IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Vickers, T.W.; Sanchez, J.N.; Johnson, C.K.; Botta, R.; Huber, P.R.; Morrison, S.A.; Cohen, B.; Boyxe, W.M. | |
| Conservation of pumas (_Puma concolor_) in a rapidly urbanizing landscape; research informing the need for more action | |
| 2014 Conference Proceeding | |
Wide-ranging large carnivores such as pumas pose myriad challenges for conservation, perhaps especially in urbanizing landscapes. We conducted a 12-year study of pumas (_Puma concolor_) in southwestern California, USA, an area that is the focus of multiple landscape-scale conservation planning efforts aimed at protecting a network of habitat reserves amidst extensive urban, suburban and exurban development. The majority of urban (74%) and rural (79%) residents in this region agreed that pumas are a sign of a healthy environment, and >60% said pumas have a right to exist wherever they occur. However, despite protection from recreational hunting, annual survival was similar to heavily hunted populations, and human activities, especially vehicle collisions and depredation permits, were the leading causes of death. Our analyses showed that despite landscape-scale conservation planning that has been vigorously pursued in this region, habitat fragmentation has resulted in demographic isolation and genetic restriction and the de facto creation of two puma populations separated by an interstate highway (I-15). Dominant causes of death varied significantly between the two populations, and by gender, with vehicles causing over half of mortalities west of I-15 in the Santa Ana Mountains. Our data highlight the importance and urgency of protecting and restoring wildlife corridors if puma populations are to be viable in fragmenting landscapes. We discuss applications of our data to efforts to reduce human-caused mortality of puma, including corridor planning, highway improvements, and public outreach. Without these expensive solutions, intensive management of the Santa Ana Mountain population may be necessary, possibly in perpetuity. We predict that positive human attitudes toward pumas in this region will have to be combined with concerted efforts by conservation and governmental organizations in order to avoid this outcome. |
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