IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Sweanor, L.L.; Logan, K.A.; Hornocker, M.G.
Puma responses to close approaches by researchers
2005  Wildlife Society Bulletin (33): 905-913

We documented behaviours that wild pumas exhibited when approached by researchers during a 10-year study of a puma population in New Mexico. We approached and visually observed repsonses of 75 radiocollared pumas on 251 occasions and 7 non-collared pumas on 5 occasions. These pumas seldom had contact with people, except in the context of puma research activities. Pumas we approached included adult females with nursing (n=71) and weaned (n=46) cubs, solitary independent females (n=77), solitary independent males (n=46), breeding pairs (n=5), and weanded cubs in the absence of their mother (n=11). Approach distance ranged from 2-400m (median=30.8), number of observers ranged from 1-8 people (median=2), and duration of observation ranged from <1 to >120 minutes. Pumas exhibited threat behaviour (e.g. hissed, growled, approached, charged) in 16 instances (6% of observations). Females accompanied by cubs exhibited 14 of the 16 threats. Although we observed all threats when we were 2-50 m away (median = 18.5 m), in another 156 observations when we approached to within similar distances (range=3-50m, median=20.0m), pumas showed no threat response. In these cases, the pumas left the area (n=114), watched us without leaving (n=37), or showed no detectable response (n=5). These responses by pumas to human approaches provide insight into the range in behaviours exhibited by pumas in environments where they have not become habituated to humans. This may aid our understanding of puma behaviour, including interpretations of behaviours that might be exhibited by pumas in more human-dominated environments.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)