1. COUGAR ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR IN AN INCREASINGLY URBAN WORLD Brian Kertson Wildlife Science Group WACFWRU/SFR University of Washington

3. COUGAR: A CAT BY MANY NAMES Puma concolor – “cat of a single color” Cougar, Mountain Lion, Puma, Catamount, Panther, Ghost Cat, Deer Tiger, Devil Cat, Klandaghi, Katalgar, Ko-Icto, ……………..

4. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Long Tail: 1/3 Smallish Head: ♀ Long, Sleek, Muscular Color: Varies-tawny, reddish, gray Adults: Solid; Kittens: Spotted

5. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Sexual Dimorphism: -Males: 120-200 lbs x= 155 lbs -Females: 70-120 lbs x= 92 lbs

6. PHYSICAL ABILITY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGfxD5hcInw

7. SOLITARY AND SECRETIVE

8. PREDATION Stalking predator Deer (Odocoileus sp.) and Elk Physically impressive Opportunistic and highly adaptable Predation rates vary: -Sex -Reproductive status -Prey consumed

9. n = 18 cats, 304 kills

10. CACHING

11. COUGAR REPRODUCTION Mature: 2.5-3.5 yrs Breed year-round Birth pulse: June-Aug Gestation: ~ 92 days 1-6 Kittens, avg. 2-3 No male parental care

13. DISPERSAL (Koehler and Maletzke unpubl. data)

14. HOME RANGE & MOVEMENTS Far-ranging : -M: 505 km 2 -F: 168 km 2 Overlap: variable Movements: -M: 4.17 km/day -F: 2.82 km/day

15. SOCIAL AND POPULATION DYANMICS M:territorial F: mutual avoidance Prey: changes reproductive rates Self-limiting Low density: -1.0-3.0 /100 km 2

16. SCRAPES

17. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Largest geographic distribution of any terrestrial mammal in the western hemisphere Extinct in east, but recolonizing

18. HABITAT Cover* Riparian (rivers, streams, wetlands) Edge Young forest = Prey availability and vulnerability Travel- ridges

19. WASHINGTON STATE 88,497 km² of suitable cougar habitat (gray) 2,000-3,000 estimated cougars Classified as game species

20. WASHINGTON AND PEOPLE Increasing human pops -WA 2030: 8.2 million Habitat loss -WA: 27 km² per year High levels of interaction Management needs

21. COUGAR MANAGEMENT Pre-1970: Bounty Post 1970: Game species High profile, significant interest Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife -Maintain viable, stable populations -Recreation -Ensure public safety -Aesthetic, cultural value -Predator-prey relationships

22. URBANIZING LANDSCAPES

23. COUGARS IN A RAPIDLY URBANIZING WORLD

24. COUGAR-HUMAN INTERACTION Interactions are more commonplace Lots of hypotheses, poorly understood Function of spatial and temporal overlap of cougars and people

25. Investigate cougar ecology and behavior in the Wildland-Urban Interface and residential areas -Use levels -Document behaviors -Interaction levels and patterns OBJECTIVE

26. STUDY AREA Seattle

27. HOW TO CATCH A COUGAR +=

31. CAPTURE AND MONITORING 32 adult and subadults collared -16 male, 16 female x = 332 days (SD = 301) x = 477 relocations/yr (SD = 540) 27 w/ ≥ 30 relocations n = 33 cougar yrs

32. RESIDENTIAL USE Residential use common Overlap: -93% of cats (n = 27) Average: -Volume = 16.86% ± 17.05 -Area = 18.35% ± 16.75 Exurban and/or near WUI Full suite of behaviors

35. Not True TROLLING FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS?

36. INTERACTION 73 reports investigated 29% of reports confirmed -Depredations (goats, sheep, and llamas) -Poor animal husbandry (89%) -55%: bobcats, bears, coyotes Avg. = 3.43 km (SD = 3.57) from WUI

37. INTERACTION RATE Marked cougars (n = 32): -1.6 interactions per 1000 radio days Adjusted rate: -1.9 interactions per radio days 2,323 observations ≤ 500 m from development: -Interactions in 0.0073% of observations

38. WILDLAND-URBAN ECOLOGY Maximize predation opportunities, minimize exposure to residential development Minimizes potential for interaction while maintaining role as apex predator

39. PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT Landscape matters: -Threshold residential densities Target specific areas: -Exurban and WUI -RUF

40. Discovery Park

41. CONCLUSIONS Cougars use of residential areas will continue: -Connectivity, cover, and prey Residential areas function as modified, not unsuitable habitat Must account for spatial ecology Education and landscape planning is key Cougars and people coexist better than previously realized

42. Questions?