IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| North Dakota Game and Fish Department, | |
| Status of Mountain Lions (_Puma concolor_) in North Dakota - A report to the legislative council | |
| 2006 Full Book | |
Section 2 of House Bill 1102, enacted by the 2005 legislature, directed the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (Department), in cooperation with Tribal authorities, to assess the status of mountain lions (Puma concolor) in North Dakota and report its findings to the legislative council before July 1, 2006. In the past year, the Department: 1) reviewed reported sightings of lions from the recent past (2001-2005), 2) surveyed North Dakota hunters for additional sighting information, 3) mapped suitable lion habitat throughout the state, and 4) initiated an experimental mountain lion season with a quota of five animals. Although most of North Dakota is unsuitable for mountain lions, the habitat suitability map identified the North Dakota Badlands (Badlands) and associated Missouri River (MR) Breaklands as having a sufficient amount of suitable habitat to support a small resident population. Data from verified reports of sightings and the experimental season indicated mountain lions either have recolonized or are in the process of recolonizing a portion of their former range in the Badlands. Not only did the majority of verified sightings occur in the Badlands and vicinity, but also, all animals harvested during the state-wide season were taken from this area. The relatively small lion population in the Badlands likely will be vulnerable to human-caused mortality due to its geographic isolation from breeding lion populations in adjacent states, therefore, close monitoring of management prescriptions carried out on the population will be necessary if a reproductively viable population is to be maintained. Based on an initial analysis of habitat quality, approximately 2% of North Dakota (suitable habitat in the Badlands and MR Breaklands) could support an average of 45 to 74 resident adult animals under a management scenario with no harvest mortality. This is not an estimate of the current population size, but rather an estimate of habitat potential for the area. Plans for 2006-07 are to: 1) continue to record and verify reported sightings of lions, 2) survey hunters for lion sighting information, 3) test the habitat suitability map, 4) conduct field surveys to monitor the population, 5) coordinate with Tribal authorities and adjacent state agencies on lion management issues, 6) continue with education efforts and 7) conduct a second experimental season. |
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