths from dogs, and people killed by lightning every year than have been attacked or killed by mountain lions over the past 100 years in total,” Young pointed out.
“Mostly, folks seeing a mountain lion should keep their eye on it, let the cat know you see it, and not try to get close,” Young suggested. But, in some cases, proactive and protective measures may need to be taken.
A person should never hike alone, or hike with their pets. Children should not be allowed to hike alone or travel unattended in areas where mountain lions are established. If someone stumbles upon a mountain lion, they should maintain eye contact and remain calm. They should also refrain from running if possible. A common suggestion is that people should make themselves appear as large as possible, by stretching their arms, holding out the sides of their jackets and standing strait up. Almost anything can be used to fight-off a mountain lion, including sticks and rocks.
There is currently an open season on mountain lions in Texas.
“They may be taken at any time with a valid hunting license,” said Young. This can be done with the use of a gun, bow, or trap.
But he added, “if there’s an immediate threat of injury to a person, killing the animal without a valid hunting license can be justified as well.”
If a person has a mountain lion on their property, TPWD will not relocate the animal. Young explained that the relocation process posses several problems.
“We don’t relocate mountain lions because despite what has been seen on popular television shows, most relocated animals do not stay where they are placed,” he said.
In addition, without knowing where other mountain lions are located, it would be difficult to chose a proper location (for example, free of another dominant male) to relocate an animal.
Locating where mountain lions live may soon be easier. Young said TPWD is working with Texas A&M University-Kingsville to conduct research.
“Currently we are working with TAMU-K to look at the genetics of mountain lions to determine an effective population size, levels of inbreeding, if any,” he said. In addition, they will attempt to use Global Information Systems and software to create models to determine where possible mountain lion habitats may exist.
The future of the Texas Puma concolor is somewhat uncertain, and according to Young, based on a variety of variables.
“The largest threat to mountain lions and most other species of wildlife as well, is, and will continue to be, the loss of habitat and the fragmentation of remaining habitat,” said Young. “How development in Texas proceeds, and how well habitat is conserved and connected with other blocks of habitat, will determine the future of all wildlife in Texas.”
By KARI KRAMER
East Texas Edition
August 18, 2005 - Mountain lions are making a comeback in Texas.
The Texas mountain lion, also called a cougar, panther, puma, and catamount, is scientifically called Puma concolor (Latin for cat of one color). The animal, which only lives to be approximately 12-years-old in the wild, is a brown color with a wide head and paws. Male mountain lions can weigh up to 165 pounds and grow to be eight feet in length. Females usually weigh about 100 pounds.
According to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine article by E. Dan Klepper, mountain lions “previously inhabited the entire northern hemisphere, from Canada to South America, giving it the broadest known distribution of any wild cat.”
The animals are not as common today, and with only relative population estimates, Texas Parks and Wildlife can only confirm that the number of mountain lions in Texas is increasing, but to what extent is unknown.
John Young is a mammalogist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Austin. He has been working in wildlife biology for 16 years, and has kept up with mountain lion projects and numbers throughout the state.
“Analysis of (Texas Wildlife Services’) animal control activities indicates that the mountain lion population appears to have been slowly growing since the 1930s,” said Young.
He credited the increase in population to several factors. He said many poisons that were used to control nuisance predators in the 1930s and 1940s have since been outlawed, there has been an increased availability of food (such as white-tailed deer), and a regeneration of brush areas suitable for mountain lion habitat has occurred. Young also noted that predator control, due to the decreasing number of sheep and goat ranchers in Texas, has declined.
Given the circumstances, and a few studies done in isolated regions, the signs seem to indicate the population is growing, but the reality is that population numbers are speculative and based on a variety of reports, including sightings.
Mountain lion sightings are increasing, and spottings are a popular manner of estimating mountain lion populations.
“We have been collecting sightings information over the past 20 years and this data indicates that mountain lions can be found in every county in Texas,” Young said. But he added that sightings are often unreliable.
As an example, rumors in East Texas describe sightings of a black mountain lion (often referred to as a black panther) that is a mirror image of the mountain lion, only different in color. Young examined the situation and had this to say.
“The black panther is an Asian species and does not and never has occurred in the United States,” he said. “True black panthers are either black leopards or black jaguars.
“In nature, animals are occasionally born black, this is known as melanism. While it has been confirmed that melansim occurs in leopards and jaguars, it has not been proven in mountain lions,” he explained. “In a search of museum specimens dating back to the mid-1800s, no black mountain lion specimens occur.”
He added that mountain lion sightings often occur at dusk, or at night, and that may also give the appearance that the animal is black.
According to TPWD, male mountain lions have a home range between 25- and 500-square miles. Females’ home ranges are between 8- and 400-square miles. This large area provides ample opportunities for the animal to hunt and gather food, an aspect Young said concerns the general public.
“Some ranchers view mountain lions as predators that need to be controlled, while other ranchers don’t and may even discourage hunters from harvesting a mountain lion on their property,” Young said. “While seeing one excites them, it also greatly concerns them.”
Ranchers, Young said, should understand, that because a mountain lion is present on the property, does not indicate that it will attack livestock.
“Some livestock loss is possible,” he said. “Although, the simple presence of a mountain lion does not mean it will kill livestock.”
He said that often young males will wander an area, looking to establish a home range. In other words, the mountain lion may not be there to stay.
“Mountain lions wander through their home ranges and rarely spend more than a few days in one localized area,” Young explained.
Mountain lions have been known to attack humans, pets, and livestock, but their preferred diet consists of deer, hogs, rabbits, and porcupines. Human attacks occur more often in areas like California, where a more dense population survives. While the exact number of mountain lion attacks throughout Texas could not be found, according to the National Park Service, since 1984, three people have been attacked by mountain lions in Big Bend National Park. Accounts of the first attack could not be obtained, but in 1998, a woman from Harlingen was attacked while defending her children, and in 2003, a Fort Worth man was also attacked.
Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare. “I know it doesn’t make much difference to folks, but we have more car accidents, human deaths from dogs, and people killed by lightning every year than have been attacked or killed by mountain lions over the past 100 years in total,” Young pointed out.
“Mostly, folks seeing a mountain lion should keep their eye on it, let the cat know you see it, and not try to get close,” Young suggested. But, in some cases, proactive and protective measures may need to be taken.
A person should never hike alone, or hike with their pets. Children should not be allowed to hike alone or travel unattended in areas where mountain lions are established. If someone stumbles upon a mountain lion, they should maintain eye contact and remain calm. They should also refrain from running if possible. A common suggestion is that people should make themselves appear as large as possible, by stretching their arms, holding out the sides of their jackets and standing strait up. Almost anything can be used to fight-off a mountain lion, including sticks and rocks.
There is currently an open season on mountain lions in Texas.
“They may be taken at any time with a valid hunting license,” said Young. This can be done with the use of a gun, bow, or trap.
But he added, “if there’s an immediate threat of injury to a person, killing the animal without a valid hunting license can be justified as well.”
If a person has a mountain lion on their property, TPWD will not relocate the animal. Young explained that the relocation process posses several problems.
“We don’t relocate mountain lions because despite what has been seen on popular television shows, most relocated animals do not stay where they are placed,” he said.
In addition, without knowing where other mountain lions are located, it would be difficult to chose a proper location (for example, free of another dominant male) to relocate an animal.
Locating where mountain lions live may soon be easier. Young said TPWD is working with Texas A&M University-Kingsville to conduct research.
“Currently we are working with TAMU-K to look at the genetics of mountain lions to determine an effective population size, levels of inbreeding, if any,” he said. In addition, they will attempt to use Global Information Systems and software to create models to determine where possible mountain lion habitats may exist.
The future of the Texas Puma concolor is somewhat uncertain, and according to Young, based on a variety of variables.
“The largest threat to mountain lions and most other species of wildlife as well, is, and will continue to be, the loss of habitat and the fragmentation of remaining habitat,” said Young. “How development in Texas proceeds, and how well habitat is conserved and connected with other blocks of habitat, will determine the future of all wildlife in Texas.”
