2008 COUGAR NETWORK NEWS

PROMINENT PANTHER BIOLOGIST DIES IN PLANE CRASH

The Lexington Herald Leader, 6/22/08

Dr. David Maehr died tragically on Friday in a plane crash at Placid Lakes Airport in Highland County, Florida. He was studying black bears at the Archbold Biological Station at Lake Placid. Dr. Maehr was a conservation biologist and Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky's Department of Forestry. He was internationally known for his research on elk, Florida panthers, and black bears.

ILLUSION OF REALITY AND A CALL FOR EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS

BioScience, June, 2008

Anecdotal occurrence data (unverifiable observations of organisms or their sign) and inconclusive physical data are often used to assess the current and historical range of rare or elusive species. However, the use of such data for species conservation can lead to large errors of omission and commission, which can influence the allocation of limited funds and the efficacy of subsequent conservation efforts.

MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTING CONFIRMED IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA

A/P, 5/16/08

Nebraska officials on Friday confirmed the sighting of a mountain lion in northeast Nebraska last weekend, the first confirmation in Knox County since 2004. Tom Welstead of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said commission experts in Lincoln had checked his reports and photographs and agreed: what Ron Olson had seen Sunday was indeed a mountain lion.

COUGAR CONFIRMED IN MANITOBA

Cougar Network News, 5/16/08

Provincial wildlife officials consider a photograph of a cougar taken on May 11th on a farm in northwest Plum Coulee to be a valid confirmation. Video has been taken at the site of the photograph. The items in the background on video footage match the items in the background on the still photo.  Plum Coulee is close to the North Dakota border.

DNA TESTS LINK COUGAR SHOT IN CHICAGO TO WISCONSIN AND SOUTH DAKOTA

Chicago Tribune, 4/30/08

DNA test results show that the cougar police shot April 16 on the North Side of Chicago was the same animal that left blood drops in southern Wisconsin in January, Cook County animal control officials said Wednesday. The cougar's genes link it to a population from the Black Hills of South Dakota according to Wisconsin officials. The Wisconsin DNR has now produced a timeline for this cougar's travels.

USF&WS ASSESSING COUGAR MANAGEMENT AT KOFA WILDLIFE REFUGE

Cougar Network News, 4/30/08

The USF&WS will be preparing an environmental assessment of alternatives for the management of mountain lions at the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

MODELING POTENTIAL COUGAR DISPERSAL CORRIDORS TO THE MIDWEST

Cougar Network News, 4/29/08

Dr. Clay Nielsen and Michelle LaRue have published a paper titled "Modeling potential dispersal corridors for cougars in midwestern North America using least-cost path methods" in the Journal of Ecological Modeling. The analysis provides the first description of potential dispersal corridors for cougars from established western populations into the Midwest.

COUGAR SHOT AND KILLED IN CHICAGO

Daily Herald, 4/15/08

A cougar was shot and killed by police Monday in an alley on Chicago's North Side. Where it came from and whether it is the same animal recently seen in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois was not immediately known.

COUGAR PHOTOGRAPHED IN NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Cougar Network News, 4/14/08

Iowa Tribal Police documented a cougar near Perkins, Oklahoma via surveillance camera on March 21, 2008. The location is about three kilometers south of Perkins and about one kilometer west of HW 177. The tribal property lies immediately south of the Cimarron River, a potential dispersal corridor for transient cats.

COUGAR MOM ADOPTS PAIR OF MALE KITTENS

Jackson Hole News & Guide, 4/2/08

Researchers say a mixed family of six discovered by observing a female mother with a radio collar could be a first in the world of cougar research.

MILTON WISCONSIN COUGAR OF NORTH AMERICAN ORIGIN

WisconsinDNR Press Release, 3/26/08

Genetic testing indicates that a cougar observed last January near Milton is a male of North American origin, the DNR announced today.  The genetics also indicated a possible connection with South Dakota cougars. "This does not eliminate the possibility of captive origins, but it does make it more likely the cougar is completely wild," said DNR mammal ecologist Adrian Wydeven. The last known wild cougars in Wisconsin disappeared during the early part of the last century.

MOUNTAIN LION SHOT IN KANSAS

The Wichita Eagle, 3/26/08

A Barber County landowner shot the adult male mountain lion on his property west of Medicine Lodge last November. Officials believe it is probably the first documented wild mountain lion in Kansas in more than 100 years.

FLORIDA PANTHER POPULATION FELL TO JUST SIX

NewScientist.com, 3/18/08

As bottlenecks go, they don't get much narrower. Florida panthers, nearly wiped out in the early 20th century, dropped to a population size of as little as six animals. A genetic analysis now shows this could have included just one female, meaning that the current population had just one ancestral mother.

COUGAR TRACKS CONFIRMED IN ELKHORN, WISCONSIN

Cougar Network News, 3/14/08

Cougar tracks were found March 7 northeast of Elkhorn in Walworth County by state conservation warden Jason Roberts. DNR mammal ecologist Adrian Wydeven verified the tracks as that of a cougar from photos taken at the scene. The location of tracks near Elkhorn is about 23 miles east-southeast of a cougar confirmation two months ago in Rock County.

UPDATE ON WISCONSIN COUGAR CONFIRMATION

Green Bay Press Gazette, 3/13/08

Adrian Wydeven, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources in Park Falls, said that DNA tests verify the cougar's mother is North American. Tests to determine its paternity remained pending, and its track size made its sex uncertain. Wydeven said the tracks looked somewhat small for an adult male, but within the range of females and possibly young males.

PANTHER CONFIRMED IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

OrlandoSentinal.com, 3/13/08

The paw print at Tomoka State Park in Volusia County was much too big for even the biggest bobcat. Darrell Land, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist who leads the state's panther team, is convinced. "We have absolutely confirmed it is a panther," Land said of the Volusia findings.

MISSOURI HAS PRIME COUGAR HABITAT, STUDY SAYS

Columbia Daily Tribune, 3/12/08

Cougars thrived in Missouri before they were hunted to extinction here in the early 20th century. A new study contends much of their habitat remains intact and there numbers could one day rebound.

2ND COUGAR FIELD WORKSHOP A GREAT SUCCESS

Cougar Network News, 3/8/08

The 2nd Cougar Field Workshop held at the spectacular  Ladder Ranch in New Mexico from February 18-22 was a great success. Cougar Network co-founder Ken Miller attended as an observer and has written an article about the adventure to appear in the next issue of Wild Cat News. Some of the presentations given at the workshop can be accessed by clicking the above link.

SOUTH DAKOTA GF&P 2007 COUGAR MORTALITY SUMMARY DATA RELEASED

Cougar Network News, 3/5/08

South Dakota has a cougar population currently estimated at 200 individuals. During 2007, 67 cougar carcasses were recovered by the state. Over the past 48 months, 188 cougar carcasses have been recovered, 33 due to vehicle strikes alone.

STUDY IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL COUGAR HABITAT

SIUC, 2/29/08

Nielsen's two year study looked at potential cougar habitat in nine midwestern and prairie states: Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. Since 1990, researchers with the non-profit Cougar Network have confirmed more than 150 cougar presences throughout this region, he said. The research revealed several large areas in the Midwest that offer ideal habitat for these cats.

ANOTHER COUGAR INCIDENTALLY TRAPPED IN NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck Tribune, 2/25/08

The female kitten (5 to 8 month old, 45 lbs.) is the 4th cougar to be caught in a trap and reported to NDGFD this winter in western North Dakota. Three other cougars were caught in December; a 102 lb. 4-5 year old female and what is believed to be its 78 lb. 1-2 year offspring on the same day,  and a 2 1/2 year old male that weighted 150 lbs. All three were found dead in the traps.

ARE BIG CATS BACK ON THE MIDWESTERN PROWL?

Chicago Tribune, 2/22/08

Since 1990, Nielsen's group has confirmed dozens of sightings from the Great Plains to Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. Two males appear to have crossed the Mississippi into Illinois this decade. Female cougars don't roam as readily as males, and ecologists have yet to identify signs that a breeding population has moved into the Midwest.

CENTRAL USA SEES MORE COUGAR MIGRATIONS

USA Today, 2/15/08

States in the Midwest and South that have not been home to mountain lions in the past century are starting to see some migrating big cats within their borders. Wildlife officials say their numbers may increase if the trend of more females roaming into their regions continues.

INVESTIGATING COUGAR REPORTS IN WISCONSIN

Wisconsin Public Television, 2/14/08

WPT inteviews Wisconsin DNR biologist Adrian Wydeven about cougar reports in the state. This very interesting  segment covers the recent confirmation of a cougar in Wisconsin, as well as the numerous frauds, hoaxes and misidentifications that are regularly reported to the DNR.  Watch video of interview from link above.

SONORAN RANCHES TRANSFORMED INTO JAGUAR PRESERVE

Environmental News Service, 2/12/08

Jaguars in northern Mexico have a newly protected habitat today due to the official establishment of the Northern Jaguar Reserve in the state of Sonora. "In this remote and rugged area of northern Sonora, a small population of 80-120 jaguars struggles to avoid extinction," said Diana Hadley, president of the Northern Jaguar Project based in Tucson.

RESEARCH DOCUMENTS COUGAR MOVEMENT THROUGH NEBRASKA

North Platte Bulletin, 2/11/08

Wildlife biologists have determined that a young male mountain lion that was hit in 2005 by a vehicle on I-80 near Gretna moved hundreds of miles across the state from the northwest. The finding was made from tissue in the claw of the lion.

COUGAR SHOT IN SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA

Cougar Network News, 2/7/08

The 100 lb. male, estimated to be one to two years old, was shot on the north side of town. It was the first confirmed mountain lion sighting in Nebraska since one in Banner Country, just south of Scottsbluff, last October 31. Scottsbluff is located just north of ideal mountain lion habitat in the Wildcat Hills.

WISCONSIN COUGAR SIGHTING CONFIRMED

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/5/08

The DNR confirmed Tuesday that DNA tests concluded that a large cat seen leaping from a hayloft on Jan. 18 in Rock County was a cougar. If it is determined to be wild, it would be the first evidence that cougars had returned to Wisconsin since the early 1900s. Additional testing from a U. S. Forest Service laboratory in Missoula, Montana will determine the sex of the cat and the subspecies.

POSSIBLE COUGAR CONFIRMATION IN WISCONSIN

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/24/08

A game warden and biologist, Doug Fendry, tracked the footprints for more than a mile before quitting. They took photos and captured samples of urine and blood that was sent Thursday to a laboratory in Montana for DNA testing. The blood might have come from an injured paw. The DNA test may help to determine whether the animal was of wild or captive origin.

"ON THE TRAIL OF THE JAGUAR" PRESENTATION

Green Valley News, 1/17/08

At 3PM on Friday, January 25, Jack Childs and Emil McCain will be offering "On the Trail of the Jaguar" - a Powerpoint presentation, discussion and book signing at the Casa de Esperanza Community Center. This presentation will focus on the outcomes of the Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project. The book discussing their findings "Ambushed on the Jaguar Trail: Hidden Cameras Along the Mexico Border" will be available for sale in April 2008.

RECORD YEAR FOR PANTHER BIRTHS AND ROAD KILLS

The News-Press, 1/13/08

State biologists said 43 panther kits were born, more than any other year on record. Experts say there are probably more than 43, since those are the ones born to radio collared females, and others were probably born to uncollared, unknown cats. Twenty-three panthers were known to have died including 15 killed by vehicles.

THREE COUGARS INCIDENTALLY TRAPPED IN NORTH DAKOTA

Bismark Tribune, 1/9/08

Three mountain lions in the Badlands have been snared accidentally since mid-December in devices set out to trap bobcats. A pair of cats is believed to be a mother and offspring that were caught 100 yards apart. The third animal was an adult male. Four mountain lions were accidentally trapped during the previous season. Of those, one survived and was tranquilized and fitted with a radio collar.

COUGAR KILLED IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA

Cougar Network News, 1/2/08

A mountain lion has been killed near Cogswell, in southeastern North Dakota not far from the Minnesota border. Game and Fish Department officials said the cougar was killed by coyote hunters on January 2. Officials said the cat was a young male and weighed about 100 lbs.

2007 COUGAR NETWORK NEWS

BORDERLAND JAGUAR EXPERTS JOIN COUGAR FIELD WORKSHOP

Cougar Network News, 12/19/07

The Cougar Network is very pleased to announce that noted Borderland Jaguar Detection Project Leaders Jack Childs and Emil McCain will be serving as instructors at the "Second Cougar Field Workshop" in February 2008. They will be lending their expertise on detecting the differences between canine, cougar and jaguar sign. The workshop will be held at Ted Turner's spectacular Ladder Ranch, in the heart of cougar country in New Mexico. For more information on the workshop, click on the link above. For more information on the Borderland Jaguar Detection Project, go to http://www.swjag.org/aboutus.html.

CAMPAIGN TO ESTABLISH NORTHERN JAGUAR PRESERVE

Cougar Network News, 12/12/07

The Northern Jaguar Project is purchasing lands in northern Mexico vital to establishing a reserve for jaguars and other endangered wildlife. Only 120 miles south of the border, this area holds the hope for jaguars returning to the U. S.  For more information, click on the link above and also go to http://northernjaguarproject.org/reserve/next.aspx.

FEMALE MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA

ArgusLeader.com, 12/5/07

A female mountain lion was killed in Miner County, South Dakota by a landowner. This is in the southeast part of the state far from the established population in the Black Hills.

COUGAR NETWORK PUBLISHES SEPTEMBER 2007 ISSUE OF WILD CAT NEWS

Cougar Network News, 11/25/07

The Cougar Network is in the process of distributing the September 2007 issue of "Wild Cat News" to its members. This latest issue includes a fascinating article about Siberian tigers ("New Tricks for Old Tiger Catchers"), informative articles about:  Florida road kills ("Florida Panther Road Kills"), using dogs to catch cougars ("Turning up the Heat"), the use of remote cameras for lynx ("Testing Remote Cameras for Surveying Canada Lynx"), followed by a camera trap study in Virginia ("Virginia Tech Camera Trap Study"). As always, editor Scott Wilson has worked his magic by presenting this issue in a beautiful format. Non-members may view the issue's cover and contents by clicking the link above. The entire issue can be obtained by becoming a member of The Cougar Network. 

NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS HUNTING SEASON CLOSES

Bismarck Tribune, 11/14/07

That all five mountain lions killed in the Badlands season were females isn't a surprise to the biologist who examined them. "When you have a population of mountain lions that are lightly hunted, females are more abundant," NDG&F Department biologist Dorothy Fecske stated.

RESPECTED WILD CAT RESEARCHER PASSES AWAY

Cougar Network News, 11/6/07

Biologist Eric York passed away unexpectedly on November 2, 2007.  He was 37 years old. In recent years, Eric had been biologist for the National Park Service studying cougars in Grand Canyon National Park. In addition to extensive work with cougars, Eric had also worked with fishing cats in Nepal, Andean mountain cats in South America, snow leopards in Pakistan, and lynx in Maine.  A follow-up article indicates plague is the cause of death.

FRIENDS OF THE FLORIDA PANTHER UPDATE

Cougar Network News, 11/4/07

Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge, Inc. has released its November, 2007 update.

COUGAR CAPTURED BY TRAIL CAMERA IN NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA

Cougar Network News, 10/26/07

Nebraska resident Bob Marsteller used a trail camera to obtain yet another excellent photo of a cougar. This picture was taken on September 18, 2007. The location is approximately seven mile northwest of Harrison, NE in Sioux County. This in in the very northwest corner of the state in the Pine Ridge area. Spotting on the animal's coat suggests this is a likely dispersal age yearling.

NAPLES DAILY NEWS RUNS 3 PART SERIES ON FLORIDA PANTHER

Cougar Network News, 10/24/07

Part 1 On the edge: Florida panthers stand close to disappearing

Part 2 Pushed out: Developments pushing panthers farther from their habitats

Part 3 Speeding kills: Number of panthers dying on Florida's roads rising ...

WILD FELID RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION FORMED

Cougar Network News, 10/20/07

The Wild Felid Research and Management Association (WFA) is a new professional non-profit association of researchers, educators, and others dedicated to the management and conservation of wild felids in the Western Hemisphere based on sound scientific principles.

NORTH DAKOTA HUNTER STUMBLES ACROSS MOUNTAIN LION CUBS

Minot Daily News, 10/12/07

Dorothy Fescke, furbearer biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, estimated the kittens' age to be between six and eight weeks. "We have documented lion activity in the Killdeer Mountains over the past few years or so from sighting information the last two seasons," said Fescke.

NATURE LOVER PURSUED LIFE LONG PASSION FOR WILDLIFE

Columbia Missourian, 9/24/07

Dave Hamilton, dedicated resource scientist for the Missouri Department of Conservation and great friend, advisor and collaborator of the Cougar Network, died of cardiac arrest on September 8. He was 52. Dave will be greatly missed by all those who knew and worked with him.

9TH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP TO BE HELD IN MAY, 2008

Cougar Network News, 9/24/07

The 9th Mountain Lion Workshop will be held May 5-8, 2008 in Sun Valley, Idaho. This workshop will be featuring the 40th year anniversary of the landmark mountain lion study conducted my Maurice Hornocker in the central Idaho wilderness. Click here to access the call for papers (in Word format).

COUGAR CONFIRMED IN SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA

Cougar Network News, 9/22/07

Arden Petersen, regional wildlife manager for the state Game, Fish & Parks Department in Sioux Falls, said Friday there was a confirmed mountain lion sighting about five miles north of Hartford, in Minnehana County. Minnehana County is adjacent to Rock County, Minnesota and Lyon County, Iowa. Dogs brought in from the Black Hills to find a mountain lion that killed two goats were unable to track the big cat. Lions make occasional appearances in Minnehana County and tend to follow rivers and streams, Petersen said.

COUGAR CAUGHT ON TRAILCAM IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA

Cougar Network News, 9/20/07

Landowner Jim Schubitzke's trailcam took an excellent photo of a cougar in northeastern Minnesota, approximately 20 miles east of the Mississippi River. The photo was taken on August 20, 2007 at 11:10PM.

 

THIRD MOUNTAIN LION OF SEASON TAKEN IN NORTH DAKOTA

 

Associated Press, 9/20/07

Officials say three mountain lions have been killed in western North Dakota, in an area that has a quota of five before the season closes. Two were taken this week. The latest was killed Tuesday by a bow hunter in northern Dunn Country, a young female about a year to a year and a half old. It weighed 60 lbs.

FLORIDA RECORDS 15TH ROAD KILLED PANTHER OF YEAR

Scripps Newspaper Group, 9/12/07

A two year old Florida panther was struck and killed Wednesday on Alligator Alley just east of the State Road 29 exit, state wildlife officials said. The male panther's death is the 15th this year as a result of vehicle collision, the most ever in a year by far. The previous high was 11, set last year. A total of 19 panthers have been killed overall this year.

ANOTHER ROAD KILLED COUGAR IN NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck Tribune, 9/13/07

A mountain lion found dead in a farmer's field Tuesday southeast of Mott was a young male that probably was dispersing. The one to two and a half year old cat was probably hit by a vehicle, said Erika Butler, NDGFD wildlife veterinarian, who did the the preliminary analysis of the body Wednesday morning.

 

COUGAR CAPTURED BY TRAIL CAMERA IN NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA

 

Cougar Network News, 8/26/07

Nebraska resident Bob Marsteller used a trail camera to obtain his third set of excellent photos of a cougar in recent years (click on above link). These pictures were taken on July 18, 2007 in the northwest corner of the state in Sioux County.

CHUCK ANDERSON JOINS COUGAR NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cougar Network News, 8/20/07

The Cougar Network announced today that veteran cougar researcher Chuck Anderson has joined its Board of Directors. Director Harley Shaw stated, “We are extremely pleased that Chuck has agreed to join the Board. I cannot think of anyone better-suited to help guide the organization. The son of Chuck Anderson Sr., a highly respected outfitter and cougar houndsman, he literally grew up with cougars and has a depth of knowledge at the practical level that most of us had to learn after we became involved with the species.  Over the past two decades, Chuck has worked with three different western state wildlife agencies, so he brings to The Cougar Network a unique understanding of cougar management practices. He also has a firm grasp of the difficulties inherent to cougar politics. Add to that his academic work, and you have a combination of credentials that are very hard to find.”

YOUNG MALE COUGAR KILLED ON WESTERN NEBRASKA ROAD

Cougar Network News, 7/13/07

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recovered the carcass of an 80 lb. male mountain lion that had been killed by a vehicle near Chadron, Nebraska on July 10. The mountain lion measured 64 inches from nose to tail. This is the 7th mountain lion confirmation in Nebraska in 2007 and the 41st since 1990.

FLORIDA RECORDS 14TH ROAD KILL OF 2007

Naples Daily News, 6/28/07

A Florida panther found dead on US 41 East in Miami-Dade County brings this year's panther collisions with vehicles to 14, well over the record 11 set last year. The 120 lb. male panther was recovered Wednesday morning by FWC wildlife officers. Estimated to be four years old, the panther was not wearing a radio collar nor did it have a transponder chip.

FLORIDA RECORDS 13TH ROAD KILL OF 2007

Naples Daily News, 6/25/07

Two panthers died late Friday or early Saturday on Southwest Florida roads, the 12th and 13th to perish this year after run-ins with vehicle grills. The two locations are about ten miles apart. The first fatality broke a tie for the most vehicle related panther deaths in a single year, and the second elevated the record to a new high. Four of this year's road kills have come in June.

FLORIDA RECORDS 12TH ROAD KILL OF 2007

Naples Daily News, 6/23/07

The body of a Florida panther was found Saturday along a rural Collier County highway, making 2007 the deadliest year on record for panther killed on roadways. The animal, estimated to be 2-3 years old, had a kinked tail and no transponder chip. Road strikes are the #1 cause of Florida panther deaths.

COUGAR NETWORK PUBLISHES MAY 2007 ISSUE OF WILD CAT NEWS

Cougar Network News, 6/21/07

The Cougar Network is in the process of distributing the May 2007 issue of "Wild Cat News" to its members. The latest issue includes a beautifully illustrated article about "The Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project," as well as articles about cougar research in California, Central & South America and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Non-members may view the issue's cover and contents by clicking the link above. The entire issue can be obtained by becoming a member of the Cougar Network.

FLORIDA RECORDS 11TH PANTHER ROAD KILL OF YEAR

Naples Daily News, 6/15/07

An 83 lb. male panther, believed to be 12-15 months old, was hit and killed Thursday on State Road 82 in Lee County about 3/4 mile west of Sunshine Boulevard. A witness said the animal appeared to be crossing S.R. 82 toward the north when it was run down. The 10th panther road kill death occurred on Monday in Collier County.

COUGAR NETWORK PUBLISHES COMPREHENSIVE FIELD GUIDE

Cougar Network News, 6/9/07

In its on-going effort to assist wildlife agencies and the general public, The Cougar Network has published a Puma Field Guide authored by leading wildlife biologists Harley Shaw, Paul Beier, Melanie Culver, and Melissa Grigione. The guide covers the Biological Considerations, General Life History, Identification,  Assessment, and Management of Puma Concolor.

 

BCNP ANNUAL FLORIDA PANTHER REPORT RELEASED

 

Cougar Network News, 6/7/07

This is the fourth annual report on National Park Service panther work in Big Cypress National Preserve. It covers capture and monitoring efforts between 7/1/05 and 6/30/06 in the study area which consists of all lands (217,410 ha) within the Preserve boundary south of I-75. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitors panthers in the remaining 75,340 ha of Big Cypress north of I-75.

ANOTHER COUGAR KILLED IN NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck Tribune, 6/1/07

A 46 pound female lion, about eight months old, was killed Sunday near Mandaree in McKenzie County, said Fred Poitra, director of the Three Affiliated Tribes Game and Fish Division. Mandaree is located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. This article also discusses the cougar killed in the NW corner of ND.

COUGAR KILLED IN NW CORNER OF NORTH DAKOTA

A/P, 5/31/07

Biologist Dorothy Fescke said the 112 lb. lion was about 21/2 years old and most likely was wandering through the area. The animal was killed in Fortuna, a town in Divide County in the extreme northwest corner of North Dakota near the Saskatchewan border.

 

DON'T BELIEVE YOUR EYES

 

Down East Magazine, 6/1/07

Confirmed accounts of mountain lion sightings in Maine in the past half century can be counted on the fingers of one hand, with digits left over. Yet every year, dozens if not hundreds of Mainers swear they have seen one.

 

VIDEO: CATCHING MOUNTAIN LIONS IN COLORADO

 

National Geographic News, 5/22/07

Capturing and tagging mountain lions are vital steps in the Colorado Division of Wildlife's ten year study of the big cats' population in the state. Scientists hope that understanding the cats' lives and deaths,  including the impact of hunting, will help officials make better management decisions.

DEAD FLORIDA PANTHER ON EAST COAST INDICATES PANTHERS TRYING TO BRANCH OUT OF ESTABLISHED TERRITORY

Naples Daily News, 5/9/07

The death of a reclusive female panther Tuesday night on US 1 in southern Miami-Dade County may signal that the rare species is expanding its territory, a state biologist said Wednesday.

 

TRAIL CAMERA CAPTURES SET OF PICTURES OF A COUGAR IN NW NEBRASKA

 

Cougar Network News, 5/1/07

Nebraska resident Bob Marsteller has taken a 2nd set of trail cam photos of a cougar. He also got some excellent pictures in the same area in late 2004 and early 2005. The pictures were taken in March and April, 2007. One was taken in the daytime and one at night.

SHOW ME THE COUGAR

Defenders Magazine, 4/20/07

A team of Missouri biologists help sort out cat fact from cat fancy.

RARE FLORIDA PANTHER KILLED IN POLK COUNTY

MyFox Tampa Bay, 4/18/07

A rare Florida panther was apparently killed by a car in eastern Polk county. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, it was the first documented panther death in the Polk county area.

MOUNTAIN LION FOUND ENTOMBED IN ICE IN NW NORTH DAKOTA

Minot Daily News, 4/18/07

The carcass of a mountain lion has been pulled from the ice pack on Lake Sakakawea in northwest North Dakota. New Town residents Henry and Ken Mathews reported seeing a paw stickiing up through the ice this past Saturday. The lion was freed from its icy resting place about 4PM and turned over to North Dakota Game and Fish Department personnel who took it to Bismarck for testing.

PANTHER KILLED IN CENTRAL FLORIDA NEAR DISNEY WORLD

Orlando Sentinal, 3/21/07

A male panther was found dead on Interstate 4 near Walt Disney World on Wednesday, officials said.  The panther, which was wearing a radio collar, was probably hit by a vehicle. The panther was the second to be killed along the I-4 corridor in the past year. The last animal was found April 11, 2006. At least 11 panthers were killed by cars in the state in 2006 setting a new record, according to wildlife officials.

CARCASS OF COUGAR KITTEN RECOVERED IN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE

USF&WS INITIATES STATUS REVIEW OF EASTERN COUGAR

Cougar Network News, 2/28/07
The Northeast Region of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has initiated a status review for the eastern cougar. A news release on the review and a new eastern cougar Web site were released to the public this afternoon.

ANOTHER YOUNG COUGAR INCIDENTALLY SNARED IN ND

Bismarck Tribune, 2/6/07
A young mountain lion was found dead last week in a bobcat snare in McKenzie County. The 50 lb. male lion was found Jan. 30 by a trapper about 10 miles northwest of Grassy Butte in the Badlands, the NDG&F Department announced Monday. The immature cat was the second inadvertently taken in a two week span in roughly the same area.

WYOMING GAME AND FISH SEEKS PREDATOR BIOLOGIST

WG&F, 1/30/07
WG&F is seeking a predator biologist to coordinate data collection, management and research primarily for mountain lions, but also for black bears, grizzly bears, and wolves. You can learn more about this unique and exciting opportunity by clicking the link above.

SDGF&P 2006 COUGAR MORTALITY SUMMARY DATA RELEASED

Cougar Network News, 1/30/07
South Dakota has a cougar population currently estimated at 200 individuals. During 2006, 56 cougar carcasses were recovered in the state. Causes of death include control actions (16), hunter harvest (16), vehicle strikes (9), incidental snaring (7), electrocution (1), justified shooting (1), accidental deaths (2), and unknown causes (4). Over the past 36 months, 121 cougar carcasses have been recovered. 27 cougars have died over that time due to vehicle strikes alone.

COUGAR NETWORK PUBLISHES DEC. 2006 ISSUE OF WILD CAT NEWS

Cougar Network News, 1/28/07
The Cougar Network is in the process of distributing the Dec. 2006 issue of "Wild Cat News" to its members. This latest issue includes beautifully illustrated articles about cougars, little spotted cats in Brazil, Iowa bobcats, Texas ocelots and the trapping of wild felids for research. Non-members may view the issue's cover and contents by clicking the link above. The issue itself can be obtained by becoming a member of The Cougar Network.

ANOTHER COUGAR INCIDENTALLY TRAPPED IN NORTH DAKOTA

A/P, 1/16/07
A cougar kitten was snared in a trap meant for bobcats, about 15 miles southwest of Watford City. The animal was later killed because of its condition, state Game and Fish officials said.

COUGAR PHOTOGRAPHED IN MANITOBA

Winnipeg Free Press, 1/9/07
A farmer near Duck Mountain Provincial Park came upon an elk calf that had just been killed. He suspected a cougar was to blame. At daybreak the next day, he had the proof; photos of the big elusive cat returning to feed.

FLORIDA PANTHER ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006

Cougar Network News, 1/7/07
The Florida panther annual report spanning the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 has been released. The document contains a wealth of valuable information on panthers and their biology. Of particular interest is the comprehensive mortality and injury data, which highlights the species' vulnerability on roads. 94 panthers have been hit on roads since 1972, with 56 having been hit since 2000.

 2006 COUGAR NETWORK NEWS

NDG&F PREPARING FOR WINTER TRACK SURVEY OF COUGARS

Bismarck Tribune, 12/28/06
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is continuing to step up its research efforts. In addition to the recent radio collaring of a sub-adult male, biologists are performing DNA analysis of cats found in the state and will be conducting the first ever large scale mountain lion tracking survey in the Badlands.

TWO NEW COUGAR CONFIRMATIONS FROM MISSOURI

Cougar Network News, 12/13/06
The Missouri Department of Conservation has confirmed the 9th and 10th documented mountain lion occurrences in the Show-Me state in modern times. One animal was captured on a trail camera on December 7 in Livingstone County (see previous breaking news item below), while a cougar killed deer was confirmed in November in Shannon County.

PANTHER KILLED BY CAR SETS RECORD

Naples Daily News, 12/12/06
A Florida panther was killed when hit by a vehicle on County Line Road just off Immokalee Road this morning. It is the 11th panther, the most in a year, to die on roads this year.

 MISSOURI MOUNTAIN LION CONFIRMED

Chillicothe Constitution Tribune, 12/12/06
A photo of a cougar snapped last Thursday in Livingston County has been confirmed by MDC's Mountain Lion Response Team as "for real." This is the first confirmed sighting of a wild mountain lion in north central Missouri, and is the first one confirmed anywhere in the state since a road killed lion in Callaway County in 2003.

 COUGAR CAPTURED & COLLARED FOR TRACKING IN ND

KXMBTV, 11/27/06
The male cat was estimated to be about 1 1/2 years old, weighing 108 lbs. It was caught in a trap set for bobcats. The animal was fitted with a radio collar and released, a first in North Dakota.

5TH MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN ND

KXMBTV, 11/9/06
The fifth mountain lion has been killed in North Dakota. This means the season is now closed. The cat was shot near New Salem this morning.

4TH MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN ND

KXMBTV, 11/7/06
Yesterday, a female mountain lion was hit and injured by a vehicle on a county road yesterday near Dawson. The owner of the vehicle then shot the lion with a rifle. The cat was about three years old and weighed about 100 lbs.

SUB-ADULT MALE MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck Tribune, 10/31/06
A Bismarck man shot and killed a mountain lion this past Saturday afternoon near Washburn. "It was a sub-adult male, estimated to be between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 years old, so it was a dispersing male," said Dorothy Fescke, furbearer biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. "They typically disperse between 13 and 18 months of age. He was looking for new territory. Based on the fat reserves, it was a healthy, young male."

FEMALE MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA

KXMCTV, 10/20/06
A man killed the second mountain lion of the season after it got into a scrap with one of his bird dogs. The location was Lansford, in the north central part of the state (200 miles from the Badlands). The cat was a healthy adult female between three and four years old and had never had young, Dorothy Fecske, furbearer biologist for the NDGFD, said Thursday afternoon after doing a preliminary examination of the lion. It weighed 104 lbs. and measured 83 inches from its nose to the tip of its tail.

COUGAR HAIR COLLECTED IN QUEBEC'S GASPE REGION

Cougar Network News, 10/10/06
A genetic lab analysis has confirmed the presence of a cougar in Forillon National Park, located at the tip of the Gaspe Peninsula. The lab was able to determine that the hair sample came from a cougar of the North American genotype.

MOUNTAIN LION SHOT IN SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA

Cougar Network News, 10/2/06
A mountain lion that had wandered into Scottsbluff Monday morning was shot and killed by Game and Parks Supervisor Jim Zimmerman. The mountain lion was a young male, estimated to be about a year and a half old and weighing 85 to 90 lbs.

 MOUNTAIN LION KITTEN KILLED NORTH DAKOTA

KXMCTV, 9/20/06
A ND Game and Fish official said the young mountain lion weighed 26 lbs. and although it was too young to meet state regulations, it will count toward the five cat quota for this year's ND mountain lion season in the state. It was killed in the Badlands region.

COUGAR NETWORK PUBLISHES SEPTEMBER 2006 ISSUE OF "WILD CAT NEWS"

Cougar Network News, 9/20/06
The Cougar Network has completed its September 2006 issue of "Wild Cat News" and is in the process of distributing it to members. This latest issue features beautifully illustrated articles on jaguars, cougars, Andean mountain cats, ocelots, margays, little spotted cats, pampas cats, Geoffrey's cats, and jaguarondis. Non-members may view the issue's cover and contents by clicking the link above. The entire issue can be received by becoming a member of the Cougar Network.

MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE

KTEN.com, 9/14/06
A state game warden has killed a mountain lion that was attacking livestock in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Wildlife officials believe this is the first confirmed case of a mountain lion killing livestock in Oklahoma.

 COUGAR RANGE MAP EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS

Cougar Network News, 8/18/06
The Cougar Network announced today that it has modified its "Big Picture" map of known cougar range to include the Badlands region of North Dakota. This decision was made after a careful review of the available data and consultations with biologists from the North Dakota Game & Fish Department.

 NPGC RELEASES UPDATED MAP OF COUGAR OCCURRENCES IN NEBRASKA

Cougar Network News, 8/15/06
This map summarizes 31 instances in which the NPGC has documented cougars in the state since 1991. Included are seven incidents from 2005 and seven which have occurred through 8/15/06 in 2006. These 2006 confirmations are now reflected on the Cougar Network's "Big Picture" map but not yet on the regional map. We will update the regional map shortly.

 STATUS OF MOUNTAIN LIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA

ND Game and Fish Dept., 7/12/06
NG&F has completed a report on the status of mountain lions in North Dakota. Data indicates that the species has either re-colonized, or is in the process of re-colonizing, a portion of the Badlands. An initial habitat analysis indicates that only about 2% of the state represents suitable mountain lion habitat (Badlands and Missouri Breaklands).

 FEMALE MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS

A/P, 7/10/06
A rancher killed a female mountain lion on his Badlands ranch after he found it fighting with his dogs, the state Game and Fish Department said Monday. Game Warden Brent Schwan said the lion appeared to be a young female weighing about 80 lbs.

 MOUNTAIN LION KILLED IN CHERRY COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Cougar Network News, 7/7/06
A young male mountain lion was apparently killed by a semi on the Highway 20 bridge near Valentine on June 27 and the carcass was collected on July 3 by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff, according to Sam Wilson, the Commission's nongame and furbearer program manager. Wilson said that when the carcass was recovered, it was wearing a radio-tracking collar that indicated the mountain lion had traveled to Cherry County from the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

COUGAR NETWORK RELEASES "WILD CATS" CD

Cougar Network News, 5/1/06
The Cougar Network announced today that it has produced a CD containing a compilation of original articles and scientific papers on wild cat research and conservation. The CD includes the first three issues of the Network's highly regarded publication "Wild Cat News" (June 2005 - April 2006), as well as the proceedings of all eight Mountain Lion Workshops (1976-2005).

CHUCK ANDERSON JOINS COUGAR NETWORK'S BOARD OF ADVISORS

Cougar Network News, 4/29/06
The Cougar Network announced today that veteran cougar researcher Chuck Anderson has joined its Board of Advisors. The Network's Dr. Clay Nielsen stated, "We are extremely pleased that Chuck has agreed to join our Board of Advisors. He is one of the world's leading authorities on mountain lions, having worked with them in several western states over the past two decades. His advice and counsel have been invaluable to us over the past few years. We look forward to working with him even more closely as we pursue an ambitious research agenda."

MALE FLORIDA PANTHER KILLED ON I-4 IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Local6.com, 4/27/06
A male Florida was killed on Interstate 4 near the heart of central Florida's tourism corridor. This is approximately 120 miles from the northern extent of known breeding range. Biologists said the panther likely wandered into traffic near the Celebration exit in Osceola County and was struck and killed by a vehicle. In the last three months, Fish and Wildlife officers said they have found 10 Florida panthers dead across the state -- five of them were hit by cars, the report said. 

COUGAR NETWORK PUBLISHES APRIL 2006 ISSUE OF "WILD CAT NEWS"

Cougar Network News, 4/23/06
The Cougar Network has completed its April 2006 issue of "Wild Cat News" and is in the process of distributing it to members. This latest issue of the tri-annual publication features beautifully illustrated articles on jaguars, bobcats, lynx and cougars. Non-members may view the issue's cover and contents by clicking the link above. The entire issue can be received by becoming a member of The Cougar Network.

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION CLARIFIES STATUS OF COUGARS

Kansas City InfoZone, 4/22/06
According to biologist Dave Hamilton, the change in the cougar's designation from Endangered to Extirpated does not change its protected status under Missouri's Wildlife Code. The change in designation reflects the absence of scientific evidence for the existence of a breeding population in Missouri.

FEMALE MOUNTAIN LION TRAVELS 830 MILES IN NINE MONTHS

KSL.com, 2/24/06
A female mountain lion made a surprisingly long trip across Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. Scientists this week had an unprecedented look at that journey because of GPS technology, which is also showing that mountain lions come closer to humans than many people think.

SOUTH DAKOTA RESEARCHERS DOCUMENT MORE LONG DISTANCE COUGAR DISPERSALS

Gazette News Service, 2/20/06
A mountain lion killed recently by a Lewistown, MT hunter was radio collared three years ago in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 450 miles away. The lion was one of 65 collared to determine dispersal patterns of juvenile lions, said Jonathan Jenks, a wildlife professor at South Dakota State University. Another SD lion was killed by a Montana hunter south of Custer in Treasure County, he said. Others in the study have ended up in northwestern Minnesota and in Oklahoma.

COUGAR CAPTURED BY TRAIL CAMERA IN NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA

Cougar Network News, 2/18/06
Nebraska resident Bob Marsteller used a trail camera to obtain his second excellent photo of a cougar since October, 2005. The location is approximately seven miles northwest of Harrison, NE in Sioux County. This is the very northwest corner of the state in the Pine Ridge area. The picture was taken sometime between December 25, 2005 and February 15, 2006.

DRAFT OF THIRD REVISION OF FLORIDA PANTHER RECOVERY PLAN RELEASED

Cougar Network News, 1/31/06
The Technical/Agency Draft of the Third Revision of the Florida Panther Recovery Plan is available for public review and comment. Click on the link above (the title) to download the documents.

SOUTH DAKOTA GAME, FISH & PARKS PROVIDES 2005 MORTALITY DATA

Cougar Network News, 1/26/06
South Dakota began 2005 with an estimated population of 165 cougars. During 2005, 40 cougar carcasses were recovered in the state. Causes of death include vehicle strikes (9), control actions (8), incidental snaring (2), euthanasia (1), drowning (1), miscellaneous other (5), and hunter harvest (13).  A hunter killed a feral cougar that was declawed and is not counted in the above numbers. Over the past 24 months, 18 cougars have died as a result of vehicle strikes. Note that the link above is to an Excel file.

ND MOUNTAIN LION SEASON YIELDS VALUABLE INFORMATION

Bismarck Tribune, 1/16/06
The fifth mountain lion taken was a 4-6 month old female, according to Dorothy Fecske, NDGFD furbearer biologist. It weighed 39 lbs. and measured 62 1/2 inches from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. "It probably still was traveling with its mother. That further confirms that we have resident breeding animals," Fecske said. "As far as how many, I can't estimate at this point." Fecske believes at least three of the five mountain lions harvested in the North Dakota hunting season were resident animals.

FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION TAKEN IN NORTH DAKOTA HUNT

Associated Press, 1/15/06
A hunter killed a young mountain lion northwest of Grassy Butte on Sunday, the fifth cougar killed since a special North Dakota hunting season opened last fall. The season is now closed. The young female lion weighed 39 lbs. and was taken with the aid of dogs. North Dakota hunters harvested three males and two females during the abbreviated season. All five cats were taken in the same general area in western North Dakota.

FOURTH MOUNTAIN LION TAKEN IN NORTH DAKOTA HUNT

Associated Press, 1/9/06
A hunter shot a cougar north of Belfield on Friday, after tracking it with two dogs for about three hours. The mountain lion weighed 111 lbs. and was nearly seven feet long. The state Game and Fish Department Wildlife Division Chief Randy Kreil said it was a two year old male. Dorothy Fecske, a furbearer biologist with the Department, said all four cougars taken in the hunt this year have been killed in the same general area in western North Dakota.

THIRD MOUNTAIN LION TAKEN IN NORTH DAKOTA HUNT

Associated Press, 1/3/06
A man out hunting mountain lions shot one of the big cats on 12/31/05 west of Grassy Butte, ND. This is the third lion killed since a special mountain lion season opened last fall. The 140 lb. adult male was delivered to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department on Monday, 1/2/06. A necropsy will be performed after the carcass thaws out.

FLORIDA PANTHER ANNUAL REPORT 2004-2005

Cougar Network News, 1/2/06
The Florida panther annual report spanning the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 had been released. The document contains a wealth of valuable information on panthers and their biology. Of particular interest is the comprehensive mortality and injury data, which highlights the species' vulnerability on roads. 84 panthers have been hit on roads since 1972, with 46 having been hit since 2000.