Long-Distance Dispersal of a Female Cougar in a Basin and Range Landscape

We used Global Positioning System technology to document distance, movement path, vegetation, and elevations used by a dispersing subadult female cougar (Puma concolor) through the fragmented habitat of the Intermountain West, USA. Over the course of 1 year, female number 31 moved 357 linear km, but...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 2008-05, Vol.72 (4), p.933-939
Main Authors: Stoner, David C, Rieth, Wendy R, Wolfe, Michael L, Mecham, McLain B, Neville, Ann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
altitude
Animal behavior
Colleges & universities
connectivity
cougar
Dispersal
dispersal behavior
Ecoregions
Environmental conservation
Environmental protection
Federal funding
Females
Field study
Geodetic position
Geographic information systems
Global Positioning System
Global positioning systems
Government subsidies
GPS
Great Basin
Habitat conservation
Habitats
Land cover
Mammals
Management and Conservation
Metapopulation ecology
migration behavior
Mountains
Natural resources conservation
Population density
Puma concolor
Recolonization
Remote sensing
Rivers
Rocky Mountains
Utah
Vegetation
Wildlife conservation
wildlife habitats
Wildlife management
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Summary:We used Global Positioning System technology to document distance, movement path, vegetation, and elevations used by a dispersing subadult female cougar (Puma concolor) through the fragmented habitat of the Intermountain West, USA. Over the course of 1 year, female number 31 moved 357 linear km, but an actual distance of 1,341 km from the Oquirrh Mountains, Utah to the White River Plateau, Colorado, constituting the farthest dispersal yet documented for a female cougar. This cougar successfully negotiated 4 major rivers and one interstate highway while traversing portions of 3 states. Our data suggest that transient survival, and therefore total distance moved, may be enhanced when dispersal occurs during the snow-free season due to low hunting pressure and greater access to high elevation habitats. Long-distance movements by both sexes will be required for the recolonization of vacant habitats, and thus inter-state management may be warranted where state boundaries do not coincide with effective dispersal barriers.
ISSN:0022-541X
1937-2817
DOI:10.2193/2007-219