Current Projects
We are currently working on 5 different research projects.
Causes of Spatial and temporal variabilty in cougar-livestock depredations and cougar complaints in WA.
K. Peebles, B. Maletzke, R. Wielgus, & others.
This project is part of Kaylie Peeble’s M.S. program. Our previous research in WA has shown that high remedial cougar hunting mortality is not associated with reduced complaints and depredations. Differences in human, livestock, and cougar densities also do not appear related to levels of complaints and depredations. Differences in total cougar habitat appears to have a significant effect. We are attempting to determine the potential causal mechanisms of highly variable levels of cougar livestock depredations and cougar complaints over space and time throughout WA. We hypothesize that variability in cougar habitat and/or cougar and human social factors are driving the observed variability in predator - people conflicts.
Summer and Annual Habitat use by endangered lynx in WA.
G. Glover, B. Maletzke, R. Wielgus, & others.
This project is part of Grant Glover’s M.S. program. Our previous research has shown that lynx select for high elevation, old growth spruce and fir forests during winter in WA. We are determining & testing whether lynx habitat use during summer differs from their known habitat use during winter – or whether existing critical lynx winter habitat is already sufficient. Preliminary results indicate early seral forests are important during summer.
Population demography and intrinsic growth rates of cougars in western WA.
Chase Freeman, B. Kertsen, R. Wielgus & others.
This project is part of Chase Freeman’s MS project. Our previous research has shown that cougars in eastern WA have intrinsic (non-hunting) growth rates of +14% per year and can sustain hunting mortality rates of < 14 %. We hypothesize that the intrinsic growth rates and sustainable hunting mortality rates may be less in heavily urbanized western WA.
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND INTRINSIC GROWTH RATES OF COUGARS IN NORTH CENTRAL WA.
Louise Shirley, R. Beausoleil, R. Wielgus & others.
This project is part of Louise Shirley’s MS project. Our previous research has shown that cougars in 3 populations in eastern WA have intrinsic (non-hunting) growth rates of +14% per year and can sustain hunting mortality rates of < 14 %. We hypothesize that the intrinsic growth rates in north central WA is also +14% and applicable throughout the intermountain and Rocky Mountain west.
Effects of heavy hunting on cougar spatial Ecology and cougar-human conflicts.
J. Brown, R. Wielgus, B. Maletzke, & others.
This project is part of Jeremy Brown’s M.S. project. Our previous research has shown that heavy hunting results in increased young male immigration. Another project showed that younger immigrant animals use human-occupied areas more than older resident animals. Our previous research also showed that heavy hunting does not result in decreased cougar complaints and livestock depredations. In this heavily hunted study area, we hypothesize that numerous young immigrant males use human occupied areas more than other sex and age classes – and that this could be contributing to high levels of complaints and livestock depredations in the area.
Current Projects
- Causes of Spatial and temporal Variabilty in cougar-livestock depredations and cougar complaints in WA
- Summer and Annual Habitat use by endangered lynx in WA
- Population demography and intrinsic growth rates of cougars in western WA
- POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND INTRINSIC GROWTH RATES OF COUGARS IN NORTH CENTRAL WA
- Effects of heavy hunting on cougar spatial Ecology and cougar-human conflicts