Category Archives: mountain lion

Cougars on the Move

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Cougars, also known as mountain lions, pumas and by several other names, have been in the news in Kansas and Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin and young mountain has been photographed by trail cameras three times in recent weeks. A press release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds deer hunters that they can only shoot the animal in self-defense or in the defense of another human.

A TMJ 4 news report couches the news as a warning: hunters should stay in groups if a cougar has been spotted, and be aware that they have been known to steal deer carcasses. That may be because it was couched as a warning in an earlier Associated Press report.

In Kansas, a mountain lion was photographed on a game camera. Footprints confirmed that it was indeed a mountain lion, the sixth confirmed in the state since 2007. Read the Kansas Department of Parks, Wildlife and Tourism press release here.

Photo: Mountain lion in Wisconsin, courtesy of the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

“Smart” Collars Reveal Wildlife Secrets

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A new type of wildlife tracking collar, using technology similar to a smart phone’s, will allow biologists and other wildlife managers access to the most intimate details of an animal’s life. However, the article quickly goes beyond the benefit this collar would be for wildlife research, and into the realm of managing human-animal interactions.
For example, the collar can tell scientists how long it’s been since a mountain lion has eaten, and if that mountain lion has entered a suburban neighborhood, allowing them to alert residents.
The New York Times article on the new technology ends with a snappy quote about being able to make a Facebook page for each animal, but it does not address any of the ethical or philosophical questions these collars raise.Which animals will be tagged? All animals in a region? Only those that have caused trouble before? Will new hunting regulations be created for these knowable, findable animals?

No news on either a timeline or a price tag is included in the article.

Read the story here.

20 Mountain Lions in Nebraska’s Pine Ridge

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A recent dog-tracking survey and DNA analysis shows that Nebraska’s Pine Ridge, in the panhandle, is home to 19 mountain lions. Scat-sniffing dogs found the scat, then 33 scat samples were sent for DNA analysis. The analysis revealed 19 individual mountain lions present in the region, which is near the border with South Dakota, and its known mountain lion population.

The story broke earlier this month. Here is a quick summary from Nebraska Central News. Another report comes from the Kearney Hub, which headlines with the biggest possible number of mountain lions. And here is a more in-depth report from the Lincoln Journal Star.

Ct. Lion Came from Midwest

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As reported in the New York Times yesterday, DNA from the mountain lion struck by an SUV in Connecticut last month matched the general profile of mountain lions from South Dakota and more specifically, DNA collected from fur, blood and scat collected in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A necropsy did not find the usual signs of a captive animal, such as an implanted microchip or clipped claws.

Read the whole story in the New York Times, here.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection press release also notes that the animal spotted in Greenwich appears to be the same animal that was killed in Milford. Read the release here. 

And yes, you read that correctly: Connecticut combined its departments of energy regulation and environmental protection on July 1. Read that press release here.

Photo: Ironically, this is the same photo that illustrated the news that the US Fish and Wildlife Service had declared the Eastern mountain lion extinct. Clearly, it is not the Connecticut mountain lion.

Ct. Lion Came from Midwest

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As reported in the New York Times yesterday, DNA from the mountain lion struck by an SUV in Connecticut last month matched the general profile of mountain lions from South Dakota and more specifically, DNA collected from fur, blood and scat collected in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A necropsy did not find the usual signs of a captive animal, such as an implanted microchip or clipped claws.

Read the whole story in the New York Times, here.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection press release also notes that the animal spotted in Greenwich appears to be the same animal that was killed in Milford. Read the release here. 

And yes, you read that correctly: Connecticut combined its departments of energy regulation and environmental protection on July 1. Read that press release here.

Photo: Ironically, this is the same photo that illustrated the news that the US Fish and Wildlife Service had declared the Eastern mountain lion extinct. Clearly, it is not the Connecticut mountain lion.

Connecticut Mountain Lion Struck By Car

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A mountain lion was struck and killed by a car on a Connecticut highway Saturday morning (June 11). News reports say Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection officials believe it to be the same animal that was spotted in Greenwich, Connecticut earlier that week. The reports also mention that it is likely a captive animal that escaped or was released.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service declared the mountain lion extirpated from the East back in March. Captives roaming free and the occasional wild wanderer should keep the Internet humming for years to come.

See reports in the Hartford Courant, and NBC News.

Update: The Connecticut DEP press release.

Photo: Connecticut State Police/Ct. DEP

Connecticut Mountain Lion Struck By Car

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A mountain lion was struck and killed by a car on a Connecticut highway Saturday morning (June 11). News reports say Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection officials believe it to be the same animal that was spotted in Greenwich, Connecticut earlier that week. The reports also mention that it is likely a captive animal that escaped or was released.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service declared the mountain lion extirpated from the East back in March. Captives roaming free and the occasional wild wanderer should keep the Internet humming for years to come.

See reports in the Hartford Courant, and NBC News.

Update: The Connecticut DEP press release.

Photo: Connecticut State Police/Ct. DEP

Are you missing a mountain lion?

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Chesterfield, MO

Are you missing a mountain lion? Missouri has it. Sort of.

There have been six confirmed mountain lion sightings in Missouri since November. One of the mountain lions, photographed on a trail camera in December, appears to be wearing a radio collar with a VHF antenna. While that suggests the mountain lion’s participation in a tracking study, Missouri Department of Conservation resource scientist Jeff Beringer has not been able to find the researcher who collared it.

“I have made a lot of calls to other states trying to identify that animal, but so far my only lead is a missing, collared, sub-adult male from Utah. That would be one heck of a move – but not impossible,” said Beringer in a recent press release.

Two of the other Missouri mountain lions were shot by hunters. Their DNA has been tested, and shows that they are from either the Black Hills of South Dakota or from northwestern Nebraska, which are the two closest wild populations of mountain lions to Missouri. There was no evidence that the animals had been held in captivity. Those mountain lions were young and male, which is consistent with the department’s theory that these animals are traveling into Missouri from their home areas. Young male mountain lions are known to travel long distances in search of their own territory.

Linn County, MO

Much more information is available from the Missouri Department of Conservation. It includes the press release with information about the DNA results (in the middle of the page, after the DNA results from a Great Lakes wolf found in the state).And background information on mountain lion sightings in the state, including a map.

Photos: Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation. The Linn County animal is the one with the radio collar. Go to the original photo accompanying the press release for a closer view.