IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Laundr‚, J.W.; Hern ndez, L. | |
| Metapopulation Dynamics and the Management of Puma Populations in North America | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Pumas in the United States are listed as a game species. Thus, long term conservation of this felid species has to be done within the framework of an annual harvest. To achieve long-term viability of hunted puma (_Puma concolor _Pocock) populations (even at historically low densities), we propose a management plan based on the metapopulation concept that designate _source areas_ (closed to hunting) and _sink areas_ (open to hunting). We use data from Idaho and Utah to demonstrate how the management plan might be implemented. We use minimum and maximum densities of resident animals to calculate minimum and maximum effective population sizes, neighborhood areas (regional management units), and usable habitat within the units. We designate sink and source areas based on their size, accessibility to hunters, and juxtaposition. We show that closing 63% of puma habitat to hunting would ensure long-term puma population viability while permitting traditional hunting levels in other areas. This system could be adapted to existing state hunting management units, and we outline several steps by which wildlife agencies might set up a process to manage puma hunting. We suggest this approach could be useful for other felid species that are managed as game species. |
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