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Big Game Statistics:

COUGAR: Table of Contents

Overview Life history ...... 105 Food habits ...... 106 Distribution ...... 106 Density ...... 106 Management ...... 107 2005 Statistical Reports Cougar harvest trend ...... 108 Cougar harvest and quota by hunt zone ...... 109 Cougar harvest summary ...... 110

104 Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Statistics: Cougar

Overview

Once hunted as a predator and nuisance animal for bounty, the cougar (Puma concolor) received game mammal status in 1967. Since then cougar numbers have increased under a more conservative harvest strategy. However, larger cougar populations and statutory changes to management alternatives have increased the complexity of cougar management.

The largest member of the cat family in Oregon, the cougar (Puma concolor), is known by many names: panther, puma, catamount, mountain lion, and most commonly, cougar. Historically, the cougar had one of the most extensive distributions of any North American wildlife species. The cougar is a secretive animal that is perceived by many as Cougar a symbol of wilderness and the western backcountry.

Although few people have the opportunity to see a cougar, increased observations, road kill incidents, and increasing damage complaints indicate the statewide cougar population has increased substantially since 1980.

Life History Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Female cougar typically breed for the first time at about 2 years of age. Wild cougar in 3406 Cherry Ave NE good health are usually sexually mature by 24 months of age, and normally give birth Salem, OR 97303 by the age of 36 months. Few cougar live past the age of 10-12 years in the wild; how- www.dfw.state.or.us ever, several as old as 17 years have been turned in to ODFW in recent years. Cougar breed year-round, but studies in , Utah, , and here in Oregon reported that most births occurred during late spring and summer following an approximate 90-day gestation period. This “pulse” in mountain lion births generally coincides with the spring birth pulse in prey species such as and . Most females give birth at approximately 24-month intervals, with some giving birth every 12-15 months.

Female cougar may have 1 to 6 young per litter. Studies in Oregon show an average of 2.8 kittens per litter in Oregon. Cougar can quickly replace individuals lost from the population because of their relatively high reproductive potential. The recruitment trend of the cougar population is a significant factor in developing management strategies, harvest seasons, and quotas.

Cougar populations should stabilize as they approach carrying capacity, which is de- termined by prey abundance, habitat, and social tolerance between . Cougar kittens remain with their mothers until 15-24 months of age. Once separated from their

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 105 Big Game Statistics: Cougar

mothers, kittens, or sub-adults, will search for a new The number of prey consumed by an individual cou- territory. If these dispersing animals survive, they will gar varies with the cougar’s sex, age, and reproduc- ultimately establish a home range of 50 to 200 square tive status, as well as weather conditions (spoilage in miles. Sub-adult males typically disperse farther than warm temperatures) and scavenging by other species females, and may establish a home range as far as such as birds and . In general, an adult cougar 100 miles from the area where they were born. Males will kill a deer or elk about every 7-10 days. If the kill generally use larger areas (up to 200 sq. mi.) than is scavenged or spoils due to warm temperatures, females, and their territories usually overlap those of cougar will kill more often. Females with young will one or more females. kill more often than solitary cougars.

Adult males on established territories generally do not tolerate other males within their home range. Disper- Distribution sal of kittens or sub-adults is an important factor in maintaining cougar populations by replacing cougar Cougar are highly adaptable and widely distributed, in vacated areas. This dispersal period is a dangerous occurring in a broad spectrum of habitats ranging time for young cougars. Studies indicate that cougar from desert to alpine environments. They are very kill each other at fairly high rates. Long-term livestock closely associated with deer and elk habitat, due to depredation and dispersal into human population their dependence on these species for food. Cougar areas may occur when the natural habitats become are now distributed statewide. occupied as cougar populations approach carrying capacity. Biologists believe the most productive cougar habitat in is the Douglas /trailing black- Health of the cougar population is integrally linked to berry type, with an old growth forest component. the health of their primary prey species. When severe The best habitat is thought to be winter conditions or large-scale habitat loss severely the open mixed- type of the Blue Mountains, reduce local deer or elk populations, cougars may including the -bunchgrass type and the canyon depress population recovery of the herd. However, country of northeastern Oregon. All Oregon cougar when local prey populations are severely reduced habitats are also productive deer, bighorn sheep (regardless of cause), the cougar population that and/or elk areas. depends on them also faces eventual decline.

Density Food Habits Cougar density is primarily influenced by a combina- Throughout the western , deer and elk tion of prey availability, habitat structure, and toler- are the main food of cougar; Oregon is no excep- ance for other cougars. Generally, prey availability tion. Radio collared cougar in northeastern Oregon is directly related to the quality of habitat for prey consumed (in order of decreasing frequency): mule species. In turn, prey availability directly influences deer, Rocky Mountain elk, porcupine, hare, cougar reproduction and mortality rates. Studies and deer mice. Winter foods for cougar in Oregon’s indicate cougar populations increase as available prey Cascade Range were principally black-tailed deer and increases. porcupine. Another Oregon study indicated deer, elk, and porcupine were the most common winter food Because cougars are territorial animals, population items. In some areas, bighorn sheep are an important growth rate decreases as density of cougars increases. prey species. As population density increases, a large number

106 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Statistics: Cougar of young cougars disperse into unoccupied or less western Oregon. Beginning in 2005, hunters may densely occupied habitat, and mortality rates from purchase two tags and take two cougars in eastern fighting and cannibalism increase. The dependence of Oregon. cougars on their prey and their territorial social struc- ture explain why cougar numbers do not reach levels Hunters are required to check in the hide of any observed in many other wildlife species. cougar taken, as well as the reproductive tract of any female cougar, to an ODFW office, with skull and proof of sex attached. The Department evaluates sex Management and age structure of all cougar mortalities, (includ- ing cougar taken on damage) to monitor the overall Controlled hunt seasons were authorized for cougar health of the population. This information is particu- between 1970 and 1994. Since then, unlimited tags larly important because it is impossible to conduct an have been allowed for a general statewide season. annual census of cougars. Harvest quotas have been established by six geo- graphical zones to ensure that the population in an The age distribution of harvested cougars is used area is not over harvested. Cougar quota hunt zones as an indicator of population health and to monitor are described in the Big Game Regulations. If a quota impacts of hunting on a population. The Department is reached in a particular zone, that zone will be is currently revising the Cougar Management Plan, closed to further cougar hunting for the year. Year- which is scheduled to be completed and adopted by round seasons were authorized in 1997 to address the Commission in early 2006. high levels of damage in selected areas of south-

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 107 Big Game Statistics: Cougar 2004 Cougar Harvest Trend

HARVEST HARVEST UNIT # UNIT 2002 2003 2004 UNIT # UNIT 2002 2003 2004

ZONE A NORTH ZONE E BLUE MOUNTAINS

10 Saddle Mountain 1 37 Ochoco 10 9 12 11 Scappoose 46 Murderers Creek 11 10 7 12 Wilson 1 1 47 Northside 4 9 6 14 Trask 48 Heppner 5 11 14 15 Willamette 4 49 Ukiah 9 6 7 16 Santiam 4 5 17 50 Desolation 5 11 8 17 Stott Mountain 51 Sumpter 4 9 11 18 Alsea 3 3 4 52 Starkey 6 5 9 20 Siuslaw 3 6 4 53 Catherine Creek 3 5 4 24 Tioga 3 4 5 54 Mount Emily 5 3 5 25 Sixes 3 4 1 55 Walla Walla 2 1 2 26 Powers 2 2 56 Wenaha 4 8 11 27 Chetco 1 3 1 57 Sled Springs 14 6 4 39 Metolius 2 1 58 Chesnimnus 5 6 6 41 8 6 2 59 Snake River 1 3 1 42 Hood 2 60 Minam 1 4 1 Zone A Total 28 36 42 61 Imnaha 3 2 4 62 Pine Creek 6 2 5 ZONE B SOUTHWEST CASCADES 63 Keating 3 3 7 64 Lookout Mountain 1 4 7 19 McKenzie 8 3 6 Zone E Total 102 117 131 21 Indigo 2 2 22 Dixon 6 1 2 ZONE F SOUTHEAST 23 Melrose 5 8 2 28 Applegate 7 5 6 36 Maury 5 1 29 Evans Creek 1 5 65 Beulah 12 7 6 30 Rogue 1 7 6 66 Malheur River 6 15 10 31 Keno 3 1 1 67 Owyhee 2 Zone B Total 32 28 28 68 Whitehorse 4 1 2 69 2 4 4 ZONE C SOUTHEAST CASCADES 70 Beatys Butte 71 Juniper 1 32 Klamath Falls 2 1 2 72 Silvies 7 9 7 33 Sprague 1 1 73 Wagontire 34 Upper Deschutes 1 2 74 Warner 7 3 5 35 Paulina 3 6 6 Zone F Total 43 43 34 75 Interstate 4 4 2 76 Silver Lake 1 2 77 1 1 Zone C Total 12 15 13

ZONE D COLUMBIA BASIN GRAND TOTAL 232 249 264 38 Grizzly 6 5 7 40 Maupin 2 2 43 Biggs 1 2 44 Columbia Basin 1 1 45 Fossil 5 4 5 Zone D Total 15 10 16

108 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Statistics: Cougar COUGAR HARVEST AND QUOTA BY HUNT ZONE

2002 2003 2004 ZONE NAME QUOTA HARVEST QUOTA HARVEST QUOTA HARVEST

A Coast / 93 28 116 36 128 42 B Southwest Cascades 106 32 133 28 146 28 C Southeast Cascades 37 12 46 15 51 13 D Columbia Basin 13 15 16 10 18 16 E Blue Mountains 98 102 123 117 135 131 F Southeast Oregon 61 43 76 43 84 34 TOTAL 408 232 510 249 562 264

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 109 Big Game Statistics: Cougar 1 7 7 1 2 1 1 2 1 ------12 63 48 29 47 29 26 27 37 43 32 36 40 58 64 38 49 41 40 43 42 48 39 41 400 HARVEST PERCENT 5 344860 352 352 352 79 62 153160220 360 232 380 248264 400 408 510 562 138 gan the change to a hrough December. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 -- -- 294 661 863 1 9,378 -- 13,427 19,097 25,966 12,765 28,017 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 257583 167595 46 55 10 34 52 22 16 16 15 263 362 100 68125140130 18 140 60160 73141 80163 71188 16 89 27 83 34 98 23 85 32 33 57 54 462457442451 307471 337482 325517 356 117 560 363 166 588 365 132 391 144 413 155 358 155 187 160 145 779 935 385 9,930 14,545 22,356 31,167 33,330 34,017 27,777 TAGS STATEWIDE TOTALS 3 2 4 8 2 ------" " " " " " " " 8 ------37 26 -- 19 1617 3331 10 2934 15 14 13 " " " " " " " " ------96 10 25 25 25 40 43 46 56 155 230230205225 146230 180230 162250 203275 56 185280 90 192 69 202 79 212 77 180 69 94 78 60 " " " " " " " " TAGS Season Check In Required General Mandatory Cougar WESTERN OREGON COUGAR HARVEST SUMMARY " " " " " " " " ---- 42 36 -- 15 164655 10 3452 22 52 16 54 16 64 15 54 14 56 25 52 24 69 19 51 17 25 43 41 " " " " " " " " -- 25 75 83 75 95 98 167 207 115 115 105 115 120 117 132 232227237226 161241 157252 163267 153285 61 178308 76 173 63 189 65 201 78 178 86 93 82 85 " TAGS No hunter survey taken. General season tag sales deadline matches that of first rocky mountain elk. General season tag sales deadline matches that of general black bear season. Expanded harvest survey data. Reduced season length this year. Four month general and six expanded season. Previous hunting seasons ran from fall through spring. In 2000 the season August December (5 months) as we be calandar year framework. For the 2001 hunting season is a split and runs from January through May August t Phone survey conducted differently from other years. EASTERN OREGON 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 1 6 19992000 " 2003 " 2004 " " 19961997 Season1998 " Check In Required 2001 " " 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 General Mandatory Cougar 2002 1984 1985 YEAR AUTHORIZED HUNTERS HARVEST AUTHORIZED HUNTERS HARVEST AUTHORIZED HUNTERS HARVEST QUOTA SUCCESS

110 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Statistics: Bighorn Sheep

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 111