IN THIS ISSUE Jaguars in the Pantanal

Vol. 2, Issue 2. Sept. 2006.

Wild Cat TheNews Cougar Network’s tri-annual publication dedicated to the scientific research of North American wild cats

IN THIS ISSUE Jaguars in the Pantanal

Andean Mountain Cats

Project Wild Cats of Brazil

Potential Midwest Cougar Habitat Research Update

Chemical Capture of Free-Ranging Felids

Puma Research - Now that you have it, what do you do with it?

© 2006 The Cougar Network: Using Science to Understand Cougar Ecology. Cover Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project. Wild Cat News © 2006 The Cougar Network: Using Science to Understand Cougar Ecology

IN THIS ISSUE Vol. 2, Issue 2. September 2006.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jaguars in the Pantanal of Brazil By Peter G. Crawshaw Jr., Biologist contact. Fião shined his torch, his head almost to the ground. One Brazilian Institute for the and partly hidden in the entangled moment he was there, omnipresent, Environment (IBAMA) vegetation, we saw an adult male and in the next, he was gone. We Clay Nielsen • IL jaguar (below). The animal avoided heard nothing more. Only then, it Amidst the myriads of sounds eye contact with the light, lowering seemed, we all resumed breathing. It under the big night sky of the Male jaguar, Pantanal National Park, 20 February 2006 Pantanal, we strained our ears to (José Luiz Menezes/Peter Crawshaw Jr.). identify anything that would denounce the presence of the jaguar on the river bank, just 10 meters from our Harley Shaw • NM boat. After the first distant replies to the hoarse, repeated grunts that Fião, a park employee, produced with an oversized, hollow gourd, the animal had remained silent. Some of us were already skeptical that he would come to investigate the potential invasion of Ken Miller • MA its haunts by an unknown jaguar. All of a sudden, an unlikely sound came Jaguars in the Pantanal from the bank like a low, harsh miaow that Fião and I identified as a close- range vocalization, an appeasement Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 3 By Peter G. Crawshaw Jr., Biologist Mark Dowling • CT 3 Bob Wilson • KS ______Sacred Cat SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS of the Andes Chuck Anderson • WY

Above: A female Andean mountain cat peers from a small cave at the edge of a precipice in Khastor Bolivia. Photograph by Jim Sanderson. By Jim Sanderson, Ph.D. attending a recent meeting of Alianza those at the AGA meeting, Isabella’s Adrian P. Wydeven • WI Conservation International Gato Andino (AGA), an organization commitment to wildlife conservation Wildlife Conservation Network dedicated to conservation efforts of and love of Andean cats came as no Small Cat Conservation Alliance the Andean cat (Oreailurus jacobita) surprise. IUCN Cat Specialist Group throughout its geographic range in The Andean cat is the least-known And Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Perú. cat in the western hemisphere. Gato Lilian Villalba, M.Sc. The international model and movie andino is also one of only four cats Alianza Gato Andino star, Isabella Rossellini, daughter of considered Endangered by the IUCN Bill Watkins • MB Coleccion Boliviana de Fauna screen legend Ingrid Bergmann, had Cat Specialist Group, making it the IUCN Cat Specialist Group donated to AGA half of her $100,000 Americas’ most threatened cat species. Andean Mountain Cats Disney Wildlife Conservation Award Three Asian species – bay cat, snow With exquisite timing, the exciting she had received for her tireless leopard, and tiger - share this dubious news reached those in La Paz, Bolivia, efforts to protect wildlife. To all of distinction. Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 7 By Jim Sanderson, Ph.D., and Lillian Villalba, M.Sc. Ron Andrews • IA 7 Darrell Land • FL Dave Hamilton • MO Jay Tischendorf • MT ______

The Quest for little-known Cats of the Americas: Project Wild Cats EDITOR Above: The little spotted cat is a native to Brazil. of Brazil Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project. By Tadeu G. de Oliveira, pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), the best-studied species worldwide. Biologist, Maranhão State little spotted cat (Leopardus tigrinus), However, in the Neotropical realm, University - UEMA and Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), felids are among the least known Institute Pro-Carnivoros kodkod (Leopardus guigna), pampas in the world, with very limited cat (Leopardus colocolo), Andean cat information available regarding their The American continent houses (Leopardus jacobitus), jaguarundi ecology and conservation needs. This 12 species of wild felids, of which (Puma yagouaroundi), puma (Puma holds true even for Neotropical puma. only three are commonly found in concolor), and jaguar (Panthera All species “south of the border” North America. Tropical America, onca). Only the puma is characteristic are under a series of threats and are which comprises the zoogeographical of both areas, and except for the considered threatened with extinction province of the Neotropics (coastal kodkod and Andean cat, all are found in varying degrees in several parts Scott Wilson and tropical lowland areas of Mexico in Brazil. of their range. In Brazil, all are all the way down to the Straight of Needless to say, studies on North threatened either nationally (most Project Wild Cats of Brazil Magellan in southernmost Chile and American felids (puma, bobcat – Lynx species) or at the state level. Argentina), on the other hand, harbors rufus – and Canada lynx – Lynx In 2003, Brazil’s Ministry of the 10. These are: ocelot (Leopardus canadensis) make them some of Environment, through the National Wild Cat12 News - www.cougarnet.org 12 By Tandeu G. de Oliveira, Biologist

Status Update: Modeling Potential

Cougarin Midwestern Habitat North America Above: Trailcam photo taken near Savage, Minnesota. Courtesy Kerry Kammann.

By Michelle A. LaRue the past 15 years, suggesting eastward presence in the Midwest, currently Graduate Research Assistant, and movement of cougars. Recent no information is available to assist Dr. Clayton K. Nielsen research has found that cougars can such efforts. To concentrate on these Wildlife Ecologist disperse considerable distances, needs, as reported in the June 2005 Cooperative Wildlife Research as evidenced by a juvenile male issue of the Wild Cat News, efforts Laboratory dispersing 1,067 km into Oklahoma are currently being undertaken to Southern Illinois University from the Black Hills and a juvenile provide the first model of cougar Carbondale (MAL, CKN); female dispersing 1,336 km within habitat in the Midwest by using expert Cougar Network (CKN) western cougar range. Given the opinion surveys, geospatial data, and a increasing number of confirmations geographic information system (GIS). Cougars are becoming a species and their long-distance dispersal This article provides a status update of interest to Midwestern wildlife capability, it is possible that cougars on the model’s progress. biologists and the general public are attempting to re-colonize the because of their increasing presence Midwest via juvenile dispersal. Approach to Modeling Potential in the region. As confirmed by the Although wildlife biologists Cougar Habitat Potential Midwest Cougar Habitat Update Cougar Network, cougar carcasses, will require information to support scat, and tracks in Midwestern states management, protection, and Habitat models have been created have increased dramatically during public education regarding cougar for many carnivore species using Wild Cat20 News - www.cougarnet.org 20 By Michelle A. LaRue, Graduate Research Assistant, and Dr. Clayton K. Nielson, Wildlife Ecologist

Chemical Capture of Free-Ranging Felids Above: A mountain lion caught in a foothold trap and darted in the hip.

By Terry J. Kreeger, DVM, Ph.D. cat needs to be weighed, measured, in town). Small to medium-sized Supervisor, Veterinary Services sexed, and marked with ear tags or cats are usually initially trapped Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. transponders. Blood samples are with foothold or box traps and often taken for health screening and then drugged. Larger cats, such as Wild cats come in all sizes, DNA analysis. Depending on the mountain lions, can be chased by dogs ranging from the diminutive rusty- research needs, radio collars may be and treed, then darted with drugs. spotted cat of Asia (1.5 kg) to the attached for tracking purposes. To Many of the large African cats are 300 kg Siberian tiger. Despite conduct all of these operations on an darted over bait or carcasses. Asian these differences, most cats are awake cat, well-armed with teeth, tigers are driven by elephants towards physiologically “wired” the same. claws, and attitude, is challenging at hidden persons with dart guns. This is fortunate when faced with best. When faced with this challenge, Siberian tigers are probably the only the task of chemically immobilizing people find that drugs are their friends cats routinely darted from helicopters. wild felids because it simplifies drug when it comes to handling cats! There are two major classes of choices and dosages. Other reasons for catching cats drugs used for the immobilization of Cats have to be caught for all are for translocation/reintroduction all wildlife: cyclohexanes and opioids. Chemical Capture of Free-Ranging Felids kinds of reasons. Most cat captures to establish new populations or to Opioids (often inappropriately called conducted by wildlife management remove them from places where they narcotics) are mostly chemical agencies are for research. Usually the shouldn’t be (e.g., the mountain lion modifications of the morphine Wild Cat23 News - www.cougarnet.org 23 By Terry J. Kreeger, DVM, Ph.D.

PumaNow that you have Research it, what do you do with it?

The following article was derived from a speech delivered by the author at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on April 18, 2006. The forum was a panel discussion involving biologists, ranchers, environmentalists, and resource managers entitled “Sharing a Home with Predators: How Well do Humans and Mountain Lions Co-exist in Colorado?”

By Harley Shaw, Biologist in the United States, Canada, and Lat- appropriate regulations for hunting the in America since the mid-1960s, when puma, but these seem to be centered When Carol Cochran asked if I Maurice Hornocker broke the meth- more upon ethics and politics than would participate in this workshop, I odology barrier in his Idaho Primi- upon the long-termed welfare of the had just finished a phone call with a tive Area study. Over time, more species. What seems to have most of friend who worked for many years as efficient methods of capturing puma, our attention is the continued move- a predator control agent in California. improved radio-tracking equipment ment of humans into puma habitat and He is a rather independent thinker and and, more recently, population genet- the resultant conflicts between the two home-spun philosopher and always ics and camera traps have contributed species, including rare but frightening enjoys rattling my cage. We were to our research abilities. We know a attacks on humans and, conversely, discussing the recently-published lot more about the basic biology of the the ongoing loss and fragmentation Cougar Management Guidelines, a species than we did in the 1960s. of habitat. Added to this is the reap- synthesis of research and management At the same time, the conflicts pearance of the species in historic experience that Ken Logan and I, surrounding the puma have changed ranges to the East, which has created along with 11 other biologists, helped and grown. In 1970, when I first fear, concern over livestock loss, and write. While my friend didn’t openly began working with the puma, the conflicts regarding recommended disagree with the guidelines, his com- main questions in Arizona involved puma hunting in these re-expansion ment regarding their use was, “Why its numerical status, the effect it was areas. Do we have the knowledge we should we bother? We’ve been man- having on livestock and deer, and the need to address the new problems that aging cougars successfully for 100 effect hunting was having on it. Other are arising? If so, how do we imple- years without all of this information. states addressed these same ques- ment that information, and to take up Why change now?” His solution is tions more or less about that time. As my California friend’s question, why simple – just take out the problem a result of these studies, few people should we? Can’t we just continue to cats, and let the rest take care of them- are now worried about the immediate apply our old tools of control and/or selves. His question was rhetorical, extinction of the puma in the western regulated hunting, and leave the rest intended to make me think. He didn’t United States, and we have pretty to nature or fate? expect an argument or an answer. But much defined the circumstances under I am convinced that my friend make me think, he did. Should new which they become troublesome with was intentionally, perhaps a little knowledge always create change? livestock. While these issues still facetiously, presenting a pretty com- Puma Research - what do you do with it? A host of agencies and universities exist, they are no longer the ones that mon point of view in wildlife man- have been doing research on the puma make news. We still struggle over agement ranks. Our profession and Wild Cat26 News - www.cougarnet.org 26 By Harley Shaw, Biologist Jaguars in the Pantanal of Brazil By Peter G. Crawshaw Jr., Biologist contact. Fião shined his torch, his head almost to the ground. One Brazilian Institute for the and partly hidden in the entangled moment he was there, omnipresent, Environment (IBAMA) vegetation, we saw an adult male and in the next, he was gone. We jaguar (below). The animal avoided heard nothing more. Only then, it Amidst the myriads of sounds eye contact with the light, lowering seemed, we all resumed breathing. It under the big night sky of the Male jaguar, Pantanal National Park, 20 February 2006 Pantanal, we strained our ears to (José Luiz Menezes/Peter Crawshaw Jr.). identify anything that would denounce the presence of the jaguar on the river bank, just 10 meters from our boat. After the first distant replies to the hoarse, repeated grunts that Fião, a park employee, produced with an oversized, hollow gourd, the animal had remained silent. Some of us were already skeptical that he would come to investigate the potential invasion of its haunts by an unknown jaguar. All of a sudden, an unlikely sound came from the bank like a low, harsh miaow that Fião and I identified as a close- range vocalization, an appeasement

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 3 technique as an additional method to estimate relative abundance of jaguars in the Pantanal National Park and the surrounding private reserves that compose the World Heritage Site of the Pantanal (left), declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2000. The place was not new to me. In 1978, when working with world- renowned scientist George Schaller in the first-ever jaguar study, I had lived in the nearby Acurizal ranch, now one of the private reserves owned by the Fundação Ecotrópica. That study, after only 14 months of following two jaguars and one puma with radio- telemetry, had to be halted. A deal to buy the ranch between the Brazilian Institute for Forest Development (IBDF, the federal environmental agency that partly sponsored the study – and hired me) and the owner broke up. Two other jaguars had been killed to force our project out of the ranch (Schaller, 1978; Schaller and Crawshaw, 1980). We had to resume was as if we all had been in a trance, few kilometers upriver, but a restless the study in other parts of the Pantanal a magical feeling of elation that lasted pilot on our boat had scared the (Schaller et al, 1984; Crawshaw just a few seconds. animal away. Overall, of the four and Quigley, 1991; Quigley and This had been the third night in a nights that we called, we had replies Crawshaw, 1992). row that we had gone out at night, by on three, and in two the animal had boat, to attract jaguars by imitating approached. Even considering that their characteristic vocalization. On it could have been the same jaguar in the first night, we had attracted what both nights, I was still pretty satisfied might have been this same animal a with the results. I decided to use this

Beneath the Amolar mountain range - Serra do Amolar - which borders Bolivia, the flatness of the Pantanal consists of flat marshes, grasslands, and forests.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 4 The Pantanal consists of a vast of jaguar livestock depredation in number and provided ample floodplain formed by the Paraguay from cattle ranchers, had already food. Ecotourism has since been river and its tributaries, some 140,000 wiped out jaguars from large areas incorporated in an increasing number km2 in size, in southwestern Brazil. of the Pantanal. In 1978, significant of ranches as an additional source of The vegetation is characterized by populations were restricted to three income. Jaguar sightings are more marshes and seasonally flooded areas, of which two were where our common now than in the early 80s. grasslands, interspersed with palm studies were conducted (Schaller I will be conducting an evaluating stands, meandering riverine forests, and Crawshaw, 1980; Crawshaw and survey in the area in the coming and islands of varying sizes of Quigley, 1991). Elsewhere, jaguar months. If high jaguar density is deciduous to semideciduous forests sign was exceptionally rare. indeed confirmed, I will invest the (Prance and Schaller, 1982). Cattle However, in the last 15 to 20 next four to five years of my life in ranching was introduced in the years, the species seems to have made re-establishing a research project Pantanal more than 200 years ago a remarkable comeback, apparently to conclude the study so sadly and since that time has been the main because of a retraction of the cattle interrupted almost 30 years ago. One economic activity of the region. The industry, combined with some high advantage of the present situation is whole area has had a history of large flood years (Crawshaw, 2002). As that cattle ranching has practically cattle ranches, usually no smaller than a result, fewer people remain in the stalled in the whole region of the Park, 50 km2 and a few exceeding 3,000 back country, working and living at which means no persecution from km2. the ranches, and cattle that survived ranchers. This will be an important Relentless persecution from the floods were left in a feral state, differential to this study, in relation to the commercial hunting for spotted providing additional food for the other ongoing jaguar research projects skins before the banning of hunting jaguar. Also, native species such in the Pantanal. Sandra Cavalcanti, in Brazil in 1967, as well as control as caiman and capybaras increased Leandro Silveira, and Fernando

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 5 Azevedo are presently studying jaguar ecology and conservation, all three studies being carried out in heavily-ranched areas in the southern Pantanal. Despite the fact that future conservation of the jaguar will very likely depend on a reasonable level of coexistence with cattle ranching in the Pantanal, it will be a treat to be able to study the ecology and behavior of this wonderful cat untroubled by direct interference of livestock and man.

References Cited

Crawshaw Jr., Peter G. 2002. Mortalidad inducida por humanos y conservación de Crawshaw Jr., Peter G. and Quigley, H.B. Schaller, G.B. 1978. Epitaph for a jaguar. jaguares: el Pantanal y el Parque Nacional 1991. Jaguar spacing, activity, and habitat Animal Kingdom Magazine., New York Iguaçu en Brasil. IN: Medellin, R. A., use in a seasonally flooded environment in Zoological Society, NY. Equihua, C., Chetkiewicz, C.L.B., Crawshaw Brazil. J. Zool. (London), 223: 357-370. Jr., P.G., Rabinowitz, A. Redford, K. H., Schaller, G.B., H.B. Quigley, and P.G. Robinson, J. G., Sanderson, E., and Taber , Quigley, Howard B. and Crawshaw Jr., P.G. Crawshaw Jr. 1984. Biological investigations A. B. (eds.) El Jaguar en el nuevo milenio. 1992. A conservation plan for the jaguar in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Nat. Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Mexico/Wildlife (Panthera onca) in the Pantanal region of Geog. Res. Rep. 1976 Projects: 777-792. Conservation Society. Mexico DF: 451-464. Brazil. Biological Conservation 61: 149-157.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 6 Sacred Cat of the Andes

Above: A female Andean mountain cat peers from a small cave at the edge of a precipice in Khastor Bolivia. Photograph by Jim Sanderson. By Jim Sanderson, Ph.D. attending a recent meeting of Alianza those at the AGA meeting, Isabella’s Conservation International Gato Andino (AGA), an organization commitment to wildlife conservation Wildlife Conservation Network dedicated to conservation efforts of and love of Andean cats came as no Small Cat Conservation Alliance the Andean cat (Oreailurus jacobita) surprise. IUCN Cat Specialist Group throughout its geographic range in The Andean cat is the least-known And Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Perú. cat in the western hemisphere. Gato Lilian Villalba, M.Sc. The international model and movie andino is also one of only four cats Alianza Gato Andino star, Isabella Rossellini, daughter of considered Endangered by the IUCN Coleccion Boliviana de Fauna screen legend Ingrid Bergmann, had Cat Specialist Group, making it the IUCN Cat Specialist Group donated to AGA half of her $100,000 Americas’ most threatened cat species. Disney Wildlife Conservation Award Three Asian species – bay cat, snow With exquisite timing, the exciting she had received for her tireless leopard, and tiger - share this dubious news reached those in La Paz, Bolivia, efforts to protect wildlife. To all of distinction.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 7 An Andean cat peeks over a rock in Salar de Surire, Chile. Photograph by Jim Sanderson.

third kind in November 1998. This time the encounter was between an Andean cat and Sanderson, a member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group (Sanderson & Iriarte 1999 Cat News). Supported by a National Geographic Society grant, Sanderson settled in at Salar de Surire in October 1998 to look for an orange metal pole that

A Mountain viscacha stands at alert in Salar de Surire, Chile. Photograph by Jim Sanderson. appeared in the photograph of the Andean mountain cat. As fate would The Andean cat was described that the cat seemed to ignore the have it, the pole was just behind to science by Cornalia, an Italian, in presence of human observers who his accommodation, the so-called 1865. However, so little was known were able to approach the cat and “ice box,” a dilapidated trailer in a of this high Andes specialist that obtain very clear photographs. valley 4,300 meters above sea level, most natural history books written In mid-1998 a photograph, taken surrounded by snow-capped peaks. before 1900 neglected to include it by a tourist visiting Salar de Surire in After setting more than a dozen when describing the world’s living cat northern Chile, of what was clearly live traps, on November 12 the daily species. an Andean cat was provided to Jim routine of checking these traps was By 1998, several Andean cats Sanderson by Agustin Iriarte working suddenly broken when Sanderson had been photographed, and accounts in wildlife conservation in the Chilean followed and photographed a male of two encounters were published. government. This photograph led Andean cat for more than four hours. Remarkably, both publications stated to another close encounter of the However, the cat eluded his live traps.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 8 During this encounter he was able considered wild cats sacred animals there were just three well-documented to approach the cat to within three because they are the symbol of encounters and virtually no hard data, meters, and in fact the cat ignored his abundance and fertility, but the Native scientific publications were not going presence. The cat even licked itself Americans also use them dead and to aid the case. Without data, we were and napped while he approached it. dried in ritual ceremonies related just ordinary citizens with opinions. Andean local people living in to crops and native herds. It would No data meant no chance of further nearby small villages reported that not be until later that the published funding, and no funding assured that wild cats were now very rare, that remarks and the significance of no data or conservation measures none had been seen in quite some superstitious beliefs would come would be forthcoming. time, and that the cats were likely no together to galvanize action. In 1999, researchers from the longer present in the area. They asked At every opportunity, from every four Andean cat range countries gave to be notified if any were seen. When platform, researchers talked about the birth to the Andean Cat Conservation asked how they obtained the skins of plight of the Andean cat, but because Committee, predecessor of AGA, the cat, women invariably gave the same response: we drop a rock on them. The profound significance of so simple a statement – we drop a rock on them – would come back to haunt Sanderson. Similar information was obtained from interviewed local people when Lilian Villalba and her colleague Nuria Bernal were working during 1998 and 1999, looking for the Andean cat at different Andean localities in Bolivia. One piece of news common to both countries was observed: Native Americans of the high Andes

Below: A view of the “rocky valley” of Khastor Geographic range map of Andean (Potosi, Bolivia). Photograph by Lilian Villalba. mountain cat showing Salare de Surire, Chile and Khastor, Bolivia.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 9 the first photos of an Andean cat were taken (Lucherini et al., 2004 Cat News), and in Bolivia, as a part of a radio telemetry study, the first ever Andean cat was live captured (Delgado et al. 2004 Cat News). Ten hours south of Uyuni, Bolivia, and just north of the Argentinean frontier lies Khastor, an uninhabited region of salt lakes, and bofedales – grassy areas supplied by glacial waters – traditionally used as llama summer feedings grounds. Lilian Villalba and Eliseo Delgado, a park guard, have been working since 2001 in Khastor Jim Sanderson shows school children a video of the Andean cat. and have camera trapped three Andean and diverse cooperative actions were support Andean cat conservation in all cats. During the first months of 2004, carried out in the following years. In four range countries. a female Andean cat had been seen 2003, these cross-border conservation April 2004 was a remarkable using a small cave just over the edge efforts shifted into high gear when month for the members of of a precipice and was habituated to Wildlife Conservation Network AGA. During an AGA meeting get in to an inactive live trap. (WCN), a not-for-profit organization in Arica-Chile, the first Andean Early on the morning of April founded by Akiko Yamazaki, Charlie cat conservation Action Plan was 25, 2004, the trap door of a live trap Knowles, and John Lukas, chose to discussed. In Jujuy Province, was closed and inside was an Andean Argentina, two encounters occurred: cat; one day before, the trap had Below: Constanza Napolitano, Lilian Villalba with the Andean cat, and Eliseo Delgado. Khastor. Bolivia. Photograph by Jim Sanderson.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 10 been baited just before sunset. Using Results of the radio-telemetry range map of the Andean cat using a light drug dose, the cat, an adult effort showed that the cat spends a molecular analysis of fecal material. female weighing 4.5 kg, was sedated few days hunting and resting at a AGA has also produced and a 60 gm radio-collar was fitted viscacha colony before it moves on to educational material for schools on her. The group was observed by a another colony that might be several within the geographic range of the male Andean cat just a short distance kilometers distant. Researchers now Andean cat and hired teachers to visit away. Her release went smoothly, and have a much better understanding schools to bring the conservation nine months of radio-tracking at 4,200 of the landscape characteristics that message to children whose influence to 4,600 m followed. support an adequate prey base and on their parents should not be Theory says that the home range therefore minimum requirements underestimated. Consultations with of a cat is proportional to its body for the Andean cat. They also know village leaders regarding conservation weight and elevation. Though the where to look for caves and fecal efforts is also producing positive Andean cat is a small cat, it lives deposits. results and helping to reduce Andean at high elevation and so has a very AGA groups in Argentina, cat killings. large home range. In this area the Bolivia, Chile, and Peru continue to The high Andean Native American main prey is the mountain viscacha document the presence of Andean cats cultures such as the Aymara may (Lagidium viscaccia), colonial with camera traps and other survey well be facing cultural extinction rodents, weighting about 1 kg. techniques and have improved the themselves. Through improved radio and television reception, realization that a very different and very appealing lifestyle can be had at lower elevations has prompted many of their children to leave as soon as they are able and never return. Without a written language, their history, life experiences, and legends cannot be recorded in their own words. With continued education programs the Andean mountain cat’s future will likely not be threatened by “dropping rocks.” With vital support provided by WCN day by day, the battle to conserve Andean cats in their native habitat is moving slowly in favor of science. But this does not give pause to relax because a new and more widespread threat has already begun to evidence itself. The glaciers that feed the bofedals, streams, and rivers that are the life blood of the Andes are shrinking. The Andean cat has apparently survived direct persecution by humans armed only with rocks. Will it survive modern human indirect assault? Continued conservation efforts for the western hemisphere’s most endangered cat, the Andean cat, remain essential.

For more information, visit: www.wildnet.org Another picture of the Andean mountain cat female from and www.smallcats.org. within a small cave. Photograph by Jim Sanderson.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 11 The Quest for little-known Cats of the Americas: Project Wild Cats Above: The little spotted cat is a native to Brazil. of Brazil Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project. By Tadeu G. de Oliveira, pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), the best-studied species worldwide. Biologist, Maranhão State little spotted cat (Leopardus tigrinus), However, in the Neotropical realm, University - UEMA and Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), felids are among the least known Institute Pro-Carnivoros kodkod (Leopardus guigna), pampas in the world, with very limited cat (Leopardus colocolo), Andean cat information available regarding their The American continent houses (Leopardus jacobitus), jaguarundi ecology and conservation needs. This 12 species of wild felids, of which (Puma yagouaroundi), puma (Puma holds true even for Neotropical puma. only three are commonly found in concolor), and jaguar (Panthera All species “south of the border” North America. Tropical America, onca). Only the puma is characteristic are under a series of threats and are which comprises the zoogeographical of both areas, and except for the considered threatened with extinction province of the Neotropics (coastal kodkod and Andean cat, all are found in varying degrees in several parts and tropical lowland areas of Mexico in Brazil. of their range. In Brazil, all are all the way down to the Straight of Needless to say, studies on North threatened either nationally (most Magellan in southernmost Chile and American felids (puma, bobcat – Lynx species) or at the state level. Argentina), on the other hand, harbors rufus – and Canada lynx – Lynx In 2003, Brazil’s Ministry of the 10. These are: ocelot (Leopardus canadensis) make them some of Environment, through the National

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 12 Then it became “Projeto Gatos do Mato – Brasil” i.e., Project Wild Cats of Brazil. Wild Cats of Brazil is a large-scale, multidisciplinary effort to study Brazilian felids. It was launched in July 2004, and as an umbrella project, it now involves 23 researchers and 11 institutions from north to south. The project hopes to enlighten current small cat knowledge and provide a baseline for their ecology and conservation. As such, the project will focus on home range, habitat use, food requirements, distribution, reintroduction, genetic makeup, population estimates, reproductive biology, disease, livestock depredation, and conservation. Some topics that have never been Above: Melanistic Geoffroy’s cats, female (Bugra) and her kitten (Sombra). This population, which is being studied by camera-trapping and radio-telemetry, was originally all spotted, and after animals attempted will be of a pioneering were shot, it was replaced by an all melanistic and currently is partly spotted and partly melanistic. nature, including verification of Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project. the re-introduction of captive-born Environmental Fund (FNMA), project greatly expanded to include animals (to be used as a tool for small launched two programs to support all other felids in all Brazilian biomes felid conservation). The project is studies on its threatened species: from north to south, including the geographically the largest of its kind Amazon and Atlantic rainforests, for wide-ranging species in South 1. Category I – basic research savannas, semi-arid scrub, pampas, America. towards the elaboration of a and mixed Araucaria (pine) forests. conservation action plan (for species with limited information). Below: Geoffroy’s cat has a limited distribution in Brazil, being restricted to Rio Grande do Sul State. This more “temperate” species seems to be the dominant small felid in the southern cone. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project. 2. Category II – to implement conservation action plans.

A project on the little spotted cat was submitted and approved for category I: “Studies on the biology, distribution, and conservation status of the little spotted cat in Brazil.” The ultimate goal was to elaborate a conservation action plan for natural populations of this small felid in Brazil. The proposal was integrated, joining together all (the very few) researchers and their field studies that were currently ongoing with the species in Brazil. Initially, 14 researchers and 10 institutions were involved in this endeavor. This small cat is currently the main focus, but the

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 13 Objectives: conservation of small felids; • Assess species community composition and density estimates • Conduct ecological (telemetry) • Assess the geographic distribution, for all Brazilian biomes; studies to determine home range, range, and genetic makeup of the activity patterns, food habits, populations of the little spotted • Understand the basic issues of habitat use, daily movements, etc. cat; the smaller species’ reproductive of the smaller species; biology; • Verify the occurrence of hybrids • Evaluate the potential for with other Neotropical felids, • Identify diseases affecting wild re-introduction of captive- within the populations of little and captive populations; born or raised individuals as spotted cat/pampas cat/Geoffroy’s a management tool for the cat; • Determine the main threats and the conservation status for the different areas of Brazil.

Ecological data on species community composition and abundance estimates are being gathered from camera trapping studies using locally-made cameras (two of the models developed by team members). This has proven to be highly effective with a cost/benefit ratio much better than traditional camera trap brands. Data on home range, movement, and daily activity patterns come from radio-telemetry (some information has also been gathered from camera traps) and diet from scat analysis. Genetic studies focus on determining significant evolutionary units of little spotted cat and the occurrence of hybrids. Distribution records combine those of museum collections with field observations, whereas reproductive biology information is being collected from zoo specimens. To evaluate the viability of captive-raised smaller felids as a management tool (for re-introduction programs), animals under study are being adapted for release in the wild through predatory training. Animals considered apt will be released and monitored to evaluate this procedure as a future tool for conservation of smaller wild felids.

Left: The author placing a radio-collar on a male (Maragato) little spotted cat. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 14 Jaguarundi, along with other small felids, are part of the reintroduction program of Project “Gatos do Mato – Brasil.” Captive-born or raised individuals are readapted for release back in the wild through predatory training. The project seeks to assess the viability of reintroductions of captive-born/raised individuals as a future tool for conservation. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 15 Pampas cats were unknown from Maranhão state in northern Brazil. The nearest known area for the species was 500 km south. This record considerably expanded the species range. In the savannas of Mirador State Park, the first ever species’ density estimate is coming out. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project.

Procedures follow those recommended by the IUCN/ SSC/Re-introduction Specialist Group. Evaluations for “threats” assess the intensity of various factors, through the percentage of a particular area under impact. Evaluations for “conservation status” combine all information gathered from natural populations. Preliminary findings are now being published in scientific journals. Correspondingly, the presence of little spotted cats in the Amazon basin has been confirmed, helping to unravel the myth of their presence. So far, there are more than 214 localities comprising all eco-regions (except for the pampas of Brazil) that hold spotted cats – their range evaluation included all other countries. A population of the pampas cat in an area considerably out of its current known range (see map to right), in the northern part of the country, has just been discovered. Scat collection for Above: A map showing the field study sites of diet study is considerably large (>500 Project “Gatos do Mato – Brasil” throughout samples each) for some areas. Brazilian biomes from north to south. © Wild Cats of Brazil Project.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 16 Little spotted cat, along with other small felids, are part of the reintroduction program of Project “Gatos do Mato – Brasil”. Captive born or raised individuals are readapted for release back in the wild through predatory training. We want to assess the viability of reintroductions of captive born/raised individuals as a future tool for conservation. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 17 The first camera-trapping results are also proving exciting, with preliminary density estimates for little spotted cat, margay, Geoffroy’s cat, pampas cat, and jaguarundi. This has never been done, at least with camera trapping (in the case of jaguarundi). Estimates have also been made for ocelots. Results so far have shown that ocelots reach higher numbers than the smaller species. But, most importantly, this has a significant impact for conservation. Given their density estimates, areas needed for their long-term survival (ca. 5,000 individuals for more than 40 generations) are considerably large. For ocelots, areas should be no Although margay ranges from Mexico through northern Argentina and south- smaller than 13,000 km2 and for the ern Brazil, it is very poorly known. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project. smaller species 20,000 km2 in areas where such cats might be considered dominant and most abundant species. especially the little spotted cat. This “common.” Note – this does not We theorize that ocelot and jaguar is a similar situation to that of the lion suggest the same areas for ocelots numbers might effect those of little and cheetah in Africa (where lions are and smaller cats. However, in less spotted cats and margays. This abundant, i.e., within protected areas, favorable locations (which comprise “ocelot effect” also has conservation cheetahs are not). most of their range), the area needed implications. The largest protected In the radio telemetry effort to ensure their survival would reach areas (almost all of which is located in to date, the following have been 250,000 km2 or more. the Amazon), which also harbor good collared: two little spotted cats, one A look at small cat community ocelot populations, would thus not be margay, three jaguarundis, and two composition is also proving the best areas for large populations of Geoffroy’s cats. Animals are being interesting. Ocelots tend to be the at least some of the smaller species, monitored in a forest and agricultural

The southern-most population of jaguars in Brazil is found at Turvo State Park, where camera-trapping has shown that individuals cross the border with Argentina, attesting to the need of transnational conservation actions/efforts. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 18 Female ocelot from Maranhão state northern Brazil. Photograph © Wild Cats of Brazil Project. mosaic. By doing so, researchers spotted cat, margay, and jaguarundi. increasing. However, phase one is will be able to know how the cats Findings on the predatory training about to end, and the quest for the cope in this landscape (a mosaic of captive-raised specimens are also project’s continuation (phase two) is which dominates much of southern- quite interesting, with a far better on. This phase hopes to answer some southeastern Brazil, and more and response than expected. Notably, of the questions about the natural more all over the country). natural hybrids have been detected history of the little known Neotropical So far, researchers have detected within some species. As the days go felids. that forest cover is of paramount by and as findings are coming out, importance at least for the little project actions and participation are

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 19 Status Update: Modeling Potential

Cougarin Midwestern Habitat North America Above: Trailcam photo taken near Savage, Minnesota. Courtesy Kerry Kammann.

By Michelle A. LaRue the past 15 years, suggesting eastward presence in the Midwest, currently Graduate Research Assistant, and movement of cougars. Recent no information is available to assist Dr. Clayton K. Nielsen research has found that cougars can such efforts. To concentrate on these Wildlife Ecologist disperse considerable distances, needs, as reported in the June 2005 Cooperative Wildlife Research as evidenced by a juvenile male issue of the Wild Cat News, efforts Laboratory dispersing 1,067 km into Oklahoma are currently being undertaken to Southern Illinois University from the Black Hills and a juvenile provide the first model of cougar Carbondale (MAL, CKN); female dispersing 1,336 km within habitat in the Midwest by using expert Cougar Network (CKN) western cougar range. Given the opinion surveys, geospatial data, and a increasing number of confirmations geographic information system (GIS). Cougars are becoming a species and their long-distance dispersal This article provides a status update of interest to Midwestern wildlife capability, it is possible that cougars on the model’s progress. biologists and the general public are attempting to re-colonize the because of their increasing presence Midwest via juvenile dispersal. Approach to Modeling Potential in the region. As confirmed by the Although wildlife biologists Cougar Habitat Cougar Network, cougar carcasses, will require information to support scat, and tracks in Midwestern states management, protection, and Habitat models have been created have increased dramatically during public education regarding cougar for many carnivore species using

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 20 animal location data, remotely-sensed evaluated by biologists studying the Expert Opinion Survey land cover data, and multivariate habitat needs of other large carnivores statistics within a GIS. These models and has shown that expert opinion To gain expert knowledge, typically rely upon empirical data closely reflected data gathered by literature and expert assistance will regarding species occurrence or radio-telemetry. GIS applications will be used to develop a survey regarding habitat use. However, cougars have be used to produce maps of cougar potential habitat requirements been extirpated from the Midwest for habitat by combining the expert of cougars in the Midwest. The more than 100 years, so obtaining opinion surveys and spatial analysis of survey consists of several questions empirical data regarding habitat use existing landscape information. regarding pair-wise comparisons of is not possible. To overcome this Potential cougar habitat and the following habitat factors: human problem, expert opinion surveys are dispersal corridors over a large portion density, distance to water, distance being used to provide information of the Midwest are being modeled, to roads, slope, and cover type regarding cougar habitat in the including the states of North Dakota, (Figure 2). Survey participants will Midwest. South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, be asked to score habitat variables Our methods will include Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, in order of importance to cougars in obtaining expert opinion regarding and Minnesota (Figure 1). These the Midwest, based upon personal cougar habitat, evaluating the states were selected because of the experience and expert knowledge of responses through a multi-criteria number of cougar confirmations in the cougar ecology. The survey will be evaluation, and then transforming region, proximity to existing western sent to 29 western cougar biologists these data into numerical form, where cougar populations, and potential and furbearer biologists with it can be implemented in a GIS. Use dispersal corridors, such as rivers. knowledge of Midwestern landscapes. of expert-opinion models has been Figure 1: Study area for modeling potential cougar habitat in Midwestern North America.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 21 Multi-Criteria Evaluation and Habitat Modeling

To model potential cougar habitat, raw data will be transformed into Arkansas Land Cover GIS layers, which is done through evaluating the multiple criteria in the survey. Upon receipt of completed surveys, responses will be evaluated by determining the relative importance of each habitat factor. Responses for each factor will be averaged and assigned a weight. These weights will subsequently be used in the modeling process within a GIS to create a spatial map of potential habitat suitability for cougars. The map will clearly classify areas of good versus poor potential habitat along a gradient of classified values, which will be the most important product of the N research.

Importance of Our Research

A land cover map will display areas of potential habitat for cougars should they eventually re-colonize 140 70 0 140 the Midwest. Nobody knows for sure Developed/Barren whether this will happen. However, Kilometers Deciduous Forest given that other large carnivores Evergreen Forest are successfully re-colonizing their Mixed Forest Shrubs, Orchards former range in North America, this Grass research will provide an important Figure 2: Land cover map of Arkansas. Crops, Pastures planning tool for the future. For Wetlands example, white-tailed deer would likely be the primary prey for cougars. Given the importance of deer to humans, knowledge of potential certainly concern the public. Data Earth Foundation, and the Graduate distribution of cougars relative to interpretation will indicate where School and Cooperative Wildlife deer will be essential. Second, cougars may become established Research Laboratory at Southern because cougars are top predators, near centers of human populations or Illinois University Carbondale for they will likely compete with wolves, areas of livestock operations, thereby funding this project. C. Anderson coyotes, and bobcats, which could proving an important educational and H. Shaw provided assistance with alter population characteristics, and planning tool to address human- developing the expert opinion survey. behaviors, and distribution of prey. cougar conflicts. D. Smith provided an image of the Analyses will provide an important study region. We also acknowledge assessment of areas where significant Acknowledgments M. Dowling, K. Miller, and B. Wilson overlap with sympatric carnivores of the Cougar Network for their may occur. Finally, potential cougar We would like to thank the assistance and support in this research. presence in the Midwest will most Summerlee Foundation, Shared

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 22 Chemical Capture of Free-Ranging Felids Above: A mountain lion caught in a foothold trap and darted in the hip.

By Terry J. Kreeger, DVM, Ph.D. cat needs to be weighed, measured, in town). Small to medium-sized Supervisor, Veterinary Services sexed, and marked with ear tags or cats are usually initially trapped Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. transponders. Blood samples are with foothold or box traps and often taken for health screening and then drugged. Larger cats, such as Wild cats come in all sizes, DNA analysis. Depending on the mountain lions, can be chased by dogs ranging from the diminutive rusty- research needs, radio collars may be and treed, then darted with drugs. spotted cat of Asia (1.5 kg) to the attached for tracking purposes. To Many of the large African cats are 300 kg Siberian tiger. Despite conduct all of these operations on an darted over bait or carcasses. Asian these differences, most cats are awake cat, well-armed with teeth, tigers are driven by elephants towards physiologically “wired” the same. claws, and attitude, is challenging at hidden persons with dart guns. This is fortunate when faced with best. When faced with this challenge, Siberian tigers are probably the only the task of chemically immobilizing people find that drugs are their friends cats routinely darted from helicopters. wild felids because it simplifies drug when it comes to handling cats! There are two major classes of choices and dosages. Other reasons for catching cats drugs used for the immobilization of Cats have to be caught for all are for translocation/reintroduction all wildlife: cyclohexanes and opioids. kinds of reasons. Most cat captures to establish new populations or to Opioids (often inappropriately called conducted by wildlife management remove them from places where they narcotics) are mostly chemical agencies are for research. Usually the shouldn’t be (e.g., the mountain lion modifications of the morphine

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 23 molecule. They are extremely potent these tranquilizers can be drugs, capable of immobilizing the reversed, or antagonized, largest of animals, and they should which can shorten never be used on felids. Cats often the time the animal is have severe reactions, such as immobilized. Tiletamine hyperexcitability and convulsions, comes pre-packaged when given opioids. Fortunately, the with a tranquilizer called cyclohexane class of drugs is very zolazepam; no other felid-friendly, being both safe and tranquilizer needs to be efficacious. added. The tiletamine- Ketamine and tiletamine are two zolazepam combination cyclohexane drugs most often used also comes in powder form on cats. Both are modifications of the and can be concentrated drug phencyclidine. Phencyclidine by simply adding a small (a.k.a. PCP, angel dust) was the first amount of sterile water to Adjustable, carbon dioxide-powered blow pipes firing light- cyclohexane drug used for wildlife bring it into solution. All weight plastic darts are very useful for felid immobilizations. capture. It was very potent and very the wild cats in the world effective. Unfortunately, human can be effectively immobilized using (e.g., Dan-Inject® or Telinject®). Blow abuse caused its demise for wildlife one of these drug combinations. pipes powered by carbon dioxide work. Because they are related A comprehensive listing of drug (instead of the lungs) are very useful to phencyclidine, ketamine and dosages for wild cats can be found in for most felid immobilizations. They tiletamine are controlled substances the Handbook of Wildlife Chemical can be adjusted for distance and are requiring special licensure from the Immobilization. acceptably accurate to ranges from 1 Drug Enforcement Agency. to 20 meters, but are capable Nonetheless, they are of only delivering smaller readily available from any volume darts (i.e., ≤ 3 ml). veterinarian. Larger cats (> 25 kg) Speaking of veterinarians, can be safely darted with by federal regulations, all of dart rifles or pistols firing these drugs used to immobilize darts that use black powder wildlife are prescription drugs to develop the explosive that can only be used by or force to inject drug contents. on the order of a licensed These explosive darts (e.g., veterinarian. This does not Pneu-Dart®, Cap-Chur®) mean that people have to have deliver the drug into the a veterinarian by their side animal in probably less than in the field, but they do need one-thousandth of a second. to consult with one to both This force invariably causes obtain and use immobilizing A European lynx being monitored by a pulse oximeter. Note that subcutaneous and muscular drugs. the color of the tongue indicates that the animal is breathing fine. hemorrhage. Thus, their use The cyclohexanes usually Photo by Jon Arnemo. should probably be restricted should be combined with a to cats with sufficient muscle tranquilizer to diminish undesirable Equipment to deliver drugs to cats mass to sustain such injury. The best side effects. When ketamine is include hand-held syringes for cats dart rifles for felids are adjustable, used alone in cats, it can cause caught in box traps; pole syringes for carbon dioxide-powered rifles (e.g., convulsions upon induction and cats in foothold traps; and blow pipes, Dan-Inject® or Telinject®). They are rough recoveries characterized dart pistols, or rifles for cats in trees capable of delivering a variety of dart by incoordination, thrashing, and or over bait. Small- to medium-sized sizes (up to 10 ml) at ranges from head banging. Ketamine is usually felids should probably only be darted 5 to 45 meters. They are, however, combined with tranquilizers such as with blow pipes firing lightweight, quite expensive ($1,500 to $3,000). xylazine or medetomidine. Both of compressed air-powered plastic darts Dart rifles using .22 blank cartridges

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 24 to propel the dart should be used Simple chest compressions every judiciously because of their potential five seconds invariably solve this to cause severe injury if overpowered. crisis. Rectal temperatures should Rifles capable of varying the be 97 º F to 104º F (36 º C to 40º propulsive force of the .22 blank are C). If the animal is cool, warm preferred. Darts should be equipped it with an outside source of heat with barbed needles measuring (don’t just cover it) and if hot, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Barbed needles are cool it with water or isopropyl recommended because they cannot be alcohol. Always give antibiotics easily dislodged, thus assuring that all to cats that have been darted to of the drug is delivered. prevent infection. Once immobilized, eyes should be Fortunately, felids are fairly covered and preferably treated with an easy animals to anesthetize. ophthalmic ointment or saline because They tolerate drugs well and the eyes invariably remain open with adverse reactions are rare. the cyclohexane drugs. Respiration Immobilizing drugs should be and rectal temperatures should be part of the armamentarium of any continuously monitored; pulse and professional biologist working cardiac function are rarely impacted with these species. by these drugs. Pulse oximeters, which measure the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, are useful devices to monitor respiration, but are not absolutely necessary. The color of Above: The author with a mountain lion that had been trapped, then immobilized with ketamine and the cat’s tongue or gums is a fairly medetomidine. good indicator of respiration. Below: The first free-ranging Siberian tiger both The color should be pink to anesthetized with ketamine-medetomidine and fitted pale pink; if whitish, gray, with a Global Positioning System collar. or (worse) blue, the cat needs oxygen.

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 25 PumaNow that you have Research it, what do you do with it?

By Harley Shaw, Biologist in the United States, Canada, and Lat- appropriate regulations for hunting the in America since the mid-1960s, when puma, but these seem to be centered When Carol Cochran asked if I Maurice Hornocker broke the meth- more upon ethics and politics than would participate in this workshop, I odology barrier in his Idaho Primi- upon the long-termed welfare of the had just finished a phone call with a tive Area study. Over time, more species. What seems to have most of friend who worked for many years as efficient methods of capturing puma, our attention is the continued move- a predator control agent in California. improved radio-tracking equipment ment of humans into puma habitat and He is a rather independent thinker and and, more recently, population genet- the resultant conflicts between the two home-spun philosopher and always ics and camera traps have contributed species, including rare but frightening enjoys rattling my cage. We were to our research abilities. We know a attacks on humans and, conversely, discussing the recently-published lot more about the basic biology of the the ongoing loss and fragmentation Cougar Management Guidelines, a species than we did in the 1960s. of habitat. Added to this is the reap- synthesis of research and management At the same time, the conflicts pearance of the species in historic experience that Ken Logan and I, surrounding the puma have changed ranges to the East, which has created along with 11 other biologists, helped and grown. In 1970, when I first fear, concern over livestock loss, and write. While my friend didn’t openly began working with the puma, the conflicts regarding recommended disagree with the guidelines, his com- main questions in Arizona involved puma hunting in these re-expansion ment regarding their use was, “Why its numerical status, the effect it was areas. Do we have the knowledge we should we bother? We’ve been man- having on livestock and deer, and the need to address the new problems that aging cougars successfully for 100 effect hunting was having on it. Other are arising? If so, how do we imple- years without all of this information. states addressed these same ques- ment that information, and to take up Why change now?” His solution is tions more or less about that time. As my California friend’s question, why simple – just take out the problem a result of these studies, few people should we? Can’t we just continue to cats, and let the rest take care of them- are now worried about the immediate apply our old tools of control and/or selves. His question was rhetorical, extinction of the puma in the western regulated hunting, and leave the rest intended to make me think. He didn’t United States, and we have pretty to nature or fate? expect an argument or an answer. But much defined the circumstances under I am convinced that my friend make me think, he did. Should new which they become troublesome with was intentionally, perhaps a little knowledge always create change? livestock. While these issues still facetiously, presenting a pretty com- A host of agencies and universities exist, they are no longer the ones that mon point of view in wildlife man- have been doing research on the puma make news. We still struggle over agement ranks. Our profession and

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 26 much of the public that supports it are based facts I was obviously destined To me, coming from one of our by nature conservative. We do not to discover would be welcomed by most prestigious general science change our mores easily or implement those in power, and that I’d receive journals, that’s a rather discouraging new knowledge quickly. This isn’t their unending thanks and appropri- statement! necessarily bad. Certainly any appar- ate compensation for my contribu- Dr. Sarewitz further notes that sci- ent, new knowledge requires some tions. I hoped to improve species ence can have its own biases: seasoning and testing before it can be management and, of course, eliminate trusted. Nonetheless, we do our best conflict. Slowly, however, I came to 1. For every value, there is often to convince all stakeholders involved realize: a legitimate supporting set of in puma management that our judg- scientific results. That is, if you ments are based upon “good science,” 1. New knowledge isn’t always look hard enough, you can usually with the unstated implication that that easy to come by. Much of find a set of data to support your by using “good science,” we use the what we do in wildlife research preconceived notions. latest knowledge to make ethically centers on quantifying what we sound decisions. already knew qualitatively from 2. Specific scientific disciplines But, while “good science” must years of experience. often turn out to be especially have its own ethical basis, in that it compatible with particular inter- purportedly seeks objective truth, sci- 2. Should you come up with ests and values. This can be exac- ence alone cannot determine human something new, not everyone will erbated by a tendency for agencies values. Ethical behavior, like beauty, accept your information, no matter supporting research to ask only is to some extent in the eye of the how good your science. safe questions. One of my earli- beholder. My favorite example here est disillusionments as a young is a ranch manager I worked closely 3. Even when findings are com- biologist occurred when a supervi- with during the early Spider Ranch pelling, the power hierarchy is just sor rejected a study proposal, quite puma study. He was elated when we as likely to resist or ignore them as honestly stating, with a shrug, that confirmed a large number of calves they are to thankfully apply them. the agency might not want to have in the puma diet and felt that this to deal with the findings, should would end once and for all any con- 4. Scientific knowledge by its they go the wrong way. flict over the species. If pumas ate nature does not always simplify beef, they should be eliminated – a decisions or resolve conflict, and 3. Science rarely provides sim- simple conclusion deriving from the what you learn does not automati- plistic or uniform answers but value system he espoused. Of course cally benefit a species. more often reveals the complexity others, with other values, drew other in natural systems and our uncer- conclusions from exactly the same set The truth of this latter statement, tainty in our knowledge of them. of data. Those wanting to protect the in fact, can make science rather un- The cliché oft heard here is that puma or those opposed to grazing on popular. Dr. Daniel Sarewitz, Director the longer one works with a spe- public lands saw it as proof that cattle of the Consortium for Science, Policy, cies, the less they know for sure. shouldn’t be raised in puma country. and Outcomes at Arizona State Uni- While the study laid to rest the ques- versity recently wrote in American Dr. Sarewitz suggests: ”…the tion of effects of pumas on cattle on Scientist: most proper role for science in support some Arizona ranges, it didn’t modify “The idea that a set of scientific of decision making comes only after many people’s values. It merely facts can reconcile political differenc- values are clarified through political shifted the focus of the arguments. es and point the way toward a rational debate and after goals for the future I’m not taking sides here, I just want solution is fundamentally flawed. The are agreed upon through democratic to emphasize that facts alone do not reality is that when political contro- means.” necessarily change people’s goals. versy exists, the scientific enterprise is At a seminar similar to this last As a young research biologist, ideally suited to exacerbating dis- year in Prescott, Arizona, I heard a I naively assumed that the science- agreement, rather than resolving it.” research biologist from the Arizona

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 27 Game and Fish Department say this the new ones will go away. Our second important task is to differently to a very large and politi- A mentor once told me that emphasize that within the larger range cally diverse group of people: “…we those of us who do wildlife research of variation, the host of other traits are scientists. We have knowledge of shouldn’t expect to see our results affecting species and their manage- species, but you, the public, have to used in our lifetime. “Research re- ment vary both geographically and tell us what you want. We can only sults are for the next generation,” is even temporally within areas. Prey use our knowledge to carry out your the way he put it. This was back in density, weather, and disease are in goals.” the 1960s, when things still seemed themselves variables that ultimately With all due respect to my Cali- pretty simple. The speaker was a sec- affect the behavior and survival of fornia friend, Dr. Sarewitz, and to ond-generation wildlife biologist with pumas during any given period. You my fellow biologist, I disagree. In a a much longer perspective than mine, can’t have one-size-fits-all, never world as polarized and complex as the and for many years I comfortably ac- changing, programs. In managing one in which we live, that is changing cepted his philosophy, worrying little wildlife populations, including those as fast as it is, we cannot simply use if no one paid attention to my work. of pumas and their prey, we are there- science as a tool to carry out the goals Nonetheless, I have come to ques- fore dealing with extremely complex, of whatever regime happens to be in tion this maxim. We now deal with perhaps chaotic systems that do not power. Certainly, ample examples ex- a highly polarized public that often necessarily react in a predictable, ist in history of misuse, even evil use, pressures wildlife agencies to carry linear fashion to our anthropogenic of science and technology. Scientists out programs and to react to issues in nudgings. And effects of decisions must constantly attempt to inform ways that are not necessarily in keep- we make now may radiate unpredict- the public and, especially, decision ing with their best knowledge about a ably far into the future. Considering makers, about what the ramifications species. Perhaps our most important that puma management invariably of their decisions will be, while the role as scientists lies in emphasizing is driven by the interaction of a host values are being established. that the species we manage, the puma of fairly narrow and immediate mo- I would venture that hope of included, have very real, evolved, tives – protecting livestock, protecting relying on the democratic process biological characteristics that con- game animals, protecting human life, to establish wildlife-related values strain what our management efforts protecting puma populations, anxiety is rather naive. First, in our money- can accomplish. These may not be over human treatment of individual driven world, defining our goals for discrete, absolute numbers, such as we animals, or, too often, just winning the future is rarely determined through find in the physical sciences (Hydro- a political battle – the hope that we simple democratic means. Further- gen atoms always have one electron; might be able to manage wisely and more, where the welfare of wildlife pumas do not always have a litter of objectively becomes tenuous at best. is concerned, the public at large has exactly three young. The sun rises We need to monitor closely the results neither the time nor the ability to sort and sets on a 24-hour cycle. Pumas of our decisions. through the amount of information do not always hunt at night or always It is another cliché among re- (but not necessarily truth) that flows have a litter exactly every 24 months. searchers that studies of populations from the Internet, television, newspa- Our Earth circles the sun with a are never long enough. The typical pers, popular magazines, books, and closely predictable orbit. Female pu- research project lasts only one to so forth. Please don’t think I’m being mas do not always have a home range three years. A few have gone 10 to 15. arrogant in saying this. Take me away of 37.33 miles, or whatever average They are invariably limited in geo- from my narrow area of expertise, some particular study might find.), graphic scope by economic, person- and ask me to clearly understand the but they do operate within biologi- nel, and political constraints. We start issues surrounding foreign policy or, cal limits upon variations that we are a study, usually rather spontaneously, for that matter, conflicts over some beginning to understand, and manage- when funds are allocated because other environmental issue, and I’m as ment programs that do not recognize some political flap focuses attention uncertain as the next guy. It becomes these natural limits are destined, if not on the species. The very fact that a very easy to cling to old issues, old to fail, at least to be wasteful of funds project is issue-driven means that it is facts, old values, old ethics, and hope and personnel. probably being started after the prob-

Wild Cat News - www.cougarnet.org 28 lem can be easily solved – that we of direct control, sport hunting strate- Management Guidelines offered them are already behind the curve. A good gies, or increased species protection, as a beginning for such a process of example of this is my own work on are rarely adequately monitored for evaluating and implementing new the North Kaibab, where we executed their effectiveness, much less tweaked knowledge. We don’t expect them a three-year study to assess the impact for improvement. to perform miracles or to necessar- of the puma on that famous deer popu- This is not necessarily the fault ily change stakeholder values, but we lation after the population had been of the agencies. For much of what hope they serve to dispel myths and declining for nine years. We found they do, good methodology does not constrain puma management practices pumas present. We even watched the exist for monitoring the outcome. On within the realm of practicality. puma population crash. But we were the whole, with their polarized pub- too late to understand why the deer lic, they are under siege and may be population had gone into decline nine forced into making decisions that have years earlier. And we pulled out be- little to do with available biological fore the population began to increase. information. Personally, I believe You can interpret our three years of that we have studied puma popula- data just about any way you want tions over a wide enough array of to. Too often in such studies, even conditions to understand the range of though focused on some single issue, their basic biological traits. We also the information provided will be all know that our ability to predict fac- that is available for a state or a region, tors affecting wildlife populations and and is therefore in danger of becoming their trends is extremely limited. We widely applied gospel, simply because desperately need better methods of no other information exists. But there monitoring conditions on a year-to- are no guarantees that the information year basis and to bring our knowledge fits another place or even future condi- of the basic biology of the species to tions in the same place, so we must be bear on predictive models. extremely careful how we apply popu- However, wildlife managers can- lation and ecological research. Again, not be expected to apply the intensive this isn’t physical sciences. and usually expensive methods used Our Cougar Management Guide- in research. Pumas are only one of lines emphasized the need for “adap- many creatures with which they have tive management,” which is simply to deal. What they need are methods a modern buzzword for trying some- that can be applied fairly quickly. thing, watching closely what happens, Even more, they need to be able to and adjusting your management to interpret the results of these methods improve results. Some would simply in terms of what our now long pe- call this common sense. However, if riod of research and field experience we delve into the history of wildlife with cougars has taught us. Frankly, management, we find that very few I don’t believe that we can do this management programs have been through the traditional avenues of adequately evaluated and that once technical in-house reports or journal established, whether good, bad, or in- articles. As specialists with special different, they can persist for decades. experience and knowledge, we must Even in the face of the increasingly take our knowledge directly to the advanced research technology, puma field biologists and to the decision management involves a relatively lim- makers, and ultimately to the public, ited repertoire of tools, and manage- whether they ask for it or not. Those ment programs, whether in the form of us who produced the Cougar

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