IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Williams, J.S. | |
| Ecology of mountain lions in the Sun River area of northern Montana | |
| 1992 Full Book | |
Mountain lion (_Felis concolor missoulensis_) habitat use, foraging habits, and home area characteristics were investigated in the Sun River area of northern Montana. Twenty-five mountain lions were monitored in 1991-1992. Mountain lions selected closed-conifer, open-conifer, aspen-conifer, deciduous tree, and shrubland cover types. Mountain lions avoided grassland and vegetated rock cover types. Mountain lions preferred areas near a stream course (0-200 m). They did not avoid roads or USFS recreational trails. They were found on slopes ranging from gentle (<20%) to steep (>69%). Mountain lions preferred eastern aspects, elevations ranging from 1219 m to 1828 m, and were located in both broken and unbroken topography. Mean annual home area size was among the smallest reported in the literature. Mean annual home area size for prairie-front mountain lions was smaller than mountain lions that utilized interior areas. Home area size for prairie-front males was larger than for prairie-front females. Interior male home area size did not significantly differ from interior females. There was considerable overlap in female home areas. Mountain lions used core areas within their individual home areas. Mountain lions primarily killed deer, bighorn sheep, and elk. Bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer were killed more often during winter (Nov-Apr). White-tailed deer, and smaller mammals were killed more often during summer (May-Oct). Overall, elk contributed more biomass to the diet of mountain lions than deer and bighorn sheep. Specifically, elk bulls, cows, bighorn sheep ewes, and mule deer bucks contributed the most biomass to mountain lion diets. Three instances of cannibalism by mountain lions were documented. |
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