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van Sickle, W.D.; Lindzey, F.G.
Evaluation of a cougar population estimator based on probability sampling
1991 Journal of Wildlife Management (55): 738-743
We used probability sampling of snow tracks which were located from the air as a method of estimating cougar (Felis concolor) numbers. Computer-simulated surveys were conducted on empirical movement data from a known population of cougars to evaluate survey design and the influence of density on the estimator. Estimator precision increased when transects were oriented perpendicular to major drainages, flown 2 days rather than 1 day after a snowfall, and if additional transects were included in each systematic sample. Precision also increased as density of cougars increased. An actual survey flown in an area with 14 cougars estimated 14.2 ñ 6.3 (SE) cougars.
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