The Wild Felid Monitor The Wild Felid Research and Management Association Summer 2014, Volume 7, Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE WFA Scholarship Recipients 11th Mountain Lion Workshop Free-ranging Domestic Cats

Zicuirán – Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve

Climate Change and Wild Felid Conservation

Puma Ageing Criteria The Panthercam AND MORE

WFA website: www.wildfelid.org Contents

Council News 3 From the President 18 Using felids as the basis of a biodiversity conservation 4 WFA Council and WFA Committees strategy in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Caribbean 5 Q & A Corner region of Colombia 7 11th Mountain Lion Workshop 8 2014 Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship recipients Perspectives 9 Regional News 20 Climate Change & Cat Conservation: The Challenges 26 Literature Cited in This Issue Ahead 29 Recent Publications 30 Research Highlights Tools of the Trade 21 The Panthercam – A Camera-Trap Optimized for Invited Article Monitoring Wild Felids 14 Why are free-ranging domestic cats important to wild felid 24 Cougar Age Classes for the Masses biologists?

Notes From The Field 16 Zicuirán – Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve, a refuge for wild cats in Tierra Caliente, Michoacan, Mexico

WFA logo designed by Ben Wright, [email protected] Front Cover Photo: Panthera, Colombia Back Cover photo: Jim Sanderson All photo credits to article’s lead author unless otherwise noted

The Wild Felid Monitor is the biannual newsletter of the Wild Felid Research and Management Association. The publication is provided to current Association members. To join, renew your membership, or to obtain back-issues of the newsletter, please visit our website at www.wildfelid.org.

PO Box 486, Hillsboro NM, USA E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.wildfelid.org ISSN 2167-3861 (print), ISSN 2167-387X (online)

Managing Editor: Harley Shaw, [email protected] Corresponding Editor: Kyle Thompson, [email protected]

Editorial Policy The Wild Felid Monitor encourages submission of articles, information and letters on ecology, research, management and conservation of wild felid species, and particularly of those species native to the Western Hemisphere. Preferred length of submissions is about 750 words. Submissions of photos, drawings and charts are encouraged. Please send photos, graphics and tables as separate files suitable for portrait page formatting. Electronic submissions to [email protected] are preferred; otherwise mail to the address above. The WFA reserves the right to accept, reject and edit submissions. The photos and artwork are copyrighted – please do not reproduce without permission. Submission deadline for the Winter 2015 issue is October 15, 2014

2 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 From the WFA President

hanks to our involved revisits a looming threat in his Perspectives piece – Climate Tmembership, we have Change. The Monitor presented a piece on this topic in its a full newsletter. A few inaugral issue. It is one we must continue to take seriously, and submissions are being held work to solve. The newly televised Cosmos series provided until the Winter issue and excellent treatment of this topic and I encourage those who we are also making structural changes to create more room haven’t seen it to do so. Our Q&A Corner discussion focuses for articles. Our regional on safe trapping techniques and helps remind all of us of our and student representatives obligation to fully justify our need to capture study animals have done an excellent job of and employ the safest practices when doing so. As Winston providing updates. To save Vickers said, in each project, “a serious assessment needs to be space and acknowledge the made as to whether information gained is worth the animal “Reps”, we will dedicate a page paying the price.” to our WFA representatives Upcoming 2015 WFA Election. WFA will elect 5 Coun- once each year in the Winter cil members next summer (to begin serving January 2016), in- issue. A list of our representatives can also be found on our website. cluding President, Vice Presidents (North America and Latin In this issue. This issue’s invited article on free-ranging America), Secretary, and 1 general Councilor. We are look- cats; why they matter by Michael Cove (page 14) discusses ing for candidates who will help WFA continue to grow as an biological and ecological problems caused by the increasing effective, professional organization. Send queries to Melanie numbers of feral and free-ranging domestic cats. In 2011 The Culver, Election Chair. Wildlife Society (TWS) approved a position statement on this Announcements. WFA is awarding 3 Wild Felid Legacy issue with 10 policy points. One of the opening lines is “Exotic Scholarships this year (page 8). We will provide details on the species are recognized as one of the most widespread and other 13 scholarship applicants in the Winter 2015 issue. The serious threats to the integrity of native wildlife populations Scholarship Committee was encouraged by the number of ap- and natural ecosystems.” If you haven’t seen the statement, it plicants from Latin American universities (6). WFA played a is worth a read It is on the WFA website under ‘news’. Two lead role in the 11th Mountain Lion Workshop (page 7), aided articles discuss conservation strategies being employed within in our efforts by a grant from The Summerlee Foundation. Colombia (Charry et al., page 18) and Mexico (Edder et al., Grant money was used to support participants to WFA-spon- page 16). The species-rich (including felids) Sierra Nevada sored sessions as well as cover registration fees for a number de Santa Marta of Colombia’s Caribbean coast provides a of students. Since January, WFA has also received donations template for an effective conservation strategy at the regional from individuals for the scholarship or general fund totaling level. The Columbian plan identifies problems, develops a over $2800. Panthera has announced that they have received conservation strategy, and recommends projects to mitigate $80 million from a global alliance of philanthropists (China, conflicts, assess protocols, and prevent hunting and killing India, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States) to of felids. The Zicuiran Infiernllo Biosphere Reserve in the save the world’s cats and their ecosystems. The core focus of tropical dry forest of Mexico has existed for 8 years. Although the 10-year commitment will be on tigers, lions, jaguars, snow many causes of habitat deterioration continue in the region, leopards, cheetahs, clouded leopards, pumas and leopards. A conservation will favor the recovery of habitat and wildlife and copy of the news release can be seen on the news page of the provide an important refuge for wild cats. We have two “Tools WFA website, or on Panthera.org. of the Trade” articles in this issue. Panthera embarked in 2005 Membership Surveys. A few new members fill in the to develop a camera-trapping system to meet the needs of WFA questionnaire when joining the organization. Recent wild cat researchers. Olliff and colleagues discuss the 6 design comments on the surveys mention appreciation for the news- attributes they incorporated into their cameras (page 21). letter summaries of ongoing research, the desire for more in- The cameras compare well with other commercial options, formation on aversion or damage control techniques, and the yet at a lower price. They are only available to Panthera request for links to the best brochures/educational materi- partners and grantees. Because cameras are fast becoming al for living with felids. If you have information to share or the catch-all for field research, I would like to encourage a would like to assist with compiling links contact me or post discussion on cameras (what works well, what doesn’t) on our on our googlegroup. googlegroup. In his article “Cougar age classes for the masses” Thanks everyone for your interest, dedication, and contri- Rich Beausoleil suggests simplifying puma age classification, butions. Have a great summer! thereby meshing management with the biology and behavior of the species as explained in current texts (e.g., Desert Puma ~Linda Sweanor; [email protected] and Cougar Ecology and Conservation). Anthony Giordano

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 3 WFA Council

Officers Councilors

President Rodrigo Núñez 2014-2016 Linda Sweanor 2013-2015 COVIDEC A.C. Wildlife Biologist Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico Montrose, Colorado, USA 81401 [email protected] (970) 275-2586 [email protected] Sandra Ortiz 2014-2016 Vice President – North America MVZ, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals Mexico Laurel Serieys 2013-2015 C.P. 77723 Playa del Carmen UCLA Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, Mexico Los Angeles, CA 90095 +52 5560881709 [email protected] (214) 729-2328 [email protected] Christopher M. Papouchis 2014-2016 Vice President – Latin America Adjunct Professor Anthony Giordano 2013-2015 California State Univ & American River College PhD Candidate & Fulbright Scholar Sacramento, CA, USA Texas Tech University (916) 448-1669 [email protected] Lubbock, TX 79409 (516) 982-6554 [email protected] Stan Rullman 2014-2016 Research Director, EarthWatch, Secretary Boston, MA 02134 Suzie Prange 2013-2015 [email protected] Ohio Division of Wildlife Athens, OH 45701 Aimee Rockhill 2013-2015 (740) 589-9924 [email protected] Wildlife Biologist Koyukuk/Nowitna National Wildlife Refuges Treasurer Galena, AK 99741 Marcella J. Kelly 2014-2016 907-656-1231 [email protected] Associate Professor Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia, USA (540) 231-1734 [email protected]

WFA Committees Conference - Linda Sweanor (chair), Melanie Culver (chair), Ken Logan, Christa Rose Election - Melanie Culver (chair), Ron Thompson Membership - Sophie Amirsultan, Chris Belden, Ivonne Cassaigne Newsletter - Chris Belden, Melanie Culver, Sharon Negri, Chris Papouchis, Laurel Serieys, Harley Shaw, Linda Sweanor, Kyle Thompson Scholarship - Marcella Kelly (chair), Ivonne Cassaigne, Anthony Giordano, Ken Logan, David Stoner Website - Linda Sweanor (chair), Peter McDonald, Aimee Rockhill Grant - Ivonne Cassaigne, Melanie Culver, Anthony Giordano, Sandra Ortiz, Suzie Prange, Stan Rullman, Linda Sweanor

Representative Coordinators

Student Representatives: Cheyenne Burnett, [email protected]

Regional representatives: North America: Ron Thompson, [email protected] Latin America: Ivonne Cassaigne, [email protected]

4 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Q & A Corner This is where members can ask questions about or provide insights into their research, management, and conservation work. Submit your questions for the next issue to [email protected] with wfa q&a corner on the subject line. We’ll post interesting questions on our web forum (at https: groups.Google.com/group/wildfelid) and provide the feedback in the next issue of Wild Felid Monitor. You can also participate online; simply go to the url listed above, create a free account (if you don’t already have one), and answer a simple question (why do you want to be a member of the wfa google group?). At that point you can view and respond to discussions on the site.

Question: We are trapping bobcats to collar them, using MB550s coping mechanisms to handle them. However, when confined the with offset jaws. Our protocol calls for traps to be closed if wind animal may not be able to use some mechanisms such as seeking the chill dips to -10F. I think that is too low, however, we did not have coolest shade or water for high temps, or warmer den environments problems during the first 2 years. This year, a bobcat’s paw froze in cold temps. In either case, since we researchers often do not place below the trap jaw, when the ambient low was 16 F. We warmed the traps in the most ideal location for avoiding extremes (i.e., a shady paw and our vet thought it would be okay. Nonetheless, I do not spot or sheltered spot chosen for a trap might still not be the “best” want that to happen again. Can anyone recommend a safe protocol? location the animal would choose to mitigate temp extremes). It is Any help would be appreciated. ~Suzie Prange incumbent upon us to not allow the animal to be in confinement long enough for temperatures to be damaging. So time-in-trap Response: You also have to consider the time the animal is in the becomes the first area that we can minimize damage through trap. I use alarms that are monitored at least every 4 hours, day and protocols and technology. As to effects of the trap or snare itself on night; every 2 hours if needed. We struggle with heat. I think there the tissues, the medical literature on tourniquets is the best guide would be a huge difference between having an animal under any regarding injury related to foot hold traps. No one that I know of has temperature below 0 F for one hour rather than 4 hours. No idea evaluated biochemical parameters, nerve conduction, nerve/muscle about the safest temperature suggested, but hope the comment helps. fiber condition, and pain in field trapped animals. However, foot ~Ivonne Cassaigne hold traps and snares often produce complete or partial restriction of blood flow to the limb distal to the constriction and/or damage Response: When I worked for another agency I was involved in at some level to the tissues at the gripping point. Adding extreme trap test research with bobcat and gray fox. Some good news is hypothermic conditions would presumably make the situation that the offset jaw trap you are using rated the best when it came worse, though some “mild cooling” of the tissues has been shown to to minimizing injury. One of the worst performers was the padded actually reduce damage from tourniquets. The variables that impact trap, which most folks may find hard to believe. When they’re wet outcomes make predictions impossible for given temperatures and frozen, the pads are like knives. The research was a multi- but many general predictions can be made based on research in state effort coordinated by the International Association of Fish controlled conditions. Considering the tourniquet-like effect of and Wildlife Agencies and was called Best Management Practices many foot hold and snare trappings, after 2 hours of full or partial for trapping furbearers. Every animal harvested by trappers was (which is sometimes even more damaging) blood flow restriction, necropsied by a veterinarian. If any foot/leg damage was caused by pain (sometimes significant) emanates from nerve fibers both distal frostbite it was likely noted. It’s unlikely that temps were recorded and proximal to the gripping point, and damage to tissues begins by the trappers on the datasheets but if nothing else you may be to occur distal to the gripping point or at the gripping point that able to glean the prevalence of frostbite from the data. Gordon can result in long term loss of neuromuscular function or persistent Bachellor and Dave Hamilton were the leads back then but I’m pain. Damage also occurs with release of the restriction (reperfusion not sure who to recommend as a contact. I think a lot of trapping syndrome) that can be local or in worst cases, systemic, potentially and capture work decisions come down to personal ethics. Both leading to organ damage or even death. After 2-4 hours in many your and Ivonne’s comments exemplify a healthy respect for the experimental models, damage and chronic pain can be significant animals....and this process. So thanks. I don’t have much else to and permanent. I have attached several review publications and a offer...but I do think that increasing trap checks and closing traps collection of abstracts [available on the WFA forum] relating mostly when overnight temps will likely drop into the single digits is an to the research on tourniquets which is normally conducted in ethical and defensible protocol. rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs – with the latter two having the most ~Rich Beausoleil direct potential for comparison. In my view as a veterinarian and wildlife researcher is that the axiom of “first do no harm” should be Response: Thanks for posing this question. It brings up issues not uppermost in any trapping activities – recognizing that even a short only with temperature but also, as Ivonne says of time in the trap. period of any confinement generates stress “harm.” Researchers You didn’t say the time frame in this case, and it may have been short, have the greatest obligation (of all people who deal with wildlife) to but your description of the state of the paw suggests a moderate time minimize, and leg holds have the most potential to do harm of all period passed before the animal was discovered – correct me if I am of our techniques. When one moves from something like cage traps wrong. Both issues, appropriate temps for trapping and frequency of (least potential physical harm) to foot holds and snares, researchers checks deserve a lot more discussion than has occurred to date in the must use every means possible to avoid damage to the animal. Too wildlife research community in my view. Perhaps this will stimulate often I think, wildlife researchers have assumed that if an animal did more. Of course on the issue of ambient temps, one is assuming not die post trapping that techniques were probably fine. The ability that at either high or low temps animals in the environment have to detect less than lethal negative effects has been minimal; or those

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 5 Q & A Corner

effects have not been looked for (“see no evil” syndrome). The AAWV (PhD). Matt is a biologist at the PA Game Commission and has statement on foot-hold traps and snares urges further research into been involved in both bobcat research (he and I implanted 30 these questions. Also, any change in physiological parameters that neonatal kittens with radio transmitters for a population study circa come from the trapping process obviously bias results of movement 2000-2003) and trapping science and safety studies. He is one studies, survival etc,, throwing conclusions into question. scientist whom I consider an expert in this subject area. I do not This very extensive research into the effects of vascular restriction have contact specifics for him at hand, but the main office of the suggests that foot hold traps/snares should be monitored continually, PGC is in Harrisburg, PA. A call there will likely net you his info. I or at a minimum every 2 hours. Times allowed in cage traps should be think he’d be honored to contribute. predicated on reactions of a species to the traps (stress and tendencies ~Jay Tischendorf to bite at traps and damage teeth). From my perspective, there is no excuse for not doing this, given the number of modern technologies Response: I sent this to a well-known trapper/researcher/ that make this possible from a distance.. I have had people say that conservationist and his initial response was: some of their sites are dangerous to access at night – I say “man “…Playing with foothold traps at those temperatures is way too risky. up” and mitigate that with appropriate equipment, choose locations I wouldn’t even consider setting footholds to catch any animal when that are more accessible, or be open about the fact that the animal is it is below freezing let alone 16F. Wait for warmer weather conditions being left in pain and saddled with some degree of chronic damage should be the protocol. Bobcats will be moving around a lot this and/or pain. Serious assessment needs to be made as to whether spring and temperatures will moderate eventually. Trap monitors are information gained is worth the animal paying the price. I urge essential IF people continue to trap at these marginal temperatures. clear–eyed assessment of the realities for the animals, versus hopeful You can’t afford to risk a cat’s front foot being irreparably harmed.” but perhaps unrealistic views of the effects of our capture methods. A further response by this individual (Carter Niemeyer) follows: ~Winston Vickers “…I could not have said it any better than Dr. Winston Vickers. He drives home all of the component points of using foothold traps and Response: This is an excellent subject for a paper for the Wild Felid snares - constriction injuries on the tissue, nerves and circulation Monitor. We could place this discussion in the Q&A section, but regardless of temperatures warm and cold. Add subzero temperatures I’m thinking that something even more perceptive might be written. on top of the already complicating factors along with prolonged Beusoliel and Vickers both seem to have experience in this area. A time being held in the trap and you have all kinds of potential for collaboration on this subject would make an extremely useful article irreparable harm to the animal. …My compliments to Dr Vickers for people concerned about the effects of their research efforts on for his comments and explanation. He is dead on target and being a research subjects. veterinarian he understands the physiology better than most people ~Harley Shaw who would ever use foothold traps. I will admit that the research trapping that I have done over several decades was conducted Response: This is an important topic to keep alive. All of with humane considerations but there is a tremendous amount of Winston’s complications should be considered. When we find visual modifications that could and should have been considered to be swelling, we administrate steroids, to help reduce it and it prevent more considerate of the animal. I can tell you that there is so much complications from the compartment syndrome that Winston animal trapping going on with footholds that it would sober most explained. Administrating fluids is very important. people to see the inconsiderate practices going on. I’m disappointed with the AAWV that was attached. It could In defense of my trapping under current rules, policies and politics, say a lot more. I’m attaching [available on the forum thread] the people must understand the pressure people like myself are under to “Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use “get ur done” under less than ideal circumstances. It isn’t a laboratory of wild mammals in research”, which is far better but still could be out there nor do most of us hold veterinary degrees. BUT we can improved. On the snare traps for example it says that traps should check our traps often and use the best traps available and be selective be checked at least twice a day--not adequate as a guideline, since of when and where we set the traps to do the minimal amount of animals can be harmed in a short period of 2 hours. I feel updates and harm to the animal.” recommendations should be sent to both associations. Fur trappers ~Bob McCoy and animal control specialists should also be required to follow the same guidelines as researchers. I know of many trappers that don’t Response: Good idea Dr. J, and thanks to everyone who has replied. check their snares until a month after they placed them. If we are so I think time in trap is the key, although I am increasing the minimum concerned about the animals’ welfare, I think we need to go beyond temp on our protocol a good bit, regardless. I can’t allow another our researcher’s guidelines and put some pressure to the state laws on frozen paw. I know Matt. His email is [email protected]. this topic. I’m Mexican, and we have a lot of issues in our country. I ~Suzie Prange think welfare of animals is a topic without borders. It would be great if some collaboration as proposed by Harley can be organized for Erratum, winter 2014: Please note that the photograph improving the guidelines and the AAWV statement for a start. on page 14 of the red fox atop an elk carcass with the ~Ivonne Cassaigne Tetons in the background was taken by Mark Elbroch Response: You folks might want to engage Dr. Matt Lovallo of Panthera, rather than Craig Whitman.

6 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Workshop Report

11th Mountain Lion Workshop he Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies held its location cluster analysis, range expansion, effects of ambient light, T11th Mountain Lion Workshop May 12-15 at Southern Utah comparisons of noninvasive and invasive methods of population University in Cedar City, Utah. The workshop was co-hosted by monitoring, compensatory and additive mortality, and puma-human Utah Department of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) and the Wild conflicts. Two sessions included follow-up panel discussions. During Felid Research and Management Association (WFA). John Shivik, a 2-hour, WFA-sponsored session Wednesday morning, David Stoner UDWR Mammal Coordinator, chaired the event and was assisted moderated a predator-prey session that included 5 invited speakers by organizing committee members Dan Cocayne of the Utah (Becky Pierce, David Choate, Alyson Andreasen, Jeff Villepique, and Houndsmen Association, Teresa Griffin of UDWR, David Stoner Mark Hurley) with intimate knowledge about specific predator-prey and Michael Wolfe of Utah State University, and myself. The UDWR systems. Presenters discussed top-down versus bottom-up forces on and WFA also provided travel grants and covered registration costs for a puma-deer system, the potential of water sources to function as several student participants. The workshop’s theme was “Integrating ecological traps for mule deer and bighorn sheep, puma specialization Scientific Findings into Management” and was attended by an on novel prey (feral horses), range abandonment by bighorn sheep, estimated 180-200 people. Session topics included: state and province and the demographic response of deer to experimental reductions reports; felid ecology, conservation and populations; predators and of coyotes and pumas. Later that same day, John Shivik moderated prey; felids and humans; non-invasive techniques; and management a session on puma-human conflict that included short presentations strategies. Although I previously commented that the 10th workshop and a panel discussion by individuals from 6 different interest groups: ranked among the best, this one matched it. All of the presentations sport-hunters, houndsmen, livestock ranchers, animal damage were professional, timely, and well-attended. Presentations focused management (Wildlife Services), puma advocacy – philosophical on puma research and management in the western U.S. (including aspects, and puma advocacy – science aspects. The topic question 3 on recently recolonized populations in the Dakotas) and Canada, was “How should we balance puma conservation with predator with two additional talks on the Florida Panther. To provide insights population reduction?” This session was well-received and many into puma management and conservation concerns outside of attendees thought that similar panel discussions should be offered at North America, WFA sponsored Dr. Mauro Lucherini, Universidad future workshops. Nacional del Sur in Argentina, whose talk examined puma-livestock Online workshop proceedings will be available later this summer. conflicts in the Espinal of Central Argentina. Once available, WFA will post information on our website on how Dr. John Linnell from the Norwegian Institute for Nature to access the proceedings. Mountain Lion Workshops are typically Research, Trondheim, Norway, gave the Keynote Address. Although held once every 3 years. The 10th Workshop was held in Bozeman, his talk focused on the ecology and status of Eurasian lynx, Dr. Linnell Montana in May 2011 (write-up in Wild Felid Monitor 4(2):11). provided insights into the lynx’s many parallels with pumas, another Colorado has agreed to host the 12th workshop in 2017 with WFA widespread species with a highly variable status. At the Wednesday as a co-host. night banquet Dr. Mike Wolfe, Emeritus Professor at Utah State University, gave another excellent presentation with a talk entitled ~Linda Sweanor “Predation: the road from myth to reason.” Along with over 50 presentations, fifteen posters were displayed, with topics covering diseases, feeding ecology and diet, orphans, GPS

Workshop attendees, Hunter Conference Center, SUU John Linnell and Mike Wolfe

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 7 2014 Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship recipients

After reviewing applications from 16 well-qualified applicants, the WFA Council is pleased to announce the 3 recipients of this year’s Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship. A grant from the Summerlee Foundation provided funds for 2 scholarships; those recipients are Maria Carrillo and Elias Rosenblatt. As in 2013, a donation from Dee Dawn on behalf of her daughter, Deanna Dawn, has provided a third scholarship; this scholarship is awarded to Lindsey Rich. Dee was so impressed with Lindsey’s application that she has donated another $1000 to Lindsey’s award. The other 13 applicants will be highlighted in the winter 2015 issue of the Monitor. Our sincere thanks to all 16 applicants for their dedication to understanding and conserving the world’s wild cats!

Maria Fernanda Puerto Carrillo

MS candidate, Centro de Ecologia, Dr. Scott Creel writes: “Eli’s research will provide a fundamental Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones advance in the field of conservation genetics and will simultaneously Cientificas, IVIC ([email protected]) provide baseline information that is badly needed for the management Advisor: Dr. Wlodzimierz of lions in South Luangwa and adjacent hunting areas. His work Jedrzejewski ([email protected]) has the potential for tremendous broader impacts. One of the most Dissertation: Ecology of the jaguar, fundamental problems with developing science-based policies for the population parameters and conservation management and conservation of lions and other large carnivores is status in the southern part of the Lake that we typically have poor estimates (or no estimates) of population Maracaibo Basin, Zulia State, Venezuela. size, density and trends through time…. Inexpensive, reliable and Objectives: To determine 1) Density of jaguars in southern part precise methods to estimate the size and trend of large carnivore of the Lake Maracaibo Basin using camera trapping and capture- populations are immediately needed, because most of the world’s recapture models; 2) Population parameters of jaguars in protected large carnivores are in sharp decline. ” areas and less protected areas in the southern Lake Maracaibo Basin; 3) Conservation status of jaguar populations in western Venezuela; Lindsey Rich 4) Relative abundance of the jaguar’s prey base in the southern Lake PhD Candidate, Department of Fish Maracaibo Basin. and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech ([email protected]). Dr. Ángel L. Viloria writes: “María Fernanda has proven to be a serious Advisor: Dr. Marcella Kelly (makelly2@ student, a natural and original researcher with strong motivations vt.edu) toward the study of the jaguar in our country, and particularly Dissertation: Monitoring and conserving inclined to pursue further investigations in the area where she had carnivore communities across Northern previously [worked] in Western Venezuela. I am impressed not only Botswana. by the originality of her work, and the useful outcome of her project, Objectives: Towards the goal of but also because I realized Maria had achieved a major goal recording establishing objective and replicable long term monitoring and a very important jaguar population in Venezuela, with very limited conservation program, I have three research objectives: 1) Estimate resources, both financial and instrumental. Knowing the potential of the densities of sympatric meso- and large carnivores using camera her capabilities…I offered her the possibility to come up to Caracas trap surveys in combination with advanced statistical models; 2) to start Master or Doctoral studies at IVIC.” Estimate overall carnivore richness and determine what influences the distribution of carnivores across the multi-use landscape; 3) Elias Rosenblatt Evaluate the efficacy of track surveys, as compared to camera trap M.S. Candidate, Department of surveys, for monitoring the distribution and population trends of Ecology, Montana State U. (elias@ large carnivores. zambiacarnivores.org). Advisor: Dr. Scott Creel (screel@montana. Dr. Marcella Kelly writes: “Lindsey essentially created her own PhD edu). project by working in collaboration with the Botswana Predator Thesis: Evaluating the status and future Conservation Trust, to employ large-scale remote camera trapping of African lion and leopard populations and sign surveys to study multiple carnivores simultaneously. Her in two of Zambia’s national parks in the focal species will be the leopard. …Camera trapping projects…have face of human encroachment. rarely been applied in a systematic, standardized fashion in Africa. Objectives: To: 1) Estimate lion population size, density, and survival This research is timely and appropriate as Botswana is a carnivore rates using established mark-recapture methods in Zambia’s South hotspot [and it] will give us new insights into the population status Luangwa National Park; 2) Develop and validate alternative and ecology of leopards and [other] endangered, threatened, and genetic approaches for estimating the size of unstudied carnivore declining species. Her project will [be] the first to utilize recent populations; 3) Estimate leopard population sizes and densities in advances in statistical modeling to estimate the densities of both South Luangwa and Kafue National Parks using remote camera individually identifiable, and more uniformly colored carnivore traps; and 4) Use occupancy modeling to evaluate the roles of species.” environmental and anthropogenic variables on the distribution of these felid populations and their prey.

8 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Regional News SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina Brazil Central Argentina. Since 2009, Dr. Dr. William Alberto Cañón-Franco The main threats identified for these Javier A. Pereira has been evaluating the and his team have just published the first species are hunting, loss of habitat, and effects of habitat fragmentation on genetic detection and genotypic characterization presence of feral dogs. structure and gene flow in Geoffroy´s cats. of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging felids in He is comparing genetic characteristics of Brazil. Of the animals sampled, 34.4% (n = Uruguay Geoffroy´s cat in two areas with different 31) were positive including the species Puma In a project entitled Distribución potencial degree of habitat fragmentation and human yagouaroundi– jaguarundi (9/22), Leopardus de tres especies de Leopardus (Carnivora: presence to determine if populations located geoffroyi – Geoffroy’scat (6/22), Leopardus Felidae) para Uruguay we modeled the in a continuous and less perturbed habitat tigrinus – oncilla (8/28), Leopardus wiedii – potential habitats of three small felids: margay (La Pampa province, Central Argentina) have margay (6/10), Leopardus pardalis – ocelot (L. wiedii Schinz), Pampas cat (L. braccatus a genetic structure similar to populations (1/1) and Leopardus colocolo – Pampas cat Cope) and Geoffroy’s cat (L. geoffroyi in fragmented and more populated areas (1/7). Toxoplasma DNA was detected with d‘Orbigny & Gervais), using the Maxent (Buenos Aires province, Central-East a frequency of 14.6%. Dr. Cañón Franco program. Individual species distributions, Argentina). This approach will also identify and his team fully characterized two new the pattern of wealth, and representation in landscape features that act as dispersal genotypes from toxoplasma that have not the National System of Protected Areas of barriers for Geoffroy´s cats. After 5 years, Dr. been described previously in Brazil, one the country (SNAP) were assessed. We will Peralta has collected 176 tissue samples from from L. wiedii and another one from P. analyze population structures by means of road-kills, tanned hides, and feces. Gathering Yagouaroundi. a set of DNA microsatellites loci, thereby this number of samples has been time- William Alberto Cañon Franco, detecting zones of connectivity or high consuming and taken considerable effort (he [email protected] functional fragmentation risk. has driven more than 50,000 km during this ~ Nadia Bou, 5 years). Most of these samples are currently Ecuador Biological Research Institute of Uruguay under lab processing, and he expects to A jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) of analyze the results during 2014. CONICET, about 2 years old was delivered to the zoo Amersfoort Zoo, Le Parc des Felins, and the “Orillas del Zamora” at city of Loja, Ecuador. NORTH AMERICA Feline Conservation Federation support this This animal came from the wild and was project. confiscated by the military forces and then Mexico Southwest Argentina. Argentinean taken to the zoo by the environmental police. A decade ago there was little jaguar members of the Andean Cat Alliance (AGA) It had a multiple femur fracture and is now conservation and research in Mexico, and continue working to create awareness in local being attended by Dr. Vinicio Luzuriaga existing projects usually relied on funds people living within the range of the Andean and his staff from the zoo. The jaguarundi from foreign or international organizations. cat. In April they organized an entertaining will be rehabilitated in hopes to be released In recent years we have witnessed a circus show to deliver conservation messages back to the wild. substantial increase in jaguar conservation to the communities of the province efforts. The Direction of Priority Species of Neuquén where the presence of this Peru for Conservation (DEPC) of the National endangered cat was recently discovered. This In April, 2012, The Asociación para la Commission for Natural Protected Areas area is particularly important because this Investigación y Conservación ZOE began (CONANP) have for the past decade been is the southernmost and lowest part of the investigating the status of the high Andean working on ways to preserve and recover Andean cat distribution range, where the carnivores from Peru (over 3000 m). They populations. This includes development presence of this felid has been confirmed are working mostly with puma (Puma of an Action Plan for Endangered Species: only a few years ago. concolor), the Pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo) Jaguar (PACE JAGUAR) that specifies The AGA hopes to use the Andean cat and the Andean mountain cat (Leopardus priority actions for jaguar conservation, as a flagship to strengthen the conservation jacobita). They hope to assess the importance funding of jaguar conservation projects to of biodiversity. This project has a global of small cats in the Andean culture, identify determine jaguar abundance, dealing with component aimed at enhancing AGA’s threats, determine population, and increase human-jaguar interactions and conflicts, and image with the general public, and a local knowledge of the ecology of the species. promoting environmental communication. component with the objective of improving They are interviewing local people on the By means of the “Endangered Species AGA’s ability to create ecological awareness study area, searching for sign, and using Conservation Program Projects”, the DEPC among the rural communities within the camera traps. Results will include evaluation conducts and finances important efforts to range of the Andean cat. In each country, of the conflict between cattle and puma in protect priority species for conservation in they are traveling to remote rural areas the Arequipa Sierra, plotting distribution Mexico, including jaguars, tapirs, sea turtles, where Andean cats live to share knowledge of wild felids in southern Peru, assessing parrots and macaws, among others. This year, and experiences with communities. Working expanding presence of Andean cats, and the program will provide funding of more with local schools, particular attention was intestigating local extirpation of the three than $870,000 US dollars to support 18 given to children. felids in some areas of Arequipa and Tacna. jaguar conservation projects in distinct parts

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 9 Regional News

of the country. Nevertheless, some aspects, pattern recognition. range until the early 1990’s. The actual such as legal protection, need to be fortified. Ivonne Cassaigne and Diego Woolrich factors contributing to the disappearance Currently, illegal killing of jaguars occurs Committee of Experts on Jaguars, Mexico of the sheep are not understood but could without real consequences for poachers. All [email protected] include a combination of disease, human jaguar conservation actions fundamentally encroachment, large wildfires, and predation. depend on stopping jaguar poaching. Sonora To date, 16 of the 31 sheep have died: 15 Currently groups such as “Naturalia” and Mexico provides habitat for 6 indigenous attributed to predation by mountain lions “Alianza Jaguar A.C”are working towards this felid species, and 4 of these are extant in and one to capture myopathy. A Catalina goal. Sonora: ocelot, bobcat, puma and jaguar. Mountain Advisory Committee consisting In Mexico jaguars are distributed in In northeastern Sonora a two-year prey of representatives from the Arizona Game habitats from arid lands to tropical rain switching study that provided translocated and Fish Department, the Center For forest; from sea-level to almost 2700 m; in alternate prey (peccary) to reduce Biological Diversity, Arizona Wilderness human dominated landscapes and those livestock depredation by pumas and jaguar Coalition, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep almost free of human activity, and from ended when the first-ever female jaguar Society, the Wilderness Society, U.S. Forest the wealthy north to the poor south of wearing a GPS collar was poisoned using a Service and The Sky Island Alliance is the country. This heterogeneity provides a peccary carcass as bait. There is a countrywide working cooperatively to recommend future great challenge for conservation efforts, but movement to draft and implement more management actions. Time will tell whether involvement of a variety of entities, including severe punishments for the unlawful killing this project can be successful given the government, NGO, academics and local of jaguars in Mexico, but after investigation current level of predation by mountain lions. communities, offers a real chance to succeed. of 3 recent unlawful jaguar killings no guilty ~ John Clemons, I am confident that this commitment will be party has been sentenced to serve jail time [email protected] maintained for as long as required for jaguar or pay a significant fine. There have been a Update on Catalina Mountains bighorn conservation. total of 8 national press releases on TV, in transplant ~ Dr. Rodrigo Nuñez newspapers and on popular radio in support Arizona’s mountain lion issues are mostly [email protected] of stricter punishments for jaguar poaching. social in nature. Mountain lion predation ~ Ivonne Cassaigne, was the primary cause of substantial National Jaguar Monitoring Project [email protected] mortality in the recently translocated CONABIO (National Commission for bighorns in the Catalina Mountains. Public the Knowledge and use of the biodiversity) opposition to mountain lion removal has led and CONANP (National Commission United States to increased media scrutiny, despite the fact of Natural Protected Areas), will initiate Arizona that a broad coalition of groups served on in 2014 a jaguar monitoring project Biologists are monitoring predator/ an advisory council in the development of throughout Mexico. The primary objective bighorn relationships in the Kofa National the program. Hounds were released only is to detect and identify individual jaguars Wildlife Refuge near Quartzite, AZ. At the on documented kills by mountain lions. The and monitor future population trends of end of May 2013, three mountain lions groups involved in the plan development jaguars from the presence or absence of the had been collared. They were classified as include the Arizona Wilderness Coalition, same jaguars. This will include areas already “offending” lions after each killed two desert the Wilderness Society, the Center for being monitored and in new as-of-yet to bighorns within six months. They were Biological Diversity, Sky Island Alliance, and be monitored areas. The program will be lethally removed as prescribed in the Kofa the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society. implemented in three phases. Phase one will Mountain Complex Predator Management Our ability to repatriate desert bighorn resurvey previously monitored areas that were Plan put in place by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife sheep to native habitat may be jeopardized, used for the national jaguar survey conducted Service. Camera traps recorded images of an by unfavorable public sentiment despite approximately 3 years ago. Phase two and apparent two additional mountain lions on stakeholder involvement in restoration plans. three will expand these areas into previously the refuge. Two lions (presumably the two The Arizona Game and Fish Commission unmonitored areas in order to attempt to recorded by camera traps) were collared is reevaluating Arizona’s mountain lion detect additional jaguars in areas of historic during the winter of 2013-14. These are harvest structure as part of the annual hunt distribution and potential habitat where no currently being monitored and their kills recommendation process. No major changes monitoring activities have previously taken investigated. Four years of intensive lion are planned at this time. We are looking place. As a long term objective, CONABIO management on the refuge has not resulted forward to the results of recent population and CONANP are hoping to monitor and in an increase in desert bighorn sheep genetics research from the University of detect jaguars in areas that may need more numbers. Arizona. protection from human conflicts and habitat Another project was initiated in Brian Wakeling, Game Branch Chief, degradation. Camera trap pictures will be November 2013, with the translocation of Arizona Game & Fish Department used in a newly developed software pattern 31 desert bighorn sheep from the Trigo and [email protected] recognition program, still being designed, Chocolate Mountains north of Yuma into that will help identify individual jaguars the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson. through a national net system of rosette Desert bighorn sheep inhabited this mountain 10 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Regional News

Single nucleotide polymorphisms improve lion diet consisted of mule deer and desert needed. genotyping success in mountain lion scats - bighorn sheep. By seasonally dividing Max Allen (Maximilian.Allen@ Recently, new genetic markers, called mountain lion diet, we observed a potential vuw.ac.nz) and Heiko Wittmer from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), positive correlation between mountain lion Victoria University of Wellington, and have received much attention for their predation and the desert bighorn sheep Chris Wilmers of University of California analytical simplicity, high-throughput lambing season, and an inverse relationship Santa Cruz published an article on puma capabilities, consistency across studies, between mule deer and desert bighorn sheep communication behavior in Behavior. They and potential utility in non-invasively predation. They conclude that DNA-based used motion-detecting cameras to document collected samples. In a study funded by identification is an effective tool in generating communications of pumas in the Santa Cruz the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s data on mountain lion diets, which can be Mountains in California. They found strong Habitat Partnership Committee, Robert useful particularly in modeling the impact of sexual dimorphic behavioral differences for Fitak (PhD Candidate at the UA) designed predation and vulnerability of prey species. pumas visiting sites with numerous scrapes. a high-throughput assay, called PumaPlex, ~ John Clemons, Males primarily visited scrapes to perform to simultaneously genotype 26 SNPs in [email protected] reproductive behaviors (calling, scraping, mountain lions. To date, more than 700 Potential barriers restricting gene flow among and body rubbing), whereas females mountain lions, including more than mountain lions in Arizona exhibited investigative behaviors (flehmen 500 from Arizona, have been genotyped In a study funded by the Arizona Game response). Pumas responded strongly to using this assay. Fitak et al.’s results for & Fish Department Committee, Naidu et al. the physical scrapes, but they investigated PumaPlex are comparable to traditionally investigated the population genetic structure the scrapes longer if puma urine was added. used Felis catus microsatellite markers, with of mountain lions in Arizona from hunter- Thus, while pumas gain information about a substantial decrease in overall costs and harvested tissue and scat samples collected the depositing individual by smelling the turnaround time. Additionally, they found during 2008-2012. Upon genotyping urine, they are alerted to the presence of that success was significantly greater for ~470 DNA samples for 10 well-known the urine by the physical scrape. To learn PumaPlex than for the microsatellites when Felis catus microsatellite DNA markers, we more see: Allen, M.L., Wittmer, H.U., and genotyping scat samples. The advantages found the highest statistical support for Wilmers, C.C. 2014. Puma communication of PumaPlex compared with traditional four sub-populations of mountain lions in behaviors: understanding functional use and microsatellite genotyping make it a valuable Arizona. Geographic visualization of these variation among sex and age classes. Behavior. addition to existing methods to improve the sub-populations suggested that Interstate The East Bay Puma Project (EBPP), monitoring and management of mountain highways (particularly Interstate-10 west of founded by Felidae Conservation Fund, lion populations throughout their range. Phoenix, Interstate-17 and Interstate-40) has entered a new phase of education and ~ Robert R. Fitak, might be restricting gene flow among research. The project began in 2007, using [email protected] mountain lions. To corroborate genetic data non-invasive techniques, such as tracking, DNA-based diet identification of pumas in on mountain lion population substructure remote cameras, and hair snares to document southwestern Arizona and connectivity, we are currently creating puma, bobcat and mule deer population Mountain lion diets have long been a GIS-based habitat suitability model for densities, genetic structure, movements, and a subject of controversy and have been mountain lions that will provide information habitat use. Felidae collaborates with regional studied using various methods in the past on the potential corridors for mountain lion habitat connectivity modeling projects to 30 years. Most early attempts to ascertain movement across these barriers. elicit landscape-scale conservation. They diet employed analyses of feces contents ~ Ashwin Naidu, have created a network of over 75 citizen based on morphological identification of [email protected] scientist volunteers, and have reached hair and bone fragments. These methods >17,000 local students with their CAT Aware can be subject to significant variation in California program. They recently GPS-collared their individual interpretation and can lack The California Department of Pesticide first East Bay puma, and will be monitoring in certainty of identification of the prey Regulation approved a statewide ban on her movements and activities in the coming species consumed. Clemons et al. employed sales of second-generation anticoagulant months. genetic analyses of scat contents to identify rodenticides. Effective July 1, 2014, ~ Veronica Yovovich, mountain lion prey in southwestern Arizona. residential consumers will no longer be [email protected] They amplified and sequenced a fragment able to purchase these poisons, although Colorado of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene commercial and agricultural operations from DNA extracted from the outer layer can still use them. These anticoagulant Several Graduate students and of scat samples to identify predator species. rodenticides have been implicated in the collaborators are researching aspects of They then dismantled mountain lion scats poisoning deaths of numerous wildlife wild felid ecology, including how levels to recover bone and connective tissue species, including bobcats and mountain of urbanization influence interactions fragments from which they extracted DNA lions. While this ban improves protections and dynamics of disease transmission and identified prey species, again using the for mammalian and avian predators, it among pumas, bobcats, and domestic cats; cytochrome b gene sequences. Their results does not eliminate the use of rodenticides estimating bobcat density using a camera trap demonstrate that two-thirds of mountain completely and more legislative action is grid system in urban, exurban, and wildland Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 11 Regional News areas; and testing the use of noninvasive the protection of mountain lions. The state State University under Dr. Katie Dugger, is sampling methods to detect and obtain has recently funded research to map suitable starting a project in association with Oregon genetic samples from pumas. Additional habitat and has issued surveys exploring Department of Fish and Wildlife that will graduate research includes movements and local attitudes and opinions towards the examine the effects of recolonizing gray habitat connectivity needs of pumas and future of this species. These surveys reveal wolves (Canis lupus) on cougar and ungulate Canada lynx, specifically regarding long that although many Illinois residents populations in northeastern Oregon. The distance dispersal and how spatial and support carnivore protection, the majority objectives are to document the prey selection, temporal factors explain variation in felid do not want them near their home and have habitat use, and distribution of wolves and dispersal. One graduate researcher, Kevin differing opinions on how they should be cougars, and to identify direct and indirect Blecha, is investigating methods to predict managed. interspecific interactions through changes in puma feeding locations from GPS and ~ Jessica Fort, cougar survivorship, prey selection patterns, telemetry data and if pumas balance prey [email protected] habitat use and distribution in the Mt. Emily acquisition with the risks of encountering Wildlife Management Unit. This research people in an urban-wildland interface. Oregon will provide managers with knowledge of International research includes modeling Dr. Darren Clark, Wildlife Research how wolf populations affect cougar, elk, and occurrence and abundance of tigers and their Biologist for Oregon’s Department of Fish mule deer (Odocoileus hermionus hermionus) prey in northeastern India and assessing and Wildlife, just completed his dissertation populations. Field work is due to be the effects of prey abundance, habitat on cougar (Puma concolor) prey selection completed in winter 2017. connectivity, and anthropogenic pressure and population dynamics, emphasizing ~ Beth Orning, to create tiger habitat connectivity models. implications for elk (Cervus canadensis [email protected] Finally, Ken Logan, carnivore researcher for nelsoni) in northeast Oregon. Dr. Clark Colorado Parks and Wildlife, is wrapping fitted 25 adult cougars with GPS collars to New Mexico up a 10-year study on the Western Slope investigate diets, kill rates and prey selection. A new project on Ted Turner’s examining puma population dynamics and The remains of 1,213 cougar-killed prey were Armendaris Ranch, will test methods of the influence of sport hunting. located over 7,642 days. Cougar predation reducing predation by cougars using water ~ Jennifer Timmer, was influenced by season, gender, and cougar development modifications that selectively [email protected] reproductive status, and these patterns deny water to cougars, thereby reducing in cougar predation may be generalized the time cougars are sympatric with desert Georgia among ecosystems. Sub-adult males had bighorn sheep. Georgia has primarily one wild felid, the significantly lower survival rates than sub- Harvest quotas for cougars in NM were bobcat, Lynx rufus. In the past few years, at adult females, but survival rates of males recently increased more than 50%. The least one Florida puma (Puma concolor coryi) and females were similar after 4 or 5 years increase in the quota was the topic of an has been identified in the southern part of of age. Survival rates of cougars in areas article by author Jan Hayes in a prominent the state. Researchers at the University of where hunting cougars with dogs was illegal statewide newspaper entitled “State’s wildlife Georgia are continuing their study of the were substantially higher than areas where mismanaged; populations numbers falling”. tick-transmitted Cytauxzoon felis and other use of dogs was legal. Estimates of cougar ~ Ron Thompson related parasites detected in bobcats. They vital rates from northeastern Oregon were [email protected] have also initiated a study of the levels of used to model population growth rates of Nevada Toxoplasma gondii in bobcats from Georgia cougars when hunting cougars with dogs Recent research by the University of and throughout the United States. was legal (1989 – 1994) and illegal (2002 – Nevada, Reno has identified the pattern of 2011). Current management practices and genetic structure and source-sink dynamics Illinois harvest regulations, combined with short- in mountain lions (Puma concolor) of the A recent sighting and subsequent killing term, intensive, and localized population Great Basin. Alyson Andreasen, Kelley of a male mountain lion near Morrison, IL reductions, are unlikely to reduce short- Stewart, William Longland, Jon Beckmann has generated public discussion about the term viability of cougar populations. To and Matthew Forister collected over 700 possible return of this species. Although investigate the factors influencing elk tissue samples from mountain lions across the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources population growth rates, Clark developed Nevada and eastern California. This research (IDNR) believes these sightings are isolated a population model using vital rates for elk represents one of the first attempts to occurrences for now, they are discussing in northeastern Oregon. Results suggested identify source-sink dynamics using genetic adding mountain lions to the list of that cougars can be a strong limiting factor techniques (Andreasen et al. 2013). protected species. In the spring of 2011, the on elk populations. Dr. Clark’s research The USGS is conducting studies in three department supported a bill in the Illinois will help guide cougar and elk management locations throughout Nevada. beginning General Assembly seeking to add the gray in northeastern Oregon and provide a in the fall of 2010; researchers investigated wolf, American black bear and mountain framework for assessing the relative effects of cougar-prey relationships on the Desert lion to the list of protected species under top-down, bottom-up, and abiotic factors on National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR) in the Illinois Wildlife Code. Although the bill ungulate population growth in other areas. southern Nevada, focusing on the spatio- was not passed, the IDNR is still seeking Beth Orning, a PhD student at Oregon temporal patterns of cougar predation in 12 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Regional News relation to ungulate water use. Comprising lions near urban-wildland interfaces. Results University researchers on the impact of >60% cougar kills; mule deer provide an from the genetic aspect of the study have lethal coyote control and managed cougar important prey component in this system. been published (Andreasen et al. 2012) and hunting on fawn recruitment. We are using Current work continues on GPS-collared results pertaining to prey selection, habitat the initial GPS data to investigate cougar mule deer to augment our understanding of selection, and sources of mortality in western space use relative to human land use. We predator-prey relationships on the DNWR. Nevada are also being written. Data collected will present preliminary results at this year’s The second study is in western Nevada, on has led to additional questions, which we will Mountain Lion Workshop in Cedar City, the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). begin addressing, incuding how numerical Utah. Twp recent publications by Stoner et When combined with surrounding military and geographic expansion of black bears al. and related to felid research in Utah are reserves, the NNSS and the DNWR into ranges where they were absent for nearly listed in the “Recent Publications” section of constitute one of the largest areas (over a century may affect mountain lion ecology. this issue. 15,540 sq. km) in North America where We have strived to work with stakeholders During the 2013/2014 furbearer season, human-caused cougar mortality is low. with varied backgrounds and opinions, and the state of Utah issued 4600 bobcat Cougar prey selection on the NNSS parallels hope that the data gathered will help reduce harvest permits, with a maximum of 3 per predation observed on DNWR cougars, misinformation pertaining to mountain person. All permits were sold online within with the addition of feral species (i.e., horse lions. Updates on this research were provided 30 minutes of being posted, even with foals) not found on the DNWR. The use of by Alyson Andreasen (Field Ecologist, some server-side glitches. John Shivik, the bighorn as prey has provided the impetus Wildlife Conservation Society), Carl Lackey Mammal Coordinator with Utah Division to initiate a bighorn radio-telemetry study (Biologist, Nevada Department of Wildlife), of Wildlife Resources, indicated that the and surveys on this site in addition to radio- and Jon Beckmann (Conservation Scientist high demand for bobcat permits is driven by tracking efforts with cougars. The third and Connectivity Coordinator, Wildlife fur market prices that have averaged around study was initiated this year to evaluate the Conservation Society). $500 per pelt in recent years, with some use of the Lake Mead National Recreation ~ Carl Lackey, prime specimens fetching sales in excess Area (LMNRA) by cougars. This study will Nevada Department of Wildlife of $1000. John also indicated that similar provide estimates of the number of cougars trends have been observed in other western on LMNRA, their demographic structure, Texas states, highlighting that Idaho bobcat harvest spatial distribution and prey selection, using The Borderlands Research Institute permits ‘sell as fast as tickets to a Katy Perry camera-traps, genetic analysis of feces, and for Natural Resource Management of Sul concert’. GPS collars to assess cougar movement, Ross State University has a permit to collar ~ UT, Peter Mahoney, habitat use, and predation. For more puma and set camera traps in Big Bend [email protected] information, contact Kathleen Longshore National Park. The focus of the study (Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, is on human/puma interactions. David [email protected]), or David Choate Rumbelow, a graduate student in Natural (Ecologist, USGS/UNLV, choate.davidm@ Resource Management from Sul Ross, is gmail.com). monitoring movements and kill sites in the Researchers from the Wildlife Chisos Mountains and surrounding areas in Conservation Society (WCS), University relation to trails, structures, and visitor use. of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and Nevada Sky Stevens, also a graduate student at Sul Department of Wildlife (NDOW) are Ross, will use camera traps to assess puma studying mountain lions in western Nevada. occupancy and prey density. Two puma Initiated in 2008 as a PhD dissertation, this have been collared since January 2014 and was the first field-based study of mountain cameras began going out in February. lion ecology in Nevada in over 3 decades. ~ Price Rumbelow, The lack of empirical data in Nevada has [email protected] resulted in management based on politics Utah rather than science, with speculation Utah researchers have focused on cougars regarding movement of mountain lions from (Puma concolor) on Monroe Mountain in California (where they are not hunted) into south-central Utah, where we have entered Nevada (where they are hunted) and causes of our 18th year investigating the demographics declining prey populations. We used DNA of a hunted cougar population. We have from harvested mountain lions to assess recently started to deploy GPS collars in order genetic structure and source-sink dynamics to capture cougar movements in relation to at the landscape scale within Nevada those of prey and competitor species (e.g., and between Nevada and California. We coyotes, Canis latrans). The impetus for deployed GPS satellite collars on mountain this transition is a concurrent mule deer lions in western Nevada to study prey (Odocoileous hemionus) study on Monroe by selection and habitat selection of mountain Utah State University and Brigham Young Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 13 Invited Article

Why are free-ranging domestic cats important to wild felid biologists? Michael Cove, PhD Candidate, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, [email protected]

eral and free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) have attracted Competition Fmuch attention from the media and scientists over the past several Recent studies of free-ranging cats on islands reveal that cats years. Conservation groups have strong opinions about free-ranging consume at least 248 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, cats, based on long-term studies of the invasive predator. Feral cats amphibians, and invertebrates (Bonnaud et al. 2011). Many of have caused an estimated 35 species extinctions on islands worldwide those species, including rodents and lagomorphs, are important diet and they kill somewhere between 6-22 billion small mammals and components of native felids. In Hungary, sympatric feral cats, wild 1.3-4 billion birds each year in the USA alone (Dauphine & Cooper cats, and their hybrids had very high (77-88%) trophic niche overlap 2009; Nogales et al. 2004; Loss et al. 2013). Many governments suggesting high competition for prey (Biro et al. 2005). have invested in feral cat eradication programs, typically using traps, Most feral and free-ranging cats supplement their diets with hunting, poisons, and introduction of viral diseases (Nogales et al. human-derived resources, either from refuse or direct feeding. 2004). Most research and management of feral and free ranging These external resources allow for heightened survival of young and cats focuses on ill effects of cats through direct predation and rarely supplementation of a population that can increase well beyond typical on indirect effects on other carnivores or ecosystems. For thorough carrying capacity, 10-100 times denser than native mesopredators reviews of the impacts of feral cats on wildlife through predation and (Longcore et al. 2009). Additionally, there is no apparent relationship other indirect effects, see Medina et al. (2011 & 2014) and Nogales between hunger and hunting in free-ranging cats leading to what et al. (2013). In this short review, I explore the implications of free- might be considered “thrill killing” of prey without consumption. ranging cats affecting wild felids with an emphasis on competition, Pairing overabundance with thrill killing, free-ranging cats are able disease, hybridization, and management. to exert higher impacts on native and exotic small mammals and native birds through hyperpredation (Courchamp et al. 2000). Such hyperpredation can place the exotics in direct competition with native wild felids. This particularly affects the felid communities in human-altered landscapes and habitat edges where cats may be able to retreat to safety of urbanization to avoid interference competition and direct predation by the larger natives, such as bobcats (Lynx rufus), lynx (Lynx canadensis), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and puma (Puma concolor).

Diseases High levels of distributional overlap of feral cats and native felids expose the groups to pathogens through the environment, vectors, via direct contact, or consumption. Bevins et al. (2012) conducted large-scale multi-state surveys of pathogen exposure in feral and free- ranging cats and sympatric mountain lions and bobcats. Bartonella spp. are bacteria that are spread by fleas and ticks as vectors that cause fevers, lethargy, and possibly neurological disorders. Owned housecat roaming within a national wildlife refuge, Exposure to the bacteria was observed to be higher in free-ranging greater than 500 m from the closest possible owner’s home. cats than in wild felids in California. High densities of feral cats Domestic cats originated from European and African wild cats in urban areas likely increases exposure and prevalence of bacterial (Felis silvestris) and have lived among humans for thousands of years. infections spread by vectors (Bevins et al. 2012). Cats are now found on all 7 continents, with world estimates of 600 Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed parasitic protozoan million and growing; 148-188 million of those occur within the that has received recent attention in the scientific community as United States (The Wildlife Society 2011). Populations are increasing a zoonotic infection causing mental health diseases in humans. because cats have prodigious reproductive potential; a single female Healthy cats rarely exhibit symptoms because they are the ultimate may produce as many as three litters each year with 3-5 kittens per host for the protozoan that they ingest from infected meat or cysts litter, potentially producing 9-15 offspring anually (Jemmett & Evans, in the environment. Toxoplasma was more prevalent in puma than 1977). Population dynamics are different from their wild counterparts in bobcats, while very few free-ranging cats showed seroprevalence because there are three different status groups of cats: feral, semi- to the protozoan (Bevins et al. 2012). This might be a consequence feral, and housecats. These groups are often linked in source-sink of more meat consumption by the larger cats, but also highlights dynamics, with housecats and semi-feral cats often reproducing with that consumption of the smaller cats may expose the larger cats to higher success than truly feral cats (Medina et al. 2014). Such high multiple pathogens. reproductive output combined with supplementation from humans Recent data also suggests that rat poison makes mange more and human-induced habitat alterations has ensured the high success detrimental to bobcats and mountain lions. This was revealed when of this invasive predator. a collared mountain lion in California (P-22) was recaptured and 14 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Invited Article required treatment for the parasitic lesions. Feral and free-ranging feral) were identified at camera trap sites greater than 8 km apart. cats might also be reservoirs for many of the mites that cause such The long distance movements may be reduced in areas where wild etiologies. felids and other large predators potentially limit the distribution of Another protozoan parasite (Cytauxzoon felis) has a wide feral and owned cats. Since habitat and landscape changes induced distribution in the USA and is common in bobcat populations, the by humans are likely the primary causes of high feral and free-ranging main reservoir host. This parasite has also been detected in free- cat abundance and strong overlap with wild felids, the issues and ranging cats and although death was prevalent historically, cats are effects associated with them will likely increase in the future. now resistent carriers of the pathogen. The parasite did not cause death in wild felids in a recent study (Shock et al. 2011), but experimental deaths and death of a young bobcat under natural circumstances suggest that it may cause more problems than suspected. The parasite has also caused blood and liver damage in Florida panthers, though none were suspected to have died from the infection (Shock et al. 2011). There seem to be several strains of the parasite and free- ranging cats may be a reservoir of the disease in areas of sympatry. Because viruses rapidly adapt to host environments, feral and free- ranging cats may serve as reservoirs for several felid viruses that infect wild felids. Cats are the primary domestic species to carry and spread rabies (Longcore et al. 2009). Other viruses include: feline leukemia (FELV), panleukopenia (Distemper), feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, feline parvovirus, feline coronavirus, gammaherpesvirus (GHV), and feline immunodefiency virus (FIV), all with variable etiologies and effects on immune function in their wild counterparts.

Hybridization Because the feral cat traces its lineage back to European and African wild cats, hybridization between invasive and native populations is Pet cat caught in remote camera trap in Colorado. Photo courtesy common. The Scottish wildcat is one of the rareest wildcat subspecies of Jesse Lewis. with only several hundred remaining in the wilds of Scotland. The Scottish wildcat was historically persecuted and threatened by habitat Cultural Concerns, TNR, and responsible management loss, but the largest threat to conservation may now be hybridization Cats have achieved the status of popular culture icons, particularly with feral cats (Silva et al. 2012). Conservation of other critically among cat advocacy groups and internet video searchers. Given such endangered cats, including Tsushima leopard cats (Prionailurus popularity among advocacy groups, there is considerable debate bengalensis euptilurus/euptilura) and Iriomote cats (P. b. iriomotensis) regarding management of free-ranging cats. The most common of Japanese islands has been hindered by hybridization with feral management practice promoted by cat advocacy groups is trap- cats on their respective islands (Medina et al. 2014). Domestic neuter-release (TNR – more appropriately “reabandon”). Although cats have been crossed with various wild felids including: margays groups such as The Wildlife Society, the AVMA Committee on (Leopardus wiedii), ocelots, fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus), Environmental Issues, and the American Bird Conservancy (among servals (Leptailurus serval), caracals (Caracal caracal), black-footed cat others) oppose TNR, all groups agree that there are too many homeless (Felis nigripes), and Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geofroyi), among others. cats and management is necessary. Many opponents of TNR support Although there is no evidence of these hybridizations under natural the removal of feral and free-ranging cats from the environment and conditions, landscape changes and fragmentation may predispose advocate for adoption when possible. When adoption is unfeasible, small isolated populations of wild felid species to breed with feral cats. they support euthanasia as more humane than reabandonment of cats into the wild. Additionally, The American Bird Conservancy has Continuing research on free-ranging cats a “Cats Indoors” campaign, which provides useful resources and data As part of my dissertation research, I am pairing camera trap to educate the public (who may lack professional training in ecology data with spatial capture-recapture models to estimate feral and free- or wildlife science) about the responsible ownership of cats and the ranging cat abundance and movement and their effects on endangered importance of keeping them inside to protect birds and other wildlife. small mammals within the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge Wild felid biologists must realize that the feral and free-ranging Complex. Pelage patterns, permanent markings, and individual cat issue affects more than birds and small mammals; it affect wild behavior at cameras have enabled me to identify a high proportion cats all across the globe. This is particularly worrisome considering of cats for analyses. Preliminary findings have already revealed that the goal of many feral cat advocates is to provide cats the status of cats move further into protected areas than previously suggested by “legally protected wildlife”. We should make our concerns public and Kays and DeWan (2004) who observed most cats within 50 m of the be sure to support cat legislation and responsible management plans. forest edge. Some pet cats with collars were found greater than 500m from the closest residential homes, while other cats (presumed to be

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 15 Notes from the Field

Zicuirán – Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve, a refuge for wild cats in Tierra Caliente, Michoacan, Mexico Corona Edder1 , Nuñez Rodrigo2, Anguiano Dorian2, Tornez Miguel 1 , Solorio Ivan2 & Alejandro Torres1 1COVIDEC A.C. Wildlife Conservation and Communitarian Development. Email: [email protected]. 2Zicuiran-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve. Email: [email protected]. ropical dry forest is widely distributed in Mexico, and is one More than 400 vertebrate and 760 plant species have been Tof the most endangered biomes. Six species of wild cat occur identified in the area (CONANP 2006, Soto et al. 2010). Six species in tropical dry forest: jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), of mammals are endemic (Soto et al. 2010). Four species of wildcats ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), bobcat (Lynx have been confirmed in Zicuiran-Infiernillo (Nuñez 2002), with an rufus) and jaguarundi(Puma yagouaroundi). Only a small proportion additional two species potential but unconfirmed. This large reserve of this forest type is protected. has great potential to sustain wildcat populations over the long-term. In Michoacán, tropical dry forest occupies almost 13700 km2 To determine the status of wildcats and their prey species, and (Cue et al. 2006) but it is fragmented and deteriorated, with only a evaluate this new Biosphere Reserve for feline conservation, in 2010 few well-preserved areas. The Zicuiran-Infiernillo area of Michoacan the NGO COVIDEC A.C. and the reserve authorities deployed in the Balsas River Basin is a priority area for conservation (Arriaga 38 camera-trap stations for 3 months and calculated the Relative et al. 2000) because of its rich biodiversity and endemism (Soto et al. Abundance Index (RAI) (Kelly and Holub 2008) of wild cats and 2010). It was protected as a biosphere reserve by Presidential decree their prey. We also used questionnaire surveys of local residents on in 2007 (Fig.1). It is one of the largest reserves in Mexico (2600 km2), their knowledge of the presence of wild cats. Camera-trap results and one of few that protect tropical dry forests. Almost the entire from Zicuiran-Infiernillo were compared with tropical dry forest reserve is at sea level, and is surrounded by mountains with scarce areas of the well-protected Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve rainfall (500 mm annual), making it one of the driest and hottest (Nuñez 2010), and the unprotected areas on the coast of Michoacan places in Mexico. Ambient temperatures in this region can reach (Nuñez 2011). 42°C, giving rise to its name of “tierracaliente“ (Hot Land). During the camera trapping surveys we recorded 14 large and medium-sized mammals, four cat species (puma, ocelot, margay and jaguarundi), and 9 potential prey species (Table 1). Testimonial reports also indicated the occasional presence of jaguar and bobcat. Important prey species such as deer, peccary (Tayassu pecari) and coati (Nasua narica) were abundant. During the survey period, we did not obtain photographic records of jaguars in Zicuiran-Infiernillo, whereas relative abundance of jaguars is high in the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (RAI = 3.3), and low in coastal Michoacán (RAI = 0.35). However, we did obtain photographic evidence of hunters seeking jaguars, who reported that jaguars are rarely seen. According to the historic distribution of jaguars (Hall 1981), Zicuiran-Infiernillo is at the limit of the range, so jaguars are probably present only occasionally or at very low densities. In 2013 the first camera-trapping record of a jaguar in Zicuiran-Infiernillo was obtained by community rangers. This male jaguar was likely in the process of dispersing from the Sierra Mountains in Guerrero (60 km south). Unfortunately jaguars are considered livestock predators, and many cats are killed at any opportunity. In such low abundance, the killing of any individual represents a great loss for the population. The puma was the most abundant species of wildcat (RAI = 2.18) in Zicuiran-Infiernillo. This is similar to the relative abundance in the Figure 1. Zicuiran-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (RAI = 2.1), and higher than in coastal Michoacan (RAI = 1.00). This adaptablespecies is present Zicuiran-Infiernillo has a rugged topography that includes valleys, throughout the area, and reproduces in the reserve. We found major plateaus, hills, and mountains (Conanp 2006). The main vegetation presence of pumas in the northeast portion of the reserve, where is tropical dry deciduous and semi-deciduous forest, as well as thorn they maintain a medium-high density. The puma is a plastic species forest, oak forest, and riparian vegetation (CONANP 2006). Most that occupies a wide range of habitats.The landscape and habitat of surface area in Zicuiran-Infiernillo is disturbed tropical dry forest Zicuiran-Infiernillo is very suitable for pumas as they can adapt to (CONANP 2006), where cattle-grazing, agriculture, and hunting are tropical ecosystems and rugged terrain where deer are abundant. The deep-rooted human activities. Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the absence of a large competitor such as the jaguar also probably favors most important species for hunters (Nuñez 2011). a high puma abundance. 16 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Notes from the Field

The ocelot was the second most common species in Zicuiran- the Balsas River, and we checked a photograph of a hunted bobcat. Infiernillo (RAI = 1.02), but abundances were low in comparison According to the owner of the photograph, the bobcat was hunted with Chamela-Cuixmala (RAI = 10), and similar to the coast of within the area. This area is not in the recorded bobcat range (Hall Michaocan (RAI = 0.85). The ocelot’s historic range includes the 1981), so the presence of bobcat is only occasional, and records Zicuiran-Infiernillo area. Ocelots appear to be abundant in tropical probably were of dispersing individuals. dry forest, so the low abundance in the study site may have three main explanations, or a combination of all three: poaching, deteriorated Conservation implications and corridors In the Zicuiran-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve pumas, ocelots, margays and jaguarundis have a good outlook for conservation in the long-term. The current abundance of all or most of these species may increase with time. The reserve has only been in existence for 8 years, and many of the causes of habitat deterioration continue, such as illegal hunting and extensive cattle-grazing, but conservation actions in Zicuiran-Infiernillo will favor the recovery of habitat and wildlife. With a decrease in illegal hunting, a more dense tropical dry forest, and high availability of prey species, the current population abundance of wild cats will increase. Moreover, the recent “arrival” of the jaguar photographed by the “El Platanar” Community Rangers shows the importance of corridors. This cat probably arrived from the Sierra of Guerrero (30 km south), or less likely, from the Sierra de Artega in Michoacan (90 km Southwest) where jaguars are present (Nuñez 2011, Charre et al. 2013 ).In addition to efforts to protect Zicuiran-Infiernillo, it is important to identify and protect biological corridors to maintain an exchange of individuals between populations. Currently, we are working to create a “Western Jaguar Corridor” connecting the protected areas of Western Mexico, including Zicuiran-Infiernillo. The involvement of local Wildcats of Zicuiran-Infiernillo. 1) L. wiedii, 2) L. pardalis people will increase the possibilities for conservation of wild cats, making and 3) P. concolor Tierra Caliente an important refuge for wild cats. habitat, and puma competition. During the survey period, we Table 1. Abundances of medium and large sized mammals of Zicuiran- observed ocelot pelts in homes of local people, indicating that Infiernillo the species may be hunted. Furthermore, a large area of Zicuiran- Common name Scientific Name RAI Infiernillo is overgrazed, therefore the ocelot´s main prey species may Puma Puma concolor 2.18 also have low abundances. Finally, in the study site the abundant puma may be playing a role as competitor-predator on ocelots, Ocelot Leopardus pardalis 1.02 contributing to maintain a low ocelot abundance. The species is Margay Leopardus wiedii 0.55 present in the entire reserve but mainly in the best-protected areas. Coyote Canis latrans 1.64 The margay, is one of the least abundant feline species (RAI = Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus 1.16 0.55), though its relative abundance is higher than in Chamela- Cuixmala and the coast of Michoacan (RAI = 0.25). Margays are Ringtail Bassariscus astutus 0.34 associated with dense forest, and the Zicuiran-Infiernillo forests Coati Nasua narica 109.07 are not the best habitat for this species. The tropical dry forest in Racoon Procyon lotor 1.23 Zicuiran-Infiernillo is short, and more similar to thorn forest. Hence, Deer Odocoileus virginianus 16.70 this habitat characteristic may favor a more terrestrial behavior Tajassu pecari 42.60 by margays, with greater likelihood of being photographed in the Pecari camera traps than in Chamela-Cuixmala or the coast of Michoacan. Tamandua Tamandua mexicana 0.14 Margays are present in the entire reserve but especially in areas with Opossum Didelphis virginiana 0.61 dense cover. Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus 0.20 Jaguarundi were not recorded in camera-traps during the survey period, but dead animals were recovered, and in subsequent years the jaguarundi was photographed. The records of jaguarundi were closer Other species in other years: to human settlements and disturbed areas. Jaguarundi also were not Jaguar Panthera onca recorded in camera-traps in Chamela-Cuixmala and the Michoacan Jaguaroundi Puma yagouaroundi coast. Camera stations were placed in forested areas. Jaguarundis are Jackrabbit Lepus mellotis more common near to human settlements, which may be why they are not photographed at camera-trap stations. In 2011, bobcats and jaguars were not recorded by the camera- traps. According to local people a bobcat carcass was seen near to Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 17 Notes from the Field Using felids as the basis of a biodiversity conservation strategy in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Caribbean region of Colombia Diego Zárrate Charry 1, 2, 5 ([email protected]), José F. González-Maya1, 3, 5, Alexandra Pineda Guerrero 1, Ramón Granados Peña 1, 5, Sandra Navarrete Ramírez 4, Mauricio Vela Vargas 1 and SarahWyatt1 1Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia and The Sierra to Sea Institute. 2 Oregon State University. 3Instituto de Ecología, UNAM, Mexico. 4Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. 5Wild Felid Research and Management Association.

he Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) is located on the distribution, nature, and magnitude of conflicts between felids and TCaribbean coast of Colombia and is the highest coastal mountain livestock activities in the region (González-Maya et al. 2013c). We in the world. Because of its high biodiversity and endemism, it has used camera-traps and line-transects to estimate distribution and been given different categories of protection for conservation, such as abundance of felids (González-Maya et al. 2013e). We used spatial Biosphere Reserve, National Park (IUCN Category 2) and Important modeling to identify conservation nodes and corridors, and to Bird Areas (López et al. 2008). Despite its global recognition (Brooks prioritize areas for conservation (González-Maya et al.. 2013b). We et al. 2010; Le Saout et al. 2013), it has hosted few ecological studies, designed a conservation plan based on habitat network connectivity while land development and biodiversity threats have increased in with felids as umbrella species. We selected conservation nodes the last 40 years (Tribinet al. 1999, Rodriguez Navarro 2005). based on social and ecological attributes, and identified potential Since pre-Hispanic times, The SNSM has been recognized by corridors for connectivity, giving priority to areas based on size, native people as the habitat and territory of the jaguar and other condition, and highlighted social and ecological attributes in the wild felid species.,The presence of these species makes up part of landscape (Gonzalez Maya et al. 2013b). Our work is the first study the cosmology of the native peoples that inhabit this mountain primarily focused on the evaluation of large and medium mammals range. Since 2009 the Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras for the Caribbean, and especially for SNSM. (ProCAT Colombia), Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe Several monitoring and capacity-building activities have been (FUNDAHERENCIA), the Administrative Special Unit of National developed for the protection and management of National Parks Natural Parks (UAESPNN), and other local environmental agencies since 2009: two in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park have been carrying out research to support the protection of these (SNSM) and three in Tayrona National Park (Figure 1). The aim of important areas and their wild felid species (Zárrate Charry et al. 2009, these projects was to gather information about felids and their prey Gonzalez Maya et al. 2010, Zárrate Charry et al. 2010). Additionally, and identify the conflicts between these species and the surrounding an inter-institutional strategy has been developed, defining priority communities. We worked with the surrounding communities to conservation areas and corridors to connect the few unexploited raise awareness about the conservation and monitoring programs areas that remain in the Caribbean. Linking and protecting segments in the protected areas and buffer zones (González Maya et al. 2011, of the SNSM as a major stronghold of jaguars Colombia is one of UAESPNN & ProCAT 2012). Based on camera trap data, five of the these priorities. This program, including research, monitoring, and six species of felines reported in Colombia were recorded for the first conservation actions was placed under the Felids Conservation Plan time in the National Parks (Panthera onca, Puma concolor, Leopardus of the Colombian Caribbeana, PCFCC by its acronym in Spanish, wiedii, Puma yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis). Preliminary which oversees most initiatives focusing on wild felids in the region assessments of the presence of other mammals have found a richness (Benítez et al. 2013; Castaño-Uribe et al. 2013). of 22 species in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park and 56 The five felid species reported in this area are threatened by for the Tayrona National Park. transformation of the natural cover, hunting to reduce predation on domestic animals, and competition for prey used as food by local communities (González-Maya et al. 2013a). To tackle these threats, the PCFCC has focused on three main strategies, developing initiatives and alliances for each: 1) campaigns to empower local stakeholders and authorities to carry out wild felid research and conservation, 2) assessment of wild felid distribution and abundance, providing data to inform decisions, and 3) collaboration with environmental authorities in defining priorities and seeking solutions for designing landscape connectivity(González-Maya et al. 2013c; González-Maya et al. 2013d). Multiple focal initiatives have been developed in the Caribbean region and specifically in the SNSM, to obtain the maximum data possible. Most initiatives include multi-method approaches, depending on specific objectives, but all of them included social Figure 1.Participants in the capacity building surveys and workshops with local communities, camera-trapping, workshop in 2010, Tayrona National Park. line-transects, and spatial modeling. We used questionnaire surveys The primary causes of human-wildlife conflict were the high (respondents were identified with snowball techniques) to assess

18 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Notes from the Field levels of hunting of prey species such as the eastern cottontail Violent social conflicts and the resulting abandonment of private (Sylvilagus floridanus), paca (Cuniculus paca), Central American lands during episodes of violent social conflict allowed the recovery agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), collared and white-Lipped peccaries of vegetation cover and an increase in wild populations during the (Tayassu peccary and Pecari tajacu) and red-brocket deer (Mazama last 15 years. However, recent reduction in violence has been americana) (González-Maya et al. 2013a). Hunting is a common accompanied by people returning to these lands and converting them activity in rural areas, causing decline of natural prey and competition to farm and cropland again, increasing predation by felids on livestock between humans and large carnivores, such as Panthera onca and close to the parks (González-Maya et al. 2013a; González-Maya et al. Puma concolor. Paca and agouti, especially are overhunted. 2010; Zárrate-Charry et al. 2010). Based on the ecological and social data collected to date in SNSM, and the design of the wildlife monitoring protocol of Tayrona National Park, we have now a clear picture of conservation needs for SNSM ecoregion. We have selected two representative areas and are now surveying felid populations and designing a conservation connectivity plan (Figure 3). Combining the biological and social information has allowed us to propose an effective conservation strategy at the regional level based on the specific needs of the Caribbean region of Colombia and the felid species found there. This plan identifies problems and develops a strategy to conserve populations of wildlife and identifies future projects to mitigate conflicts, assess protocols and identify measures to prevent hunting and killing of felids in this area. The Figure 2. Photographic record of ocelot in Tayrona National the plan was been published last year, reflecting the first five years Park obtained by the monitoring program in 2011. of work the PCFCC (Castaño-Uribe et al. 2013).

Figure 3. Priority areas under surveys and protected areas for conservation planning of SNSM.

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 19 Perspectives Climate change and cat conservation: the challenges ahead Anthony J. Giordano

ake a few minutes to imagine a world drastically altered. Start felid assemblages containing oncillas and one or two potentially new Twith the United States. Imagine that the lower 48 states lost the species, must be high on a long list of serious concerns. Will South wolverine - that we lost that eternally relentless, almost mythical spirit. America’s savannas expand at the expense of her tropical forests, as Now imagine a Yellowstone without the grizzly. ‘Impossible’, I would the climate grows drier? How will this all impact lowland forest say. The two are inseparable, inexorably linked in my mind’s eye; I felid assemblages? And finally, perhaps no two cats in the western cannot think of one without the other. Finally, imagine Churchill, hemisphere are more threatened than the Andean mountain cat Canada with no polar bears; the polar bear capital of the world, its and guiña. The former is already the most endangered felid in the giant tundra buggies decaying from disuse outside the city limits, a western hemisphere, and climate change is expected to further shrink post-apocalyptic air of desolation hanging over it all. As snow depth, the alpine ecosystems to which it is adapted. The latter, smallest whitebark pine, and Hudson Bay pack ice all continue their annual felid of the New World, and also the cat with the most restricted decline, soon this world may not be so hard to imagine. Rather, it is geographical range, is at risk of losing its moist temperate forest unfortunately one we may yet see. Worse than all of this, imagine we habitat in southern Chile and a small part of Argentina. the lost the ability to bring it all back, and make it right. How do we meet these formidable challenges? And… what does In my life and career, I constantly strive to integrate the right all of this mean to our family of professors and students, agency balance of realism and optimism, fight off the dark army of cynicism, managers and nonprofit professionals, conservation and wildlife and infuse my intentions with clarity, focus, and urgency. I do this biologists, alike? Among the larger implications, it means a greater because I am, among other things, a conservation biologist. I take urgency in protecting ecological processes and functionality, and comfort in conversation with those that are like-minded, and believe a critical need to adopt climate change mitigation measures, while I am far from unique. On the contrary, I draw strength from the aggressively implementing precautionary management principles readers of WFM and those like us because of our unity of purpose, across ecoregional scales. However, it also means leading by example, the diversity of paths we have taken to get where we are, the struggles from the big things, to the seemingly small. As the Antarctic ice we have sustained in the process, and the challenges lying ahead we shelf begins its irreversible collapse into the southern oceans, we must meet. I am forever grateful that this is who we are, who you are reminded that climate change is here; it is a reality now, not are, and this is who we will likely remain. But I am most grateful for some looming catastrophe to prepare for in the future. No longer all of this and all of you right now, at this hour, as the climate news can scientists afford to observe from the sideline. With increasing grows bleaker. The most recent of National Climate Assessments, frequency, the urgency continues to thrust scientists and conservation just released in May, clearly reemphasizes the trying obstacles that professionals into a complex arena of policy implementation and lay before us. strategy formulation. Interagency climate panels, professional What does climate change mean for felids of the Western scientific associations, the IUCN, and sovereign governments are Hemisphere? While some specifics remain unclear, the broader, among those now soliciting our expert opinions to advance much- intuitive questions and concerns are undeniable. How, for example, needed recommendations on a variety of climate–related fronts. will regional puma populations fare in the Rocky Mountains, the As for the small contributions, these are the ones that define us, Sierra Nevadas, and Patagonia, if many ungulate populations day in and day out. For me, these changes are always evolving in my continue their decline? Will a lack of quality forage due to shifts life, as I continually seek to reconcile the inconsistencies between in habitat composition, and the irruption of infectious diseases, what I do for a living, and what I do every day. Whether it is driving emerge as the new proximate culprits? Will such changes lead a little less and walking a little more; finding new ways each year puma populations to depredate more livestock, hastening their own to escape our disposable conference culture; a willingness to trade inevitable extermination in the not-too-distant future? Today, it is a good sirloin steak for elk fajitas or a blue cheese bison burger; an somewhat hard to envision pumas disappearing from North America, enthusiasm to find legitimate ways to recycle nearly anything; the particularly as they continue their eastward expansion; and yet, the constant toting of my loss-prone travel coffee mug to fair-trade, hypothetical scenario I present isn’t unreasonable. The situation may shade-tolerant blend retailers to support secondary Neotropical be more dire for the Canada lynx, the foothold of which is much more forests; or the purchase of wine bottles using natural cork oak to tenuous in the lower 48 states. How will rising temperatures impact benefit the Iberian lynx….. I am always striving to do my part to act the marked periodicity of snowshoe hare cycles--that unequivocal locally while working globally. constraint on lynx population establishment and the weak link to Of course in the end, everyone should customize their own their continued persistence? And if a border wall and its planned strategy into one that makes sense for their own lives. But consistency expansion do not already spell the end of any prospect for the jaguar must be the key to our broader message, and while we can meet the to naturally repopulate the Sky Islands of the U.S., will changes larger challenges head-on as part of our collective, individually we can to Madrean evergreen woodland corridors across the U.S.-Mexico integrate small changes into our daily lives that do make a difference. borderlands all but seal their fate? Although the possibilities might sometimes seem overwhelming, Throughout Latin America, the challenges are no less complex making both the large and small changes we need one at a time, and for the amazing diversity of Neotropical felids there. Loss of cloud leading by example, is the only way we can hope to have such an and montane forests, and with them potentially the loss of unique important message taken seriously by those that need convincing.

20 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Tools of the Trade

The Panthercam – a camera-trap optimized for monitoring wild felids Eric R. R. Olliff1*, Chris W. Cline1, Dominic C. Bruen2, Edward J. Yarmchuk2, Rob S. A. Pickles1& Luke Hunter1 1Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA. 2Independent consultants. he camera-trap has revolutionized the monitoring of wild felid Tpopulation densities and dynamics (Karanth 1995; Karanth et al. 2006), facilitated conservation assessments (Silveira et al. 2003), and enhanced our understanding of elusive and nocturnal species (Kelly 2008). Historically, the mass market for remote-triggered cameras lay with North American hunters, favoring units suitable for monitoring fixed points (e.g. feeding stations) for short periods. Most commercial units were not designed for wildlife researchers, and were unsatisfactory for biological surveys. To optimize camera- trap use in population monitoring of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx), Weingarth et al. (2013) compared six leading camera-trap models in laboratory tests and field trials; only one camera met the authors’ basic requirements and that had many shortcomings. The most common complaints from researchers about camera-traps include high cost, slow shutter speed, poor durability and limited battery life (Kawanishi 2002; Henschel & Ray 2003). Alongside limitations of the hardware, no commercial camera- trap manufacturers have addressed data management. In contrast to individual users monitoring a handful of favorite hunting sites, scientific surveys generate thousands of images that require processing, Figure 1. Pantheracam V4. Photo by: Panthera storage, and analysis. Reliance on ad hoc organizational systems leaves the process vulnerable to human error, and often requires a The Unit high level of expertise to design and manage, with concomitant risks At the onset of the project, we surveyed felid biologists at the of data loss. Fortunately, the scientific community has responded by Wildlife Conservation Society to determine the limitations of developing after-market systems to handle survey data (Harris et al. camera-traps in use at the time. From that process, we established six 2010; Fegraus et al. 2011), although none is specially integrated with major design goals for the Pantheracam; these are listed below with or available as part of the camera unit. outcomes. A comparison between the Pantheracam and Reconyx In recent years, technological advancements and increased PC850 is provided in Table 1. demand have improved camera-trap quality and availability. Wildlife 1. Low cost. Depending on the research question or data required, professionals now have a greater choice than before. However, the effective felid surveys require tens to hundreds of camera-traps and, industry remains largely focused on meeting the needs of hunters, and with tight budgets being typical for conservation, minimizing the has yet to offer a camera-trap optimized for wildlife research (Meek cost of the unit was a top priority. At the project’s onset, the goal & Pittet 2012). While performance of some units has improved, was to produce cameras for $100. The current production cost of a those that are useful for scientific surveys are still relatively expensive. single V4 unit is $126. This figure varies with volume and assumes With these limitations in mind, Panthera embarked in 2005 production of 2500 units, and it excludes development and personnel to develop a camera-trapping system to meet the needs of wild cat costs. research and conservation. The project was conceived to fulfill the 2. Fast trigger speed. The trigger speed-the delay between triggering of rigorous and large-scale monitoring requirements of Panthera’s Tigers the sensor and image capture-is critical for biologists, because surveys Forever Program (Rabinowitz, 2009). At the time, the commercial often rely on photographing animals as they move quickly along camera-trapping industry was shifting rapidly from film-based units pathways. At the time the Pantheracam project was initiated, most to digital cameras. This presented an opportunity to reduce the commercial digital camera-traps had a trigger speed of one second or costs of image processing but early models produced by the industry more. Our goal was a trigger speed of 250ms; the V4 has an average simply re-purposed expensive off-the-shelf digital cameras, driving trigger speed of 180ms. Additionally, we designed a novel centering up hardware costs. We devised a purpose-built unit designed around algorithm that takes the image when the animal is approximately the very small cell-phone camera components now common in smart centered in the field of view, regardless of the animal’s speed (Fig.2). phones. The sensor in the camera provides three megapixel images, and the This paper summarizes the project, now known as the level of jpeg compression is adjustable to allow the user to trade off Pantheracam. The system is based on the Pantheracam unit and a image quality against file size. software program (Pantheracam File Manager; PFM). Each iteration 3. Low weight. Often carried by foot into remote locations, the device of the Pantheracam has undergone improvements and is numbered was designed to be as light as possible. A single V4 weighs just over sequentially; the most current version is the V4 (Version 4; Fig 1). 400g without batteries, and 500g when fully loaded with six batteries.

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 21 Tools of the Trade

Table 1: A comparison of specifications of the V4 Pantheracam and the Reconyx PC 850.

Battery Life, Weight (no Camera Trigger Speed Resolution Size Illumination Cost Images batteries) (USD) Panthercam Up to 16.5K 18.5 x 11.0 x 4.6 400 g .18 sec 3.1 MP Xenon Flash $126.00 (V4) (6 batteries) cm. Reconyx Up to 40K 14.0 x 11.4 x 500 g .20 sec 3.1 MP White LED $649.99 PC850* (12 batteries) 7.6 cm

Trigger speed, battery life, resolution, size, illumination and cost specifications for Reconyx PC850 from Reconyx website: http://www.reconyx.com/ Weight specification obtained via personal communication with Reconyx. Note, we compare Pantheracam production cost to PC850 retail. Pantheracam costs do not include development costs (which exceed $250,000) and personnel costs.

4. Long battery life. As camera-trap studies often require deployment of units for months in remote locations, long battery life helps reduce maintenance requirements. Six lithium cells in the V4 provide an average of 100 days run time, and are resilient to changes in temperature. We have recorded up to 115 days from cameras operating between -5°C to 20°C in Tajikistan. Alkaline batteries provide an average of 57 days in warm weather, dropping rapidly once temperature falls below zero Celsius. 5. Very durable. Wildlife research is frequently conducted in remote and demanding environments ranging from subarctic regions to the tropics. The V4 is housed in a custom designed injection-molded enclosure (Fig 1) with two separate compartments for the electronics and batteries , each sealed from the other and from outside by O-rings. A cavity inside the main compartment holds desiccant. The camera components are “industrial rated” for operation between -40C to 85C. 6. Highly Configurable. Refining the camera’s triggering parameters according to local conditions is important for optimizing wildlife Figure 2. A running leopard demonstrates the Pantheracam’s fast surveys on a site-by-site basis. The PFM allows the operator tailor the trigger speed. The V4 samples the motion sensor 74 times per sec- unit to diverse field conditions (Fig 3). ond and triggers image capture when the animal is approximately centered. In this case, the 0.18 second camera delay resulted in the leopard appearing slightly off center. The opposing camera- trap which is not a Pantheracam did not capture the leopard (Credit: Guy Balme/Panthera).

Field use and the Camera-trap File Manager. For operation in the field, users need to interact with three interfaces – the power switch, the USB port, and the four LED lights that surround the camera module (Fig 1). Color-coded LED lights indicate power up, power down, battery level and error conditions. A USB drive is used to simultaneously download images stored on the camera’s SD card, update the camera’s firmware, and update the configuration parameters using the PFM software, all by simply inserting the USB stick. This allows batch configuration of units by a data manager at the base station, ensuring standardization across sites and users. Additionally, if security concerns exist, the camera can be configured to encrypt image files with a user-selected password. Data management begins before the cameras are formatted. All units have a unique serial ID number that corresponds with codes built into the firmware on the camera’s micro SD card and Figure 3. Image capture settings are highly configurable and can subsequently stamped into the exchangeable image file format be applied to multiple cameras at once in PFM’s configuration (EXIF) metadata attached to each image. The camera’s time and tab. location can be directly embedded into the EXIF metadata of every 22 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Tools of the Trade image by connecting a GPS USB dongle or a handheld GPS receiver and costs associated with providing support and warranties to to the unit via the USB port. Attaching this information directly to consumers. If interested in becoming a grantee please see http://www. the image greatly reduces the risk of human errors or downstream panthera.org/about/grants-and-prizes. data loss. Each unit also contains a log file that provides a readout of Acknowledgements the camera’s activity over the course of its deployment. The activity Our gratitude goes especially to J. Michael Cline who instigated, information is important for constructing a trap activity matrix. It designed and supported the Pantheracam project, and without whom also helps identify and repair faults, and acts as a control for staff the unit wouldn’t exist. We are grateful to Jonathan Palmer, Wildlife performance as the dates and time of user activities (e.g. battery Conservation Society, who helped establish the specifications for replacement, data download, power on/off) are recorded. the Panthercam, and to the users in the field who provide ongoing The PFM contains image processing capabilities that facilitate feedback to improve the system. data management and preparation for statistical analysis. Chief among these is the Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) editor, which allows the operator to “stamp” a suite of standardized tags into the image’s metadata. These tags include both location (Country, Region, Site, Survey ID, Block, Station) and animal parameters (Species, Group Size, Gender, Behavior, Body Condition, Age Class, Individual ID, Flank Angle). The XMP viewer allows the operator to filter images by XMP tag and export selected metadata as a csv file, a format that can be easily manipulated to build individual capture histories, encounter rates, species lists and accumulation curves. The Pantheracam development team responds to the requirements of the biologists using the system in the field and provides regular firmware updates to improve the functionality of units. A dedicated website (www.pantheracameratrap.org) provides a centralized location for software downloads, instruction manuals, and fora in which users can report problems and suggest improvements. Conclusions and future developments. At the time of writing, there are more than 4500 Pantheracam V4 units in use in over 25 field sites in 16 countries. The Pantheracam compares favorably with high-quality commercially available options Figure 4. A young jaguar in the southern foothills of the Sierra at a much lower price (Table 1; noting we compare the Pantheracam Nevada of Santa Marta, northern Colombia, the first evidence production cost to PC850 retail price). As well as producing density of jaguar reproduction in this landscape of dry forest and small estimates for a variety of felids, the cameras have documented campesino cattle farms (Credit: Panthera Colombia) large wild felids using human-modified landscapes, improved our understanding of habitat connectivity), recorded the first evidence of reproduction at numerous sites (cover), and elucidated abundance and ecological requirements of elusive and poorly-known felids (Fig 6; Bahaa el-Din et al 2011, Mills et al 2012). Looking forward, the fifth generation Pantheracam (V5) will incorporate numerous hardware enhancements. Most significantly, the V5 will feature a wireless version (V5W) with an embedded M2M module that allows for data communication over a cellular GSM network. We have designed an algorithm that differentiates between humans and animals. When deployed in areas with GSM access, the system will allow immediate transfer of certain images, for example, to detect illegal entry of people in a protected area and enable a targeted response to a potential poaching threat. The V5 unit will also include a re-designed enclosure improving ease of access to the battery compartment, and we are evaluating the possibility of including infra-red flash rather than white light flash (as in all current units). V5 prototypes are currently being tested in Sumatra, Figure 5. A red morph African golden cat and her grey kitten, Indonesia and Malaysia, and production is expected to be underway Kibale National Park, Uganda, the first photographic evidence by summer 2014. of both morphs in one family from the wild. (Credit: David Mills/ Currently, the Pantheracam is only available to Panthera partners WCS/Panthera) and grantees at no cost. We do not sell the units and have no plans to make them commercially available given the significant challenges

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 23 Tools of the Trade

Cougar Age Classes for the Masses Richard A. Beausoliel, Bear & Cougar Specialist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3515 State Highway 97A, Wenatchee, Washington 98801, [email protected].

hile numerous cougar studies contribute a wealth of science- years of life, the progression of weight is consistent and can serve Wbased information in the scientific literature, many basic as a valuable indicator of age. With that in mind, I am presenting inconsistencies surrounding cougars and their management exist. materials that we are using to educate our field staff. In the interest I read Harley Shaw’s perspective in the winter 2014 edition of of standardization, I present this as a first step towards encouraging WFM, entitled “Arizona’s 300 Pound Puma” with much interest. more communication among WFA members. I don’t submit that I appreciated his insight and effort to set the record straight on this information is uniformly applicable to all jurisdictions, but I something that seems as basic and straightforward as cougar size; but hope that other researchers will share their findings and perspectives. these and other myths continue to be perpetuated. To corroborate maybe we can develop a calibrated, standardized age classification Harley’s findings among other researchers, I will mention that the tool. Veteran researchers know that becoming skilled at assessing largest of over 400 cougars captured during research efforts over the age class for cougars takes time and experience. We should avoid past 14 years in Washington was 189 pounds. This was a male (with confusing less experienced colleagues by perpetuating inconsistencies a full stomach) females rarely exceeded 110 pounds. in our techniques. Harley’s article provided some lubrication for my occasionally In the interest of homogeny, I suggest combining the yearling rusty cranial engine and set me thinking about other inconsistencies age class into the subadult category, reducing standard age classes regarding cougars. Heterogeneous views, for example, exist among from 4 to 3 (kitten, subadult, and adult), as did Logan and Sweanor professional biologists in assigning age classifications. I have seen (2001), because there is greater overlap and potential for observer countless examples where 4 different age class categories have been bias in the 2 youngest age class categories. Finally, while males may used interchangeably; kitten and yearling; kitten and subadult; not achieve resident adult status until they disperse, put on mass, and yearling and subadult; yearling and adult; and subadult and practice territoriality at 3-4 years old, females are able to reproduce adult. One factor that encourages this inconsistency is the lack of at 2 years of age. Therefore, I would also suggest that the adult age standardization in collecting and reporting data when handling class be assigned to any animal over 2 years of age. I believe these animals (alive or dead). 3 categories and age class designations are also the most meaningful While the top-end achievable size of cougars, especially males, for agency use. I look forward to hearing from anyone interested in varies across the species’ range, I postulate that during the first two furthering this topic.

Table 1: Cougar age classification (with body condition being normal). Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Age, sex, and classification Weight Male Male Female Female Notes (Pounds) Age Classification Age Classification

10 2mo Kitten 2mo Kitten Spots very evident 20 4mo Kitten 4mo Kitten Spots Evident 30 5mo Kitten 5mo Kitten Spots somewhat evident (hip area) 40 6mo Kitten 6mo Kitten No spots. Double canine. Perm. shorter. 50 7mo Kitten 8mo Kitten Double canine1 (~equal length) 60 8mo Kitten 10mo Kitten Perm canine ¾ erupted 70 9mo Kitten 12mo Sub-adult No yellowing on teeth 80 10mo Kitten 14mo Sub-adult No yellowing on teeth 90 11mo Kitten 24mo Sub-adult No yellowing on teeth 100 12mo Sub-adult Over 24mo Adult No yellowing on teeth 110 14mo Sub-adult Over 24mo Adult No yellowing on teeth 120 18mo Sub-adult Over 24mo Adult No yellowing on teeth 1302 24mo Adult unlikely Slight yellowing or pink on teeth 1402 Over 24mo Adult unlikely More yellowing on teeth (at 4 yrs. yellow is prominent)

1Double canine references to the deciduous canine and the permanent adult canine being present for a short time. 2 Only males get above 120 pounds

24 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Tools of the Trade

Age Class ID Using Teeth – WDFW uses 3 age classes when tracking mortality; kitten, subadult, and adult. When ob- serving teeth, if they are yellow, you have an adult (far right) so you can check the “adult” box and move on to gender ID. If the teeth are white, closer observation is needed. The left photo shows a 7-8 month old kitten with a double canine, one is in the process of being shed. The middle photo shows “duller white or pinkish-colored” canines and incisors with some wear; this indicates a cougar abut 2-3 years old. This would be considered an adult under WDFW’s criteria. If the incisors were not worn, but looked similar to the middle photo, it would be classified as a subadult.

Age Class ID Using Pelts - When observing the pelt of a cougar, spots Data collection – This is the self-addressed stamped (left) indicate kitten status & faint spots or barring/bands can indicate envelope to use when sealing, recording data, and col- kitten or subadult status (may be seen up to 1.5 years). Alter your lecting samples. The tooth and the vial with the tissue visual position when looking for banding on the front and hind legs sample should be put inside the envelope. Age will so light hits the area differently; this can help you verify age class more be confirmed using the tooth (cementum analysis) and effectively. gender confirmed using the tissue (DNA analysis) but your field ID is very important.

USING GUMLINE RECESSION FOR AGE

• Very useful and accurate tool but meant for use on LIVE COUGARS ONLY (Laundré et al. 2000) • May be useful if measured the same day of kill but once the animal is dead, the gum recedes and false readings result.

To measure on a live cougar: start at the gumline and go the point on the canine tooth where the tooth changes shape and begins to taper (red line shows where tooth changes shape).

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 25 Literature Cited in this Issue

Andreasen, Alyson, K. M. Stewart, W. S. Longland, J. P. Beckmann, Cué E., et al. 2006. La flora arbórea de Michoacán, México. Bol. Soc. M. L. Forister. 2012. Identification of source-sink dynamics in Bot. Méx.: 47-81. mountain lions of the Great Basin. Molecular Ecology 21: 5689- 5701. Dauphine, N. and R. J. Cooper 2009. Impacts of free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) on birds in the United States: A Arriaga L. et al. 2000. Regiones terrestres prioritarias de México. review of recent research with conservation and management CONABIO. México recommendations. Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference: Tundra to Tropics, 205-219. Bahaa-el-din, L., P. Henschel, D. W. MacDonald, and L. Hunter 2011. Systematic survey efforts of the African golden cat—Part Fegraus, E. H., K. Lin., J. A. Ahumada, C. Baru, S. Chandra, and 1. Results from Gabon. CATnews 55: 26–28. C. Youn 2011. Data acquisition and management software for camera-trap data: a case study from the TEAM Network. Benítez, A., B. Finegan, J. Jones, F. Casanoves, and J. F. Gonzalez- Ecological Informatics 6:345–353. Maya. 2013. Aproximación al hábitat potencial para jaguar en la región Caribe colombiana. Pages 175-182 in E. Payan, and González-Maya, J.F., D. Zárrate-Charry, J. Murillo-Sánchez, M. C. Castaño-Uribe, editors. Grandes Felinos de Colombia, Vol. Vela-Vargas, and A. Pineda-Guerrero 2011. Construcción Mo- I. Panthera Colombia, Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe, saico de Conservación de la Serranía de San Lucas. Informe Conservación Internacional & Cat Specialist Group IUCN/ Técnico Final. ProCAT Colombia – UAESPNN - CAF. Bogotá, SSC, Bogotá, Colombia. Colombia

Bevins, S. N., S. Carver, E. E. Boydston, L. M. Lyren, M. Alldredge, González-Maya, J. F., A. A. Cepeda, D. A. Zárrate-Charry, R. Grana- K. A. Logan, and S. VandeWoude 2012. Three pathogens in dos-Peña, W. Pérez-Ascanio, and M. González 2013. Conflictos sympatric populations of pumas, bobcats, and domestic cats: felinos-vida silvestre en el Caribe Colombiano: un estudio de implications for infectious disease transmission. PloS one 7(2): caso en los departamentos del Cesar y La Guajira. Pages 51-59 e31403. in C. Castaño-Uribe, J. F. González-Maya, D. A. Zárrate-Charry, C. Ange-Jaramillo, and I. M. Vela-Vargas, editors. Plan de Con- Biró, Z., J. Lanszki, L. Szemethy, M. Heltai, and E. Randi 2005. servación de Felinos del Caribe Colombiano: Los felinos y su pa- Feeding habits of feral domestic cats (Felis catus), wild cats (Felis pel en la planificación regional integral basada en especies clave. silvestris) and their hybrids: trophic niche overlap among cat Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe, ProCAT Colombia, The groups in Hungary. Journal of Zoology 266(2): 187-196. Sierra to Sea Institute, Santa Marta, Colombia. González-Maya, J. F., D., A. Romero-Rendón, C. Zárrate-Charry, M. Brooks, T. M., R. A. Mittermeier, G. A. B. da Fonseca, J. Gerlach, Castaño-Uribe, L. R. González, R. A, Víquez, and A. Arias-Al- M. Hoffmann, J. F. Lamoreux, C. G. Mittermeier, J. D. Pilgrim, zate 2013. Evaluación geográfica y prioridades de conservación and A. S. L. Rodrigues 2010. Global biodiversity conservation de hábitat para felinos en el Caribe colombiano. Pages 77-87 in priorities: an expanded review. Pages 8-29 in J. C. Lovett, and D. C. Castaño-Uribe, J. F. González-Maya, D. A. Zárrate-Charry, G. Ockwell, editors. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, North- C. Ange-Jaramillo, and I. M. Vela-Vargas, editors. Plan de Con- hampton, MSm USA. servación de Felinos del Caribe Colombiano: Los felinos y su pa- pel en la planificación regional integral basada en especies clave. Castaño-Uribe, C., J. F. González-Maya, D. A. Zárrate-Charry, C. Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe, ProCAT Colombia, The Ange-Jaramillo, and I. M. Vela-Vargas (Eds.) 2013. Plan de Sierra to Sea Institute, Santa Marta, Colombia. Conservación de Felinos del Caribe colombiano: Los felinos y su papel en la planificación regional integral basada en especies González-Maya, J. F., I. M. Vela-Vargas, D. A. Zárrate-Charry, A. clave. Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe, ProCAT Colom- Pineda-Guerrero, A. A. Cepeda, A. Arias-Alzate, and S. A. bia, The Sierra to Sea Institute, Santa Marta, Colombia. Balaguera-Reina 2013. Definición metodológica del Plan de Conservación de Felinos del Caribe colombiano: lineamientos Charre-Medellín, F., T. Monterrubio-Rico, F. Botello, L. León- generales. Pages 35-48 in C. Castaño-Uribe, J. F. González- Paniagua, and N. Rodrigo 2013. First Records of Jaguar Maya, D. A. Zárrate-Charry, C. Ange-Jaramillo, and I. M. Ve- (Panthera onca) from the State of Michoacán, Mexico. The la-Vargas, editors. Plan de Conservación de Felinos del Caribe Southwestern Naturalist, 58(2):264-268. Colombiano: Los felinos y su papel en la planificación regional integral basada en especies clave. Fundación Herencia Ambien- CONANP 2006. Estudio Previo Justificativo para el establecimiento tal Caribe, ProCAT Colombia, The Sierra to Sea Institute, Santa de la Reservad de la Biosfera Zicuirán Infiernillo, México, D.F., Marta, Colombia. pp. 181 + XXV anexos. González-Maya, J. F., D. Zárrate-Charry, C. Castaño-Uribe, C. Courchamp, F., M. Langlais and G. Sugihara. 2000. Rabbits killing Ange-Jaramillo, A. Cepeda, A. Pineda-Guerrero, and A. M. birds: modelling the hyperpredation process. Journal of Animal Botero 2013. Plan de Conservación de Felinos para el Caribe Ecology 69(1): 154-164.

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colombiano (PCFC): definición de áreas prioritarias para la con- Kelly, M. J. 2008. Design, evaluate, refine: camera-trap studies for servación de felinos y biodiversidad en paisajes tropicales. Pages elusive species. Animal Conservation 11:182–184. 163-174 in E. Payan, and C. Castaño-Uribe, editors. Grandes Felinos de Colombia, Vol. I. Panthera Colombia, Fundación Kelly, M. J. and E. L. Holub. 2008. Camera trapping of carnivores: Herencia Ambiental Caribe, Conservación Internacional & Cat Trap success among camera types and across species, and habitat Specialist Group UICN/SSC, Bogotá, Colombia. selection by species, on Salt Pond Mountain, Giles County, Virginia. Northeast. Nat. 15: 249-262. González-Maya, J. F., D. A. Zárrate-Charry, A. A. Cepeda, S. A. Balaguera-Reina, A. M. Benítez-Gutierrez, R. Granados-Peña, Le Saout, S., M. et al. 2013. Protected Areas and Effective Biodiver- and M. González 2010. Diagnóstico, Evaluación y Propuestas sity Conservation. Science 342:803-805. de Solución a la Problemática de Conflictos Ocasionados por Jaguar (Panthera onca) y Puma (Puma concolor) a Actividades López, T., J. F. González-Maya, D. A. Zárrate-Charry, and S. A. Pecuarias en Jurisdicción de la Corporación Autónoma Re- Balaguera-Reina 2008. Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation gional Del Cesar - CORPOCESAR. ProCAT Colombia - COR- in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Mountain forum POCESAR, Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia. bulletin 8:43-44.

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Harris, G., R. Thompson, J. L. Childs, and J. G. Sanderson 2010. Meek, P. D. and A. Pittet 2012. User-based design specifications Automatic storage and analysis of camera-trap data. Bulletin of for the ultimate camera-trap for wildlife research. Wildlife the Ecological Society of America 91:352–360. Research 39: 649–660.

Henschel, P and J. Ray 2003. Leopards in African rainforests: Mills, D., S. Isoke, A. Plumptre, R. Slotow, and L. Hunter, 2012. survey and monitoring techniques. WCS Global Carnivore Systematic survey efforts of the African golden cat; Part 2. Re- Program. http://www.panthera.org/sites/default/files/Leopard- sults from Uganda. Cat News 57:16-19 Manual_English_lowres.pdf Nogales, M., A. Martín, B. R. Tershy, C. Donlan, D. Veitch, N. Jemmett, J. E. and J. M. Evans 1977. A survey of sexual behaviour Puerta, and J. Alonso 2004. A review of feral cat eradication on and reproduction of female cats. Journal of Small Animal islands. Conservation Biology 18(2): 310-319. Practice, 18(1), 31-37. Nogales, M., E. Vidal, F. M. Medina, E. Bonnaud, B. R. Tershy, K. Karanth, K, J. Nichols, N. Kumar, and J. Hines 2006. Assessing ti- J. Campbell, and E. Zavaleta 2013. Feral cats and biodiversity ger population dynamics using photographic capture-recapture conservation: the urgent prioritization of island management. sampling. Ecology 87:2925–2937. BioScience 63(10): 804-810.

Karanth, K. 1995. Estimating tiger Panthera tigris populations from Nuñez A. 2002. Los Mamíferas del orden carnívora en Michoacán. camera-trap data using capture—recapture models. Biological UMSNH. 105 pp. Mexico. Conservation 71:333–338. Nuñez R. 2010. Unpublished report. Situación actual del jaguar Kawanishi, K. 2002. Population status of tigers (Panthera tigris) (Panthera onca) en el estado de Jalisco: abundancia, distribución in a primary rainforest of peninsular Malaysia [dissertation]. y requerimientos espaciales del jaguar con énfasis en las áreas [Gainesville, (FL)]:University of Florida. prioritarias de conservación de jaguar. Technical Report SEMADES, Gob. de Jalisco, Mexico. 25 pp. Kays, R. W. and A. A. DeWan 2004. Ecological impact of inside/ outside house cats around a suburban nature preserve. Animal Conservation, 7(3), 273-283. Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 27 Literature Cited in this Issue

Nuñez R. 2011. Unpublished report. Evaluación y monitorio Tribinet, M., G. Rodríguez, and M. Valderrama 1999. The biosphere participativo de las poblaciones de felinos silvestres y sus Reserve of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: A Pioneer Experience conflictos en la región del Balsas-Costa Sierra. Technical Report. of a Shared and Coordinated Management of a Bioregion. In CPLADE, Gob. De Michoacán, Mexico. 40pp. Working Paper. UNESCO.

Rabinowitz, A. 2009. Stop the bleeding: implementing a strategic UAESPNN & ProCAT Colombia 2012. Monitoreo Y Creación De Tiger Conservation Protocol. Cat News 51:30-31. Capacidades Para La Protección Y Manejo Del Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona: Enfoque En Mamíferos Como Herramientas Rodríguez-Navarro, G. E. 2005. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: De Planificación. UAESPNN - ProCAT Colombia. Bogotá, Understanding the Basis for Natural Resource Management. Colombia. 76 p. People, Places, and Parks: Proceedings of the 2005 George Weingarth K, F. Zimmermann, F. Knauer, and M. Heurich 2013. Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Evaluation of six digital camera-trap models for use in capture- Cultural Sites. D. Harmon. Hancock, Michigan, The George recapture sampling of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx). Waldökolo- Wright Society. 2006 gie, Landschaftsforschung und Naturschutz – Forest Ecology, Landscape Research and Nature Conservation 13:87-92. Silva, A. P., K. Kilshaw, P. J. Johnson, D. W. Macdonald, and L. M. Rosalino 2013. Wildcat occurrence in Scotland: food really Zárrate-Charry, D., J. F. González-Maya, C. Ange, C. Castaño Uribe- matters. Diversity and Distributions 19(2): 232-243. Uribe, A. Botero, S . A Balaguera-Reina and A. Cepeda 2009. Monitoreo comunitario para la planificación de la conservación: Shock, B. C., S. M. Murphy, L. L. Patton, P. M. Shock, C. Olfenbuttel, un enfoque de especies bandera como herramientas culturales de J. Beringer, and M. J. Yabsley 2011. Distribution and prevalence conservación. Informe Técnico. Fundación Herencia Ambiental of (Cytauxzoon felis) in bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural reservoir, Caribe. Santa Marta, Colombia. and other wild felids in thirteen states. Veterinary Parasitology 175(3): 325-330. Zárrate-Charry, D. A., J. F. González-Maya, C. Castaño-Uribe, S. A. Balaguera-Reina, A. A. Cepeda, C. Ange-Jaramillo, A. Benítez- Soto J. C., J. Jiménez, and C. Sánchez. 2010. El Infiernillo, Michoacán Gutiérrez, Á. Hurtado-Moreno, Á. Hernández-Arévalo, and R. y Guerrero. In Diversidad, amenazas y áreas prioritarias para Granados-Peña 2010. Caracterización y diagnóstico de las po- la conservación de las selvas secas del Pacífico de México, G. blaciones de félidos y otros mamíferos medianos y grandes en el Ceballos, et al. (eds.). FCE, México, D. F. p. 464-467. departamento de La Guajira: estrategias de conservación a escala regional e identificación de unidades prioritarias para felinos. The Wildlife Society. 2011. Feral and free-ranging domestic cats. Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe, Corporación Autónoma Final Position Statement. 2 pp. Regional de la Guajira-CORPOGUAJIRA, ProCAT Colombia, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia.

Robert L. Downing An important player in the unsuccessful search for evidence of wild cougars in the East outside Florida has passed. Bob worked in Georgia and later for the US Fish and Wildlife Service out of Clemson University in South Carolina. Much of his research was on white-tailed deer. The “eastern cougar” had been included in the list of endangered species when the Act was passed in 1973. Several groups threatened to sue the US Forest Service in 1977 unless it halted timber sales in the Nantahala National Forest, where several alleged cougar sightings had been reported. The Forest Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service then jointly funded Downing to determine if cougars did indeed inhabit the East. In the next year, he sent out questionnaires on the presence of eastern cougars/Florida panthers and received responses from 30 states and 3 Canadian provinces. All 3 provinces and 14 of the eastern states believed they had wild cougars. Downing started a newsletter in January 1979 that ultimately was sent to more 200 wildlife biologists in agencies and academia as well as to non- professionals such as myself. He approached Chris Belden, then investigating reports of Florida panthers in Florida, for information on how to distinguish cougar/panther tracks from dog tracks. For the first time, information on distinguishing the two species became widely available. [The leading cougar expert for many years, Stanley Young, co-author of The Puma: Mysterious American Cat (1946) had on at least two occasions demonstrated that he did not know the distinguishing criteria.] He also distributed many free copies of Harley Shaw’s Mountain Lion Field Guide, and provided valuable guidance to us. Based in the South Carolina, most of Bob’s field work was in the Southeast, but he enlisted the help of others in the central and northern part of the eastern US. He was excited to learn that a cat had apparently killed 100+ lb deer on at least two occasions, dragged them a considerable distance, and covered them, but he learned that bobcats are capable of such feats. He continued his field work and correspondence on past his retirement in 1983. To the best of my knowledge, he and those of us who worked with him never were able to document a single living wild cougar. He summarized his study in a 1984 report - http://www.easterncougar.org/pdfs/Robert_Downing.pdf. ~Helen McGinnis

28 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Recent Publications

Conservation and Management

Chupp, A. D. et al. 2013. A case study Roberge, J. M. 2014. Using data from Hiestand, S. J. et al. 2014. Epizootic and of urban and peri-urban mammal online social networks in conservation zoonotic helminths of the bobcat (Lynx communities: implications for the science: which species engage people rufus) in Illinois and a comparison of management of National Park Service the most on Twitter ? Biodiversity and its helminth component communities areas. Northeastern Naturalist 20: 631- Conservation 23: 715-726. across the American Midwest. Parasite 654. 21: 4. Rodriguez-Soto, C. et al. 2013. Corridors Dehnhard, M. et al. 2014. Comparative for jaguar (Panthera onca) in Mexico: Matte, E. M. et al. 2013. Molecular metabolism of PGFM (13,14-dihydro- conservation strategies. Journal for evidence for a recent demographic 15-keto-PGF2 alpha) in feces of felids. Nature Conservation 21: 438-443. expansion in the puma (Puma concolor) Theriogenology 81: 733-743. (Mammalia, Felidae). Genetics and Sollmann, R. et al. 2013. Combining Molecular Biology 36: 586-U164. Erdmann, R. H. et al. 2013. Chemical camera-trapping and noninvasive restraint of ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, genetic data in a spatial capture- Mumma, M. A. et al. 2014. Enhanced for semen collection with the association recapture framework improves density understanding of predator-prey of tiletamine- zolazepam and xylazine. estimates for the jaguar. Biological relationships using molecular methods Bioscience Journal 29: 1731-1737. Conservation 167: 242-247. to identify predator species, individual and sex. Molecular Ecology Resources Finn, K. T. et al. 2013. The impact of genetic Teichman, K. J. et al. 2013. Does sex matter? 14: 100-108. restoration on cranial morphology of Temporal and spatial patterns of cougar- Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi). human conflict in British Columbia. Serieys, L. E. K. et al. 2013. Serum Journal of Mammalogy 94: 1037-1047. Plos One 8: e74663. chemistry, hematologic, and post- mortem findings in free-ranging bobcats Galetti, M. et al. 2013. Atlantic rainforest’s Wielgus, R. B. et al. 2013. Effects of male (Lynx rufus) with notoedric mange. jaguars in decline. Science 342: 930. trophy hunting on female carnivore Journal of Parasitology 99: 989-996. population growth and persistence. Godinez, A. M. et al. 2013. Visitor behaviors Biological Conservation 167: 69-75. Trigo, T. C. et al. 2013. Molecular data and perceptions of jaguar activities. reveal complex hybridization and a Anthrozoos 26: 613-619. Zeilhofer, P. et al. 2014. Jaguar Panthera onca cryptic species of neotropical wild cat. habitat modeling in landscapes facing Current Biology 23: 2528-2533. Kerr, K. R. et al. 2013. Influence of high land-use transformation pressure- dietary fiber type and amount on findings from Mato Grosso, Brazil. VanWormer, E. et al. 2013. Toxoplasma energy and nutrient digestibility, fecal Biotropica 46: 98-105. gondii, source to sea: higher characteristics, and fecal fermentative contribution of domestic felids to end-product concentrations in captive Genetics and Disease terrestrial parasite loading despite lower exotic felids fed a raw beef-based diet. infection prevalence. Ecohealth 10: Journal of Animal Science 91: 2199- Canon-Franco, W. A. et al. 2013. Toxoplasma 277-289. 2210. gondii in free-ranging wild small felids from Brazil: molecular detection and Ecology Peebles, K. A. et al. 2013. Effects of remedial genotypic characterization. Veterinary sport hunting on cougar complaints Parasitology 197: 462-469. Bianchi, R. D. et al. 2014. Intraspecific, and livestock depredations. Plos One 8: interspecific, and seasonal differences e79713. Dubey, J. P. et al. 2013. A new atypical in the diet of three mid-sized carnivores genotype mouse virulent strain of in a large neotropical wetland. Acta Petracca, L. S. et al. 2014. Occupancy Toxoplasma gondii isolated from the heart Theriologica 59: 13-23. estimation of jaguar Panthera onca to of a wild caught puma (Felis concolor) assess the value of east-central Mexico from Durango, Mexico. Veterinary Cullen, L., Sana et al. 2013. Selection of as a jaguar corridor. Oryx 48: 133-140. Parasitology 197: 674-677. habitat by the jaguar, Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae), in the upper Quiroga, V. A. et al. 2014. Critical Hidalgo, A. et al. 2013. Report of the first Parana River, Brazil. Zoologia 30: 379- population status of the jaguar Panthera finding of puma (Puma concolor puma) 387. onca in the Argentine Chaco: camera- infected with Trichinella sp in Chile. trap surveys suggest recent collapse and Archivos De Medicina Veterinaria 45: de Carvalho, W. D. et al. 2013. Non-volant imminent regional extinction. Oryx 48: 203-206. mammal assemblage of Serra do Japi 141-148. Biological Seserve, Jundiai, Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Bioscience Journal 29: 1370-1387.

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 29 Recent Publications

Dickson, B. G. et al. 2013. Models of Rueda, P. et al. 2013. Determination of canadensis). General and Comparative regional habitat quality and connectivity the jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma Endocrinology 194: 162-167. for pumas (Puma concolor) in the (Puma concolor) diet in a tropical forest southwestern United States. Plos One in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Journal of Yan, C. et al. 2013. Linking climate change 8: e81898. Applied Animal Research 41: 484-489. to population cycles of hares and lynx. Global Change Biology 19: 3263-3271. Elbroch, L. M. et al. 2013. Seasonal foraging Segura, V. et al. 2013. Cranial ontogeny ecology of non-migratory cougars in a in the Puma lineage, Puma concolor, Research Methodologies system with migrating prey. Plos One 8: Herpailurus yagouaroundi, and Acinonyx Hooten, M. B. et al. 2014. Temporal e83375. jubatus (Carnivora: Felidae): a three- variation and scale in movement-based dimensional geometric morphometric resource selection functions. Statistical Khidas, K. et al. 2013. Morphological approach. Zoological Journal of the Methodology 17: 82-98. divergence of continental and Linnean Society 169: 235-250. island populations of Canada lynx. Monroy-Vilchis, O. et al. 2013. Expulsion Northeastern Naturalist 20: 587-608. Stoner, D. C. et al. 2013. Dispersal rate of Puma concolor (Carnivora: behaviour of a polygynous carnivore: Felidae) in captivity. Mammal Study 38: Peers, M. J. L. et al. 2013. Evidence for do cougars Puma concolor follow source- 299-302. large-scale effects of competition: niche sink predictions? Wildlife Biology 19: displacement in Canada lynx and 289-301. Trainor, A. M. et al. 2014. Enhancing species bobcat. Proceedings of the Royal Society distribution modeling by characterizing B-Biological Sciences 280: 20132495. Stoner, D. C. et al. 2013. De facto refugia, predator-prey interactions. Ecological ecological traps and biogeography of Applications 24: 204-216. Peers, M. J. L. et al. 2014. Prey switching anthropogenic cougar mortality in as a means of enhancing persistence in Utah. Diversity and Distributions Zeller, K.A., McGarigal, K., et al. 2014 predators at the trailing southern edge. 19:1114-1124. Sensitivity of landscape resistance Global Change Biology 20: 1126-1135. estimates based on point selection Terwissen, C. V. et al. 2013. Influence functions to scale and behavioral state: Ripple, W. J. et al. 2014. Status and of adrenocorticotrophin hormone pumas as a case study. Landscape ecological effects of the world’s largest challenge and external factors (age, Ecology 29: 541-557. carnivores. Science 343: 1241484. sex, and body region) on hair cortisol concentration in Canada lynx (Lynx

Research Highlights

Comparing capture–recapture, mark–resight, and assessed how photo identification influenced density estimates by spatial mark–resight models for estimating puma comparing estimates based on capture histories constructed by 3 densities via camera traps independent investigators. We estimated the abundances of pumas using mark–resight models in program MARK and then estimated Lindsey N. Rich*, Marcella J. Kelly , Rahel Sollmann , Andrew densities ad hoc. We also estimated densities directly using spatial J. Noss , LeonardoMaffei , Rosario L. Arispe , Agustin Paviolo , Carlos mark–resight models implemented in a Bayesian framework. Puma D. De Angelo , Yamil E. Di Blanco , Mario S. Di Bitetti densities did not vary substantially among observers but estimates *Virginia Tech, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, 318 generated from the 3 statistical techniques did differ. Density 2) Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321, USA (LNR, MJK) estimates (pumas/100 km from spatial mark–resight models were lower (0.22–7.92) and had increased precision compared to those Abstract: Camera-trapping surveys, in combination with traditional from nonspatial capture–recapture (0.50–19.35) and mark–resight capture–recapture or spatially explicit capture–recapture techniques, techniques (0.54–14.70). Our study is the 1st to estimate the density have become popular for estimating the density of individually of a population of carnivores, where only a subset of the individuals identifiable carnivores. When only a portion of the population is are naturally marked, using camera-trapping surveys in combination uniquely identifiable, traditional and spatial mark–resight models with spatialmark–resight models. The development of spatial mark– provide a viable alternative. We reanalyzed a data set that used resight and spatially explicit capture–recapture techniques creates the photographic capture–recapture methods to estimate the densities potential for using a single camera-trapping array to estimate the of pumas (Puma concolor) across 3 study sites in Belize, Argentina, density of multiple, sympatric carnivores, including both partially and Bolivia using newer, more-advanced modeling including marked and uniquely marked species. spatial and nonspatial mark–resight techniques. Additionally, we Journal of Mammalogy 95:382-391.

30 Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 Research Highlights

Haematology and biochemistry values of captive sand definitive hosts in the transmission and maintenance of this parasite, cats (Felis margarita) in Al Ain Wildlife Park and Re- few studies have focused on the involvement of these animals. Brazil sort, United Arab Emirates exhibits the largest number of wild felid species in the Americas, all of which have a critical conservation status. However, serological de- Stephen Chege1*, Arshad Toosy1, Judith Howlett1, Ahmed Saker1, tections, epidemiological studies and some molecular characteriza- John Kagira2 tions of T. gondii have primarily used Neotropical felid populations 1Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort, Life Sciences Department, Veteri- that are maintained in captivity, which does not reflect the disease nary Section PO Box 1204, Al Ain. behavior in free-living conditions. A systematic review of the world- 2Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box wide scientific literature was conducted focusing on toxoplasmosis 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya. in small Neotropical felids. This review covered a number of aspects, including the state of scientific research, parasite transmission in the Abstract- Objective: To investigate the haematology and biochem- wild, the genetic characteristics of isolates, the relationship between istry values of captive sand cats kept in Al Ain Wildlife Park and these genetic characteristics and the pathogenicity of the parasite, Resort, United Arab Emirates, with a view to establishing baseline and the risk factors linked to conflicts with humans. The present values. Methods: Blood was collected from the femoral vein using review shows the relevance of studying these felid populations based aseptic techniques, kept in a cool box and sent to laboratory for on their frequent interactions with humans in peri-urban areas and analysis. The blood was analysed for haematological and biochemi- the need for further comprehensive studies to establish the real sig- cal values using veterinary hematology and chemistry analysers (ABX nificance of T. gondii in public and animal health in tropical and ABC Vet, Horiba ABX SAS® Montpellier, France). Results: Haema- temperate regions. tological values were within the normal ranges recorded in domestic Braz. J. Vet. Res. Anim. Sci., São Paulo, v. 50, n. 1, p. 50-67, 2013. cats and there was no statistical difference between values found in males and females. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values were higher (p<0.05) in males compared to female cats. Serum protein, Epizootic and zoonotic helminths of the bobcat (Lynx creatinine and glucose values for females were significantly (P<0.05) rufus) in Illinois and a comparison of helminth com- higher than those for males. Creatinine kinase, urea and lactate de- ponent communities across the American Midwest hydrogenase (LDH) levels were higher than those reported for values. Hiestand. S. J.1,2, C. K. Nielsen2,3, and F. A. Jimenez1 (P>0.05) between males and females Conclusions: Our results pres- 1Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, ent reference ranges for haematology and biochemistry parameters Illinois 62901-6501, USA in captive sand cats. These values will be important for diagnosis of 2Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois Uni- various diseases and monitoring of treatments. versity, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, USA After recognizing the need and the status of the Arabian Sand cat, Al 3Department of Forestry and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois Ain Zoo took a lead role and organized the first Sand Cat workshop University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901-4619, USA in Arabian Peninsula where strategies were formulated on ex-situ facilities can work together in order to conserve the species in the Abstract - A total of 6,257 helminths of 19 taxa were recovered region. Al Ain Zoo is proud to take the lead role in this. from the digestive tract and lungs of 67 bobcats in Illinois. Infec- * Correspondence: Dr Stephen Chege, Al Ain Zoo P.O Box 1204, tions caused by Alaria mustelae, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Mac- Al Ain, UAE, Tel: +971 3 7992627, Email: [email protected] racanthorhynchus ingens are reported for the first time in bobcats. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine. 2013. 1:141-144. From all the taxa recovered, only three species occurred in high prev- alence and caused intense infections: Taenia rileyi, Alaria marcianae, Toxoplasma gondii in small neotropical wild felids and Toxocara cati, with prevalence and mean intensity of 70% and 6; William Alberto CAÑÓN-FRANCO1; Flávio Antônio Pacheco de 42% and 193, and 25% and 14 individuals, respectively. Prevalence ARAÚJO2; Solange Maria, GENNARI3 lower than 15% of 14 helminth species suggests bobcats are not con- 1Department of Animal Health, School of Agricultural Sciences, tinuously exposed to infective stages of a single parasite, and may be University of Caldas, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia exposed to a large variety of generalists during their lifespan. No sig- 2School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande nificant difference in parasite species according to host sex or age was do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil detected, except for Diphyllobothrium spp., which were found more 3Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, frequently in females and in trapped bobcats, and the hookworm, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Ancylostoma caninum, which infected juveniles more frequently. Av- University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil erage species richness per infracommunity was 2.4 (±1.2), and the Corresponding author: William Alberto Cañón-Franco parasite component community showed low qualitative similarity Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas with neighbor communities. The taxa A. caninum, Alaria spp., Di- Calle 65 No 26 – 10, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia phyllobothrium spp., Paragonimus kellicotti, and T. cati are etiological E-mail: [email protected] agents of epizootic and zoonotic diseases. Parasite 21: 4. Abstract- In the last decade, studies on wildlife worldwide have discovered key epidemiological aspects of the sylvatic cycle of Toxo- plasma gondii. However, despite the known role of wild felines as

Wild Felid Monitor Summer 2014 31 Guigna (Leopardus guigna). Photo by Jim Sanderson

About the Wild Felid Research and Management Association The Wild Felid Research and Management Association is open to professional biologists, wildlife managers, and others dedicated to the conservation of wild felid species, with emphasis on those species in the Western Hemisphere. The Wild Felid Association acts in an advisory capacity to facilitate wild felid conservation, management, and research, public education about wild felids, and functions among various governments, agencies, councils, universities, and organizations responsible or interested in wild felids and their habitats. Our intention is to: 1. Provide for and encourage the coordination and exchange of information on the ecology, management, and conser- vation of wild felids; 2. Provide liaison with other groups; and, 3. Provide a format for conducting workshops, panels, and conferences on research, management and conservation topics related to wild felids. Goal: The goal of the Wild Felid Association is to promote the management, conservation and restoration of wild felids through science-based research, management, and education. Objectives: 1. Promote and foster well-designed research of the highest scientific and professional standards. 2. Support and promote sound stewardship of wild felids through scientifically based population and habitat management. 3. Promote opportunities for communication and collaboration across scientific disciplines and among wild felid re- search scientists and managers through conferences, workshops, and newsletters. 4. Increase public awareness and understanding of the ecology, conservation, and management of wild felids by encour- aging the translation of technical information into popular literature and other media, and other educational forums. 5. Encourage the professional growth and development of our members. 6. Provide professional counsel and advice on issues of natural resource policy related to wild felid management, re- search, and conservation. 7. Maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity.

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