The Wild Felid Monitor

The Newsletter of the Wild Felid Research and Management Association

Winter 2016, Volume 9, Issue 1

IN THIS ISSUE
• 2015 Council election results • PumaPlex
• Jaguars and ocelots in Arizona • Leopard cats in Sumatra
• Wild felid genomics • Maximizing information from scat analysis
• Monitoring Canada lynx • 2016 Legacy Scholarship Announcement

www.wildfelid.org
 Contents
Council News Invited Article
3 From the President 10 Jaguar and ocelot monitoring in Arizona borderlands
4 WFA Council and WFA Committees - 2016 Perspectives
5 2015 Scholarship Applicants 13 Wild felid genomics: Where are we now?
6 WFA Election Results
7 Letters and Comment Notes From The Field
8 Living Large Conference 19 Assessing Canada lynx biotic interactions and density
9 Workshop: Camera-trap jaguar surveys, Yucatan Management Notes
14 Regional News 20 Canada lynx monitoring in Colorado
17 Q&A Corner
Tools of the Trade
18 2016 Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship
21 PumaPlex: A tool for the genetic analysis of pumas
25 Literature Cited in this Issue
22 Estimating leopard cat density in Sumatra.
26 Recent Publications
23 Maximizing information obtained from wild felid scat
29 Research Highlights
31 Student and Regional Representatives

WFA logo designed by Ben Wright, ben@bwrightimages.com

Cover: Camera trap activities along the Arizona-Mexico Border. University of Arizona/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Back Cover: Ocelot with black iguana. Rodrigo Nuñez

The Wild Felid Monitor

is the biannual newsletter of the Wild Felid Research and Management Association.
The publication is provided to current Association members. To join, renew your membership, or to obtain back-issues of
the newsletter, please visit our website at www.wildfelid.org.

PO Box 486, Hillsboro NM, 88042, USA

E-mail: wildfelidmonitor@gmail.com Website: www.wildfelid.org
ISSN 2167-3861 (print), ISSN 2167-387X (online)

Managing Editor: Harley Shaw, wildfelidmonitor@gmail.com

Corresponding Editor: Kyle Thompson, kylewthomp@gmail.com

Editorial Policy
The Wild Felid Monitor encourages submission of articles, information and letters on ecology, research,
management and conservation of wild felid species, and particularly of those species native to the West-
ern Hemisphere. Preferred length of submissions is about 750 words. Submissions of photos, drawings
and charts are encouraged. Please send photos, graphics and tables as separate files suitable for print-
ing in grayscale and portrait page formatting. Electronic submissions to wildfelidmonitor@gmail.com are
preferred; otherwise mail to the address above. For more information on formatting requirements, go
to http://www.wildfelid.org/monitor.php. The WFA reserves the right to accept, reject and edit submis-
sions. The photos and artwork are copyrighted – please do not reproduce without permission.

2 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 From the WFA President
H ere we are again. It is
the top of the year and
along with all of us, the WFA
is another year older. Happy
2016 to all! It is hard to be-
lieve that we turn 10 years
old this year, or that this issue
marks the 17th of the Wild
Felid Monitor. This year also
marks an important change
for our organization. In ad-
dition to addressing all of you
as our new President, I am ex-
cited to welcome another former Councilor to our leadership. San-
dra Ortiz, Councilor from 2014-15 is now our Vice President, Latin
America, the position I was honored to hold for the past three years.
WFA also welcomes two new officers, Mark Lotz as Vice President,
North America, and Ken Logan as Secretary, as well as two first-time
General Councilors, Rogelio Carrera and Mark Elbroch. To all of
our councilors, both first-time and returning, I look forward to work-
ing with you.
When I submitted my first article to the Monitor in 2008, the
idea of being WFA President was furthest from my mind. After all,
the founding Council consisted of some of the strongest veteran lead-
ership in the field. A combined career history totaling well more
than a century, and spanning a full range of state and federal wildlife
agencies, nonprofit conservation organizations, and academia, will
forever constitute the basis of our founding ideas, and the mission we
now pursue. Due largely to their dedication, and the incomparable
efforts of our prior and current Monitor editors, Chris Papouchis and
Harley Shaw, the WFA today is a leading resource for wildlife biolo-
gists and managers, conservation professionals, and environmental
educators whose careers emphasize or center around cat species.
The past year in particular has seen much to celebrate. In 2015,
we launched our new Latin American Wild Felid Research Grant
program with the generous support of our long-term sponsor, the
Summerlee Foundation. Thanks to them, we were able to award our
first five competitive grants totaling $25,000 in support of diverse
felid research and conservation projects, including an effort to imple-
ment puma-livestock conflict mitigation in central Argentina; an-
other project in Costa Rica that will identify areas critical to regional
habitat connectivity of multiple felid species; and, an assessment of
Submission deadline for the Summer 2016 issue is April 15, 2016
the impact of emerging pathogens on threatened guignas, or kod-
kods, in Chile. Readers can expect to learn more about these projects
in an upcoming issue of the Monitor from the principle investigators
themselves. In addition, thanks to the commitment of Summerlee
and our other sponsors, including the Altria Group and Dee Dawn,
2015 marked the 7th year of our Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship pro-
gram for graduate students. To date, we’ve supported 17 emerging
professionals representing as many different projects and awarded
over $18,000 in scholarships.
Looking to the future, WFA faces many of the same challenges
that other organizations hoping to magnify their impact face. How
for example the WFA will build upon its core strengths and broaden
its reach without compromising the quality of programs we’ve al-
ready established, is certainly among these. As our founding Presi-
dent Linda Sweanor becomes our first Past President on the Council,
I will certainly have very big shoes to fill, and so will no doubt need
the help of not just our Councilors, but the full participation of our
membership, to accomplish this. Whether it is writing content for
our Monitor, serving on our various committees, running as a candi-
date in our upcoming Councilor elections later this year, or sharing
opportunities of potential interest to our membership in the Monitor,
WFA list-serve, or website, your engagement can only benefit us all
and make us stronger.
Our latest edition of the Wild Felid Monitor, arguably the WFA
bedrock, typifies the quality of writing, editing, and the diversity of
subjects and opinions that the publication has become increasingly
known for. In our feature article, Dr. Melanie Culver and her co-
authors update readers on the findings of the University of Arizona’s
jaguar and ocelot monitoring project of southern Arizona and New
Mexico, a fantastically comprehensive project I myself was grateful
to have assisted with over the past few years. Elsewhere in this is-
sue you will learn about a recent camera-trapping capacity-building
workshop in the Yucatan of Mexico, the emergence of a powerful
new genetic tool to monitor and research puma populations, and -
from one of our recent scholarship recipients - the use of noninvasive
methods to describe competitive interactions between Canada lynx
and bobcats in the state of Washington.
As you let the new ideas wash over you with each read, think
about how you can contribute to our next issue, or how you can
help the WFA further its mission. Until summer, wishing you all a
prosperous and successful year.
Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 3
WFA Council 2016
Officers
President Past President
Anthony Giordano, 2016-2018 Linda Sweanor, 2016-2018
Director, S.P.E.C.I.E.S. Wildlife Biologist
P.I., Chaco Jaguar Conservation Project Montrose, Colorado
Ventura, CA USA 93003 970-275-2586 lsweanor@gmail.com
(516) 982-6554 species1@hotmail.com

Vice President – North America Councilors

Mark Lotz, 2016-2018 Rogelio Carrera, 2016-2018
Panther Biologist Professor, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
Naples, FL USA 34114 Escobedo, Nuevo León, Mexico
(239) 417-6352 Mark.Lotz@myfwc.com +52(81)1340-4391 rogeliocarrera@hotmail.com

Vice President – Latin America Mark Elbroch, 2016-2018

Sandra Ortiz, 2016-2018 Puma Program, Panthera
Alianza Nacional para la Conservación del Jaguar Kelly, WY, USA
Mexico City, Mexico (307)200-4928 melbroch@panthera.org
(+52) 15560881709 soamvz@gmail.com
Rodrigo Nunez,2014-2016
Secretary COVIDEC A.C.
Ken Logan, 2016-2018 Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
Mammals Researcher proyectojaguar@gmail.com
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Montrose, CO USA 81401 Christopher Papouchis, 2010-2016
970-275-3227 ken.logan@state.co.us Adjunct Professor
California State Univ &American River College
Treasurer Sacramento, CA, USA
Marcella Kelly, 2014-2016 papouchis@gmail.com
Associate Professor
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Stan Rullman, 2014-2016
Virginia Tech Research Director, EarthWatch
Blacksburg, Virginia, USA Boston, MA 02134
(540) 231-1734 makelly2@vt.edu srullman@earthwatch.org

WFA Committees
Conference – Linda Sweanor & Melanie Culver (co-chairs), Ken Logan

Election – Melanie Culver (chair), Ron Thompson

Membership – Linda Sweanor

Newsletter – Kyle Thompson (chair), Chris Belden, Melanie Culver, Sharon Negri, Chris Papouchis, Laurel Serieys, Harley Shaw,
Linda Sweanor
Scholarship – Marcella Kelly (chair), Ivonne Cassaigne, Anthony Giordano, Ken Logan, David Stoner

Website – Linda Sweanor (chair), Peter McDonald

Grants – Mark Elbroch (chair), Ivonne Cassaigne, Melanie Culver, Anthony Giordano, Sandra Ortiz, Stan Rullman,
Linda Sweanor

4 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 2015 Scholarship Applicants
Thirteen students applied for the 2015 Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship. Although we could only award 3 scholarships (presented in the Sum-
mer 2015 issue), all of the students were highly worthy. Because we think that the work that each of these students is doing is important and
of interest to the WFA membership, we have provided a synopsis of their projects here. We want to thank each of these students for their
commitment to sound science and conservation and wish them success in their current and future endeavors.

Pranav Chanchani Alysa Hansen

PhD candidate, Department of Fish Wildlife and Conservation Biolo- MS candidate, Environmental Studies Department - Conservation
gy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins; pranav@rams.colostate.edu Biology, Antioch University, New England; ahansen@antioch.edu
Advisor: Dr. Barry R. Noon, brnoon@warnercnr.colostate.edu Advisor: Beth Kaplin, bkaplin@antioch.edu
Dissertation: Spatial ecology and conservation of tigers and their preyThesis: Evaluating the effectiveness of visual and audio deterrents in
in the Central Terai Landscape, India decreasing livestock depredation in eastern Africa
Expected completion: winter 2015/ spring 2016. Objectives: The overall goal of this study is to find an effective strat-
Alex Erwin egy to litigate human-wildlife conflict surrounding the predation of
PhD Student, Genetics GIDP, University of Arizona, jaerwin@email. livestock by large carnivores in eastern Africa. My specific objectives
arizona.edu are to determine: 1) if there is a difference in perceived predation of
Advisor: Dr. Melanie Culver, Culver@ag.arizona.edu livestock by large carnivores in eastern Africa and actual predation;
Tentative Dissertation: Development and application of genetic and 2) if there is a relationship between boma characteristics and preda-
genomic tools for the study of pumas tion events; and 3) the effectiveness of deterrent systems on reducing
Objectives: 1) Improve the PumaPlex SNP chip, which will allow livestock predation events.
rapid, affordable genotyping of all samples, including low quality and Expected completion: 2016
non-invasive samples, at over 100 markers. 2) Examine the effects of Anne Hilborn
hunting on population structure, social structure, and reproductive PhD candidate, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Vir-
success in the Uncompahgre Plateau, CO using both genetic data ginia Tech; ahilborn@vt.edu
from PumaPlex and field collected data from Dr. Ken Logan. 3) Advisor: Dr. Marcella Kelly, makelly2@vt.edu
Attempt molecular aging of samples using PCR amplified telomeric Dissertation: Functional response in Serengeti cheetahs
regions of DNA. Objectives: 1) For the first time to determine the functional response
Expected completion: May 2018. of a wild mesopredator. 2) To examine how individual variability of
Orlando Gallo both cheetahs and their prey impacts the functional response of chee-
PhD candidate, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia (DD- tahs. 3) To investigate how collecting prey density data at different
ByF), Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina; gallo.orl@gmail.com spatial and temporal scales impacts estimates of cheetah functional
Major advisor: Dr. Emma Beatriz Casanave, casanave@criba.edu.ar response.
Dissertation: Landscape ecology and genetics of puma (Puma con- Expected completion: December 2016
color) in the Argentine Espinal: analysis of spatial connectivity and
Clint Robins
gene flow MA/PhD candidate, Predator Ecology Lab, School of Environmental
Objectives: 1) Determine the level of genetic variability of the puma
and Forest Sciences, University of Washington; clint.robins4@gmail.
population (or meta-population); 2) Estimate the effective popula-
com, crobins4@uw.edu
tion size; 3) Analyze the population genetic structure and character-
Advisor: Dr. Aaron Wirsing, wirsinga@uw.edu
ize gene flow; Thesis: Investigating how landscape characteristics shape cougar forag-
4) Identify the presence of geographic barriers (particularly those
ing ecology along the urban-to-wildland gradient of western Wash-
with an anthropogenic origin) to dispersion; ington
5) Analyze landscape connectivity and build a map of resistance/con-
Objectives: Our overall goal is to understand whether and how cougar
ductance to gene flow; 6) Contrast genetic with ecological data to
foraging behavior is shaped by the transition from wildland to urban
delineate appropriate conservation strategies. environments. More specifically, how do landscape features along the
Expected completion: April 2020 urban-to-wildland gradient, particularly patch size, patch shape, and
Karina Grau understory cover, influence where cougars choose to hunt for prey.
M.S. candidate, Department of Natural Sciences, New Mexico High- We hypothesize that cougars will hunt in areas with high levels of
lands University, Las Vegas; Karinagrau1@gmail.com concealment (“selective stalk-and-ambush” hypothesis), and in areas
Advisor: Dr. Jesus Rivas, rivas@nmhu.edu with significant amounts of edge, with cover thresholds for successful
Thesis: Crossings: the endangerment and resurgence of the bobcat foraging increasing near residential areas
(Lynx rufus) in New Jersey MA expected completion: December 2015
Objectives: To find ways to better connect habitat in New Jersey, Phillip Rodgers
in order for wildlife, particularly bobcats, to be able to disperse. M.S. candidate, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation,
Expected completion: December 2016 University of Florida; p.rodgers1@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Pienaar

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 5

2015 Scholarship Applicants
Thesis: People and panthers in Golden Gate Estates, Florida: deter- Objectives: To explore the validity of some hypothesis such as human
mining best strategies for interventions, outreach, and policies that impact, current and past climates and ecogeographical rules on life-
benefit residents and the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) history traits in carnivores as well as their extinction risk under pres-
Objectives: 1) Determine what extension and outreach programs and/ sure of climate change and, finally design proposals to conservation
or policies would benefit Florida panthers and Florida residents who concern.
experience human-panther interactions and conflicts. 2) Identify Expected completion: January 2016
residents’ perceptions of-and attitudes towards the Florida panther Elliott Zieman
and associated risks, livestock and pet ownership, and wildlife man- PhD candidate, Department of Zoology and Cooperative Wildlife
agement agencies involved in managing human-panther interactions Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; ezie-
and conflicts. 3) Identify missing components or weaknesses of cur- man@siu.edu
rent management extension and outreach programs related to the Co-advisors: F. Agustín Jiménez and Clayton K. Nielsen, agustinjz@
Florida panther that are used in Golden Gate Estates. 4) Develop zoology.siu.edu, kezo92@siu.edu
and test social & behavioral models to assist in the development of Dissertation: Genetic diversity and seasonal fluctuations of Cytaux-
interventions, outreach programs, and policies related to the Floridazoon felis in three hosts: bobcats (Lynx rufus), domestic cats (Felis
panther. catus) and tick vectors (Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor
Expected completion: May 2016 variabilis)
Erik Joaquín Torres-Romero Objectives: 1) evaluate C. felis infections in bobcats, domestic cats,
PhD candidate, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, and ticks; 2) determine the genetic diversity of C. felis infections in
Madrid, Spain; ejtr23@hotmail.com bobcats, domestic cats, and ticks; and 3) evaluate seasonal changes in
Advisor: Miguel A. Olalla-Tárraga, Miguel.olalla@urjc.es C. felis in bobcats, domestic cats, and ticks.
Dissertation: Macroecology on the geographical distribution range on Expected completion: May 2017
carnivores: evaluation at global and regional scales.

WFA Election 2015

T he WFA membership elected 4 new members to the Council for the 2016-2018 term, including 2 officers
and 2 General Councilors. Mark Lotz and Ken Logan were elected as Vice President North America
and Secretary, respectively, and Mark Elbroch and Rogelio Carrera were elected as Councilors. Additionally,
Sandra Ortiz was elected Vice President Latin America after serving a previous 2-year term as a Councilor,
and Anthony Giordano was elected President after serving a 3-year term as Vice President Latin America. You
can read brief bios on each of these members in the summer 2015 issue of the Monitor. There were multiple,
highly qualified candidates for 2 positions: Secretary and Councilor. I want to express my thanks to Ron
Thompson and Robert Fitak for throwing their hats into the ring. Ron has been integral to WFA’s function
not only as a founding Council member, but also as a Regional Representative Coordinator and as member
of the Election Committee. Robert has contributed articles and has also provided the list of “Recent Publica-
tions” to the Monitor for the past 2 years. I hope both of them will consider running for Council again in the
future. Two Councilors will be stepping down from Council after serving 3-year terms: Laurel Serieys (Vice
President North America) and Aimee Rockhill (Councilor). I want to thank both of them for contributing to
WFA’s success and I encourage them to remain active on various WFA committees. As dictated in our bylaws,
I will stay active on Council as “Past President.” The WFA Council will thus comprise 11 members starting
January 2016. To encourage voting in the 2015 election, WFA held a drawing from returned ballots for a free
mousepad with the WFA logo. The winner from a drawing of 48 ballots (4 other ballots were received late)
was Dave Choate. WFA’s next election will occur this summer. We will be electing 1 officer (Treasurer) and 3
Councilors. If you are interested in running for WFA Council, please contact Melanie Culver, Election Chair.
~ Linda Sweanor

6 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 A Very Special Thanks to Linda Sweanor as She Steps Down

W ith this issue, Founding President Linda Sweanor steps down after 10 years as WFA President. Linda has been
the primary force in building WFA into a strong and credible organization. We truly wouldn’t be where we are
without her tireless efforts and leadership. Though none of us know how, she single-handedly:
•… Maintained communication with WFA Board, Committee Members, and general membership.
•… Located and applied for grants and donations .
•… Edited submitted articles, helping and encouraging authors whose primary language was not English.
•… Served as copy editor assuring the quality of the Wild Felid Monitor.
•… Maintained the WFA web and facebook pages.
Somehow she has carried out this more-than-full-time job while raising a son and seeing him off to college, partnered with
husband Ken Logan in ongoing puma research, helped organize periodic Mountain Lion Workshops, attended pertinent con-
ferences, served in various temporary positions with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and has been a substitute teacher in the
Montrose school system. On behalf of the current and past council members, WFA members, and the wild felids themselves,
we can only express our appreciation. Linda, you have earned a well-deserved rest. Just don’t go too far away.

Letters and Comments

If you have something you’d like to share, send it to us at: Wild.Felid.Association@gmail.com
Due to space limitations, letters may be edited for publication

Observations on felid rub response prescriptions for jaguar populations incorporate source and sink
concepts and management to resolve jaguar-human conflicts. Zone
I have some observations in regards to the article “Can scent elicit a
rub response in puma?” in the summer 2015 Wild Felid Monitor.
While camera-monitoring jaguars in southern Arizona from 2001 to
management partitions a species’ range, with each zone treated as
an experiment having its own hypotheses, objectives, and prescrip-
tions. We suggest at least two zone prescriptions: 1) Where native
2005, I established 74 scent devices. I used a scented carpet pad baited
prey populations are sufficient, jaguar-friendly livestock management
with commercial coyote bait “Canine Call” from Minnesota Trapline.
practices, such as synchronized calving, with payments made directly
Baits were placed at scrape sites and where scat or tracks of puma were
to livestock owners for losses to jaguars; and 2) refuges where no
found. I also placed Canine Call on rocks in front of cameras. Two
removal of jaguars or alteration of their habitat is permitted, to pro-
male jaguars were photographed in canyons where hair snares were
tect reliable source populations. Management will employ proven
located. I checked the snares and cameras every 6 weeks for 1189 days
jaguar-human conflict resolution techniques, such as community
between May 2001 and August 2004 and collected 192 hair samples.
capacity building, payments for jaguar presence, and livestock preda-
Aletris Neils microscopically examined 78 samples of which 51 were
tion reduction methods, such as electrified paddocks. Government
identified to species: 22 puma, 20 gray fox, 3 puma and gray fox mixed,
and NGO biologists should estimate unlawful killing of jaguar, jag-
3 black bear, and 1 each cow, coyote and skunk. Dr. Melanie Culver’s
uar prey abundance and distriution; map suspected sources or sinks,
lab at the University of Arizona verified 11 of the 22 puma samples by
and gauge unlawful take of prey These procedures should be based
DNA analysis. The cameras recorded many animals reacting to this
on telemetry, genetic or camera trap research, which of necessity may
bait but jaguars ignored it. The cameras recorded puma reacting to this
be limited to limited areas. Large-scale population monitoring must
bait many times. Male pumas would smell the bait but did not cheek
be accomplished using genetic analysis of scats and monitoring of
rub it or roll on it. However, several females cheek rubbed, rolled, and
individuals with statistically valid trail camera grids.
some exhibited flehman. One picture showed a male puma watching
In Sonora, Mexico, in collaboration with the nonprofit Greater-
a female cheek-rub the scented rock. My assumption is that female
Good.org, we have initiated a test for increasing native prey, payment
puma are more likely to rub these scents when they are in estrous.
for verified livestock losses to jaguar, and synchronized calving, in
~Jack Childs
an area suspected as being the closest source for jaguars entering the
Testing a concept of zone management for maintaining United States. We will reimburse ranchers for loses of livestock to
subpopulations of jaguar (Panthera onca) in Mexico jaguar and puma, and develop ranch management that synchronizes
livestock births. We will supplement native prey populations with
I mmediate wildlife management actions are needed more than translocated peccary (Pecari tajacu), an animal important in the diets
ever to maintain jaguar populations in Mexico. These popula- of jaguar and puma (Cassaigne et al., in review, S. W. Nat.).
tions, increasingly separated by habitat fragmentation, are the source ~Ivonne Cassaigne and Ron Thompson
for jaguars immigrating into the United States. Zone management

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 7

Conferences and Meetings
Conference Report - Living Large: wolves, bears, cougars and humans in North America
Linda Sweanor

T he conference “Living Large: Wolves, bears, cougars and humans in North America” was held at Gallaudet University, Washington DC,
October 12-14, 2015 and was hosted by the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy, The
Cougar Fund, and the Summerlee Foundation. The primary goal of the conference was to illuminate the “best ideas from animal welfare, con-
servation biology, public policy, conflict resolution, land and other disciplines in the interests of securing the future of these iconic creatures.”
The conference was attended by an estimated 130-150 people, representing a variety of institutions and organizations including universities
and NGOs, as well as a representative from the USFWS (Dan Ashe, Director), USFS (John Shivik), and the USDA – APHIS (Stewart Breck).
Missing from the roster was any representation from state agencies that are responsible for managing populations of large predators that are
not listed as threatened or endangered (i.e., the puma in western states, quite possibly populations of wolves and grizzly bears in the future).
The location of the conference may have posed a challenge to most of the state agencies, given strapped budgets and limited travel allowances.
This was unfortunate because the conference provided valuable insights, including a better understanding of the interests of a large, probably
growing, number of publics that value large predators for reasons other than sport or their effect on other wild game.
Presentations covered myriad topics including: carnivore population demographics; alternate management approaches to the North
American Model; whether animals have intrinsic value (i.e., what it is, not what it does); the importance of the individual (in contrast to
management at the population level); human impacts on large carnivores; successful approaches to carnivore recovery in Europe’s human-
dominated landscapes; coexisting with carnivores; attitudes toward predators and predator control; whether sport-hunting is really a critical
management tool; does “hunting to conserve” work with carnivores?; understanding stakeholder culture; and the legal and ethical landscape.
Bill Lynn, Senior Fellow for Ethics and Public Policy at Loyola Marymount University emphasized the importance of ethics by stating, “Train-
ing wildlife commissions and agency personnel in ethics is essential to helping them understand the moral elements of public concerns and
comments, as well as properly responding to these concerns and comments through the framing and implementation of environmental poli-
cies and wildlife management strategies.”  At the end of the conference, speakers were invited to an afternoon roundtable discussion with the
objective of developing a new vision for large predators in North America.
HSUS listed several points they felt were validated at the meeting (still in draft form when I wrote this summary), including:
• Large carnivores are under threat in North America from anthropogenic mortality, even as their presence in naturally-regulated
populations enhances biological diversity and ecosystem health.
• Hunting large carnivores is ineffective at reducing human conflicts.
• Killing large carnivores disrupts the social behavior and organization of wild populations and in some species, such as cougars, can
lead to greater conflicts with humans and livestock.
• The public favors non-lethal methods over lethal methods of wildlife control.Conservation efforts must be customized to the local
situation.
• Native carnivores are increasingly valued as more beneficial alive than dead, as assets, not liabilities.
• Each individual animal holds intrinsic value as a family member and ecosystem actor.
• Science is too frequently subordinated to ideology in the arena of wildlife management decision-making.
• Large North American carnivores rebound when their persecution is prohibited and their habitats are made whole again.
HSUS also indicated support for a paradigm shift in large carnivore management. Some of the actions they enumerated include: ending
trophy hunting of large carnivores; balancing state wildlife commissions so as to represent the values of all publics; constructively engaging a
cross-section of publics to develop programs that support ranchers and native carnivores; prioritizing non-lethal methods to prevent depreda-
tion; purchasing select public grazing allotments; encouraging federal and state agencies to canvas input from all publics and to moderate
constructive debate among the different publics.
Throughout the conference, participants struggled with the term “stakeholder.” Many felt it didn’t include people who cared about but
weren’t directly using the “resource.” Presently, hunters pay for most state management and conservation activities. To become stakeholders,
other interested publics need to find ways to directly support management and conservation efforts. Missing from this conference was any dis-
cussion on an alternate conservation economy that will support carnivore management and conservation if we stop hunting large carnivores.
Where will the money come from? Who will pay for it?
The final conference report along with the presentation .pdfs can be found on the HSISP website: 
http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/hsisp/?referrer=http://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?q=HSISP&o=apn10506&prt=cr.

For updated news, Q&A, and much more, check out the Wild Felid
Research and Management web page: http://www.wildfelid.org/

8 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 Conferences and Meetings
Workshop on camera trap methodologies for surveying and monitoring jaguars and their prey
in the Yucatan Penensula, Mexico
Marco A. Lazcano-Barrero, Director Reserva Ecológica El Edén A. C. and Mo
nitoring Project Manager for RRPSPY.
mlazcanobarrero@hotmail.com
Adrien Gasse-MargatCoordinator - Red de Reservas Privadas y Sociales de la Península de Yucatán (RRPSPY). reddereservas@gmail.com

T he Red de Reservas Privadas y Sociales de la Península de Yucatán (RRPSPY) seeks to consolidate a network of community and private
protected areas along key biological corridors within the Yucatan Peninsula. The long-term viability of wildlife species with extensive
habitat requirements (such as jaguars, white lipped peccaries, and migrant birds) as well as the maintenance of hydrological processes will
depend, to a large extent, on our capacity to work with land owners to integrate a mosaic of protected lands that ensure ecosystem connectivity
between the major protected areas in the Yucatán Peninsula. One of our main objectives is to generate technical information, through short
and long term monitoring of jaguars and their prey, as well as key species of migrant and resident birds.
For this reason, we held the Workshop on Camera-Trap Methodologies for Surveying and Monitoring Jaguars and their Prey in the
Yucatan Peninsula from March 24 to 26, 2015, in Merida, Yucatán. The workshop brought together 25 people from 10 national NGO´s, 2
international NGO´s, 4 academic institutions (including one from Ecuador), one environmental consultant and one federal government
authority. Participants included experts on camera-trap monitoring and data analysis. To define the most appropriate methods for monitoring
jaguars and prey, previous efforts made in Mexico and Latin America were reviewed, as they apply to the eco-geographic characteristics of
the peninsula. Participants sought to develop standards for different objectives and levels of sampling, including determination of occupation
by jaguar; estimation of abundance of jaguars and prey and assessment of changes in the abundance of these species over time as related to
environmental and anthropogenic factors. We generated the following products and agreements:
I. Design procedures for monitoring jaguars and their prey at several scales in the Yucatan Peninsula. A brief manual is being prepared.
II. Create a database of geographic information where camera trap census and monitoring efforts have been implemented in the Yucatan
Peninsula over the last 12 years.
III. Collaborative agreement among institutions to generate a joint effort for the census of jaguar and prey in the Yucatan Peninsula, over
the next two years.
IV. Long-term monitoring program to generate strategic information to maintain faunal connectivity and ecosystem health in the Yucatan
Peninsula.
V. A collaborative agreement between Guatemala (Defensores de la Naturaleza) and Mexico (Instituto de Ecología, UNAM) for joint
jaguar research and conservation efforts across the Usumacinta River basin in the Lacandon Rainforest shared by both countries.
A major next step will be to link land owners with the project, thus building a conservation culture and a platform for regional biodiversity,
land use, and climate change monitoring at the peninsular level.
We would like to recognize the special participation of Leonardo Maffei from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Cuauhtémoc Chávez
from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Campus Lerma, Heliot Zarza from the Instituto de Ecología, UNAM, and Patricia Oropeza
from the Dirección General de Especies Prioritarias para la Conservación, CONANP. Our network is part of a larger alliance, Itzincab, which
is focused on sustainable development in the Yucatan Peninsula, with the support of The Claudia and Roberto Hernández Foundation, The

Participants at the Workshop from left to right

back to front: Ricardo Pasos, Pepe Patron, Braulio
Argüelles, Alonso Serna, Marco A. Lazcano-Barrero,
Markus Telkamp, Pablo Navarro, Juan Carlos
Faller, Luis Pereira, Abraham Angulo, Barbara
Mackinnon, Christian Martínez, Rebeca Escobar,
Patricia Oropeza, Heliot Zarza, Leonardo Maffei,
María Andrade, Cuauhtémoc Chavez and James
Callaghan.

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 9

Invited Article

Jaguar and ocelot monitoring in Arizona and New Mexico borderlands

Melanie Culver, U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Natural Resources and the
Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ culver@ag.arizona.edu
Kyle Thompson, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Susan Malusa, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Ron Thompson, PrimeroConservation.org
Chris Bugbee, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Jack Childs, Borderland Trackers, Tucson, AZ
Kirk Emerson, School of Government and Public Policy, University of Arizona
Tim Fagan, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Patricia Harveson, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX
Lisa Haynes, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, Wild Cat Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Jim Sanderson, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Jatta Sheehy, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Tom Skinner, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Nick Smith, Mulesnhounds LLC Wildlife capture and census, Quemado, NM

W e conducted a three-year study of jaguars and ocelots in We detected 3 male ocelots 13 times in the Santa Rita Mountains
southern Arizona and New Mexico across 16 mountain ranges, (1 individual) and Huachuca Mountains (2 individuals). According
hoping to establish an effective survey and monitoring procedure for to AGFD records, between 1890 and 2011 (and prior to this study),
these cryptic and scarce species. We hoped to develop a method 13 ocelots had been detected, for a detection rate of 1 ocelot per 8.5
that would provide high probability of detecting jaguar and ocelot years. The detection rate during this study was 1 ocelot every year.
occurrence in the border area. Only one ocelot had been documented by a trail camera in Arizona

The combined method of trail cameras with scat collection and genetic analysis allowed us to repeatedly detect one
male jaguar and three male ocelots during this three-year study, suggesting that jaguars and ocelots are dispersing
into Arizona from northern Mexico.

The study area incorporated most of the mountainous areas prior to this study. We did not document jaguars or ocelots in any
north of the U.S.-Mexico international border and south of of the other mountain ranges that we surveyed.
Interstate 10, from the Baboquivari Mountains in Arizona to the
Peloncillo Mountains in New Mexico (Figure 1). We employed two Seasonality of Felid Detections
methods to detect jaguars and ocelots for this study: paired motion- Although detections for ocelots were relatively scarce, jaguars, ocelots,
sensor “trail” cameras and genetic testing of large and small felid scats pumas, and bobcats showed the same general trend in detections—a
collected in the field. We deployed cameras at 233 sites throughout primary peak in late spring and a much less defined secondary peak
the study area, and collected jaguar and ocelot scat with the aid of in the fall. Forty-five percent of our ocelot photos occurred in May,
a scat detector dog. Field personnel also incidentally collected any and in that month we also recorded 20% of our jaguar detections
possible jaguar or ocelot scat. (compared to an expected 8.3%, assuming there is no monthly dif-
The long-term goals of this project were to: 1) provide new
knowledge about jaguars to public land managers, landowners, and
the general public; 2) contribute to policy and management decisions
for jaguar conservation; 3) create a useable knowledge-base to inform
management decisions for jaguars on the ground; 4) demonstrate
the value of long-term monitoring; and 5) if possible, document the
occurrence of jaguars and ocelots on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico
border.
We documented a single male jaguar in the Santa Rita Mountains
of Arizona during the study period. We documented this jaguar an
average every 7.9 days (out of 1035 calendar days), with detection
frequency ranging from 2 hours to 45 days. This jaguar appeared in ference in detections).
118 photographs, and genetic tests attributed 13 scats to him. Our A decline in jaguar detections occurred in July-August with only
surveillance suggested he did not leave the Santa Rita Mountain four detections compared to an expected fourteen if no seasonal dif-
Range for the duration of our study, from September 2012 to June ference existed. These summer detections represented less than 5%
2015. of the total. Activity itself may not have declined so much as detect-

10 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 Invited Article

Figure 1. Study Area including 16 mountain ranges monitored, only those mountain ranges mentioned in the text are labeled in the
map. Note: Atascosa Mountain complex comprises three mountain ranges including the Tumacacori, Atascosa, and Pajarito Moun-
tains.

ability. As canyon bottoms fill and water becomes more ubiquitous ness (where species richness = species/species category, or the number
across the landscape during the Southwest’s monsoon season, wildlife of distinct species within larger categories of related species such as
may spend less time traveling linear canyon bottoms and more time birds or rodents) followed by the Huachuca Mountains and Baboqui-
on slopes and in higher elevations. vari Mountains. All three of these mountain ranges have also docu-
mented jaguars or ocelots (both species in our study, and one jaguar
Felid Co-occurrence in a previous study; McCain and Childs 2008). The three sites with
In the Santa Rita Mountains, four of the five camera sites most the greatest species richness were in the northern Santa Rita Moun-
often visited by pumas and three of the four camera sites most often tains, the same area where we documented all four Arizona felids and
visited by bobcats (out of more than 50 camera sites) were also the only place in the U.S. with jaguar and ocelot detections in the
jaguar detection sites. In the northern Santa Rita Mountains, all same mountain range. Mountain ranges with high species richness
four felids (puma, jaguar, bobcat, ocelot) were detected at two sites. may be more likely to support a neotropical felid on the fringe of its
In a camera study using 38 cameras in Sonora, Mexico, pumas and distribution by supporting a wide range of prey. Our study suggests
jaguars were photographed at 34 and 22 sites, respectively and both that species richness may be a predictor of where jaguars and ocelots
species were photographed at 21 sites (James Sanderson, personal may occur in Arizona and New Mexico. However, jaguars are known
communication). In Suriname, pumas and jaguars co-occurred at all to have occurred in the Patagonia Mountains (most recently in 1965),
42 camera locations (James Sanderson - Personal Communication). Chiricahua Mountains (most recently between 1926-1930), Pelon-
These and other studies show that jaguars and pumas often visit the cillo Mountains (most recently 1996; Warner Glenn, personal com-
same locations; hence, high-value camera sites are those that also munication), Coyote, Atascosa, Tumacacori, and Pajarito Mountains
have a high frequency of puma photographs. (most recently 2009; Jack Childs, personal communication), San
Luis Mountains, NM (most recently 2006; Federal Register Vol. 77,
Prey No. 161), and Dos Cabezas Mountain ranges (most recently in 1983;
In our study, the Santa Rita Mountains had the highest species rich- Brown and López-González 2001). With the exception of the San

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 11

Invited Article
Luis Mountains, NM, which we did not monitor, all of these moun- munication), but low detection rates of scat for cryptic predators are
tain ranges documenting jaguar occurrence between 1926 – 2009, typical results of such surveys, especially in arid climates (Rinkevich
had a lower species richness during our study, with the Dos Cabe- 2012). Habitat use by ocelots in Arizona is still largely unknown.
zas Mountains having the lowest overall. White-tailed deer were the
most common species detected in 16 mountain ranges and in 211 Future Jaguar/Ocelot Monitoring
of 233 camera sites throughout the study, including both mountain Given that at least one new jaguar moves into the U.S. approximately
ranges where we detected the jaguar and ocelots. every 3-5 years ( based upon historical records between 1942 – 2011),

We recommend that the U.S. and Mexican officials explore ongoing collaborative research, coordinated law en-
forcement, and cooperative conservation efforts to benefit these two endangered borderland felids.

The information above is useful for documenting species rich- and that both jaguars and ocelots are listed as endangered under the
ness in each of the 16 mountain ranges in our study area; however, Endangered Species Act of 1973, we recommend that a long-term
we acknowledge that species richness may be affected by effort. The monitoring system be implemented. Ongoing monitoring is neces-
Santa Rita Mountains, which had the highest richness, also had the sary, because in our study new individuals of some species were not
greatest effort (17,244 camera days); in contrast, the Dos Cabezas detected until two years into the study. Because jaguars apparently
Mountains, which had the lowest richness, also had the lower ef- have large home ranges at this northern extreme (Ivonne Cassaigne,
fort (936 camera days). Therefore, the level of effort in each moun- personal communication), and because some become residents, new
cats could be detected with a few well-placed cameras per moun-
tain range. Based on our intensive project, we can now recommend a
minimum of high-probability camera sites that could be monitored
on a periodic or rotating basis.
The ocelot detections in this study are important, especially
given that our cameras were placed to detect large felids (jaguar
and puma). A future study focused specifically on ocelot detection
through camera placement in ocelot habitat in Arizona might yield
more ocelot detections.

Conclusion
Trail cameras proved valuable to detect sparsely occurring species. The
combined method of trail cameras with scat collection and genetic
tain range could contribute to the level of species/species category analysis allowed us to repeatedly detect one male jaguar and three
richness documented in that mountain range. However, the Coyote male ocelots during this three-year study, suggesting that jaguars and
Mountains had the third highest richness with the fifth lowest effort ocelots are dispersing into Arizona from northern Mexico. However,
(1,933 camera days total); thus, number of camera sites does not nec- current research in Sonora, Mexico suggests that threats to these
essarily bias richness. felids (use of poisons, habitat fragmentation, opportunistic shoot-
ings) are increasing in the nearest core breeding populations ( 200 km
Jaguar and Ocelot Scat Detections south for jaguars and 50 – 200 km south for ocelots (—cite SW Nat
A detector dog was used to increase jaguar and ocelot detections and paper, in press). Continued trans-border monitoring for jaguars and
proved to be valuable, particularly for jaguar detections. Jaguar scats ocelots in Arizona/New Mexico and Mexico is needed, particularly
detected by this dog accounted for 1/3 of the jaguar location events. in high potential jaguar corridors and core habitats. We recommend
This study obtained 13 jaguar scats from one jaguar using one detec- that the U.S. and Mexican officials explore ongoing collaborative
tor dog. Since this study was primarily focused on jaguar detections, research, coordinated law enforcement, and cooperative conservation
more time was spent searching for jaguar than for ocelot. No ocelot efforts to benefit these two endangered borderland felids.
scats were detected by the detector dog. Given more time to search
for ocelot scat we are fairly confident we would be more successful. Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service using
Photographs Versus Scat Locations Department of Homeland Security border mitigation funds. We ap-
Confirmed jaguar scat obtained from scat detector dog searches gen- preciate the 18 citizen scientists and volunteers who are monitoring
erally had a higher elevational average than jaguar photographs. The some of the remaining camera sites, and citizen science coordinators
lowest confirmed scat was collected at 1,650 m, and nine of twelve Emily Reynolds and Randy Gimblett. We thank Alex Ochoa for help
were collected at elevations over 1,700 m. Most cameras were located with genetic analyses. We also want to thank Dave Brown, Harley
in canyon bottoms, but based on scat locations the jaguar also trav- Shaw, Grant Harris, Aletris Neils, George Ferguson, Andy Honaman,
eled on slopes and ridges. Scat searches, both opportunistic and using Jesse Schaa, Mickey Reed for helping facilitate the project. We are es-
the scat detector dog, in the Huachuca Mountains did not yield posi- pecially grateful to the 20 private landowners who gave us permission
tive ocelot samples. There is some evidence to suggest that other car- to cross or work their private lands. We also express our appreciation
nivores readily consume ocelot scat (Chris Bugbee - Personal Com- to the Arizona and New Mexico ranching community.

12 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 Perspectives
Wild felid genomics: where are we now?
By Robert Fitak, Department of Biology, Duke University, robert.fitak@duke.edu

T he application of genetics only recently permeated the field of believed to confer adaptation to high-elevations. The transcriptomes
conservation biology, yet has become an ubiquitous component have given us new genetic markers for pumas and suggested that pig-
of wildlife management programs. However, just as these genetic mentation in a cheetah’s spots is more complicated than originally
principles are becoming conservation parlance, the field is undergo- thought.
ing a dramatic shift into ‘conservation genomics.’ Some of us have What are the conservation implications? The sequencing of
been captivated by the power and promise of conservation genom- these genomes has had little immediate conservation value, and this
ics (including myself ) whereas others remain skeptical. Thus far, void between the academic effort and management implications has
how have wild felids benefitted from genomics? What more can be been referred to as the “conservation genomics gap” (Shafer et al.
learned? The following provides a brief introduction to a few key 2015). This gap will shrink over time, as data become cheaper to
concepts and my perspective on the answers to these questions. obtain, analysis procedures more streamlined, and bridges are built
I guess it is best to begin with illustrating the difference between between the many disciplines required to interpret these data. Mean-
conservation genetics and conservation genomics since there is no while, these genomes provide the ultimate resource for selection of
defined line that can be drawn between them. I often like to con- genetic markers and analysis of gene expression. More genetic mark-
dense this difference into the irony “genetics targets the genome and ers will increase the resolution of current conservation genetic ques-
genomics targets the genes”. This may not make sense at first (hence tions (or elevate current, biologically insignificant effects to statistical
the irony), so let me explain. Using genetics, which generally em- significance,if you are a pessimist) and aid in the identification of
ploys a handful of DNA markers, we calculate values (e.g. genetic elusive adaptive variation. Understanding which genes are turned on
variation, inbreeding, introgression) that summarize the entire ge- and off in response to certain conditions, disease for example, can be
nome of a species. On the other hand, in genomics, we examine addressed using transcriptomes. Perhaps using more powerful tools
thousands, millions or even billions (every DNA base) of genetic to address questions akin to those that have been asked for the past
markers, and we calculate the same values for small windows as we 30 years will prove to be futile, and we may need to reframe our ques-
traverse the genome. Here, we are interested in oddball windows that tions. I encourage the conservation and management community to
are noticeably different from the rest, as they may contain a particular not be quick to discredit an immature field and to participate in the
gene or region of interest. For example, a window with an extreme discussion to help close the gap. Or better yet, begin thinking about
paucity of genetic variation may indicate a gene under selection and the next wave in molecular conservation, conservation epigenomics,
thus a candidate for a local adaptation. The ability to obtain the which we will reserve for a later discussion.
data necessary to study genomes can be attributed to newly devel-
oped sequencing technologies, which have become the workhorses of Table 1: List of current genome resources for felids
modern molecular ecology.
Which felid genomes have been sequenced (see Table 1)? As of Genome Status Publication/Link
writing, only the domestic cat has a high-quality, complete genome Felis catus complete Pontius et al. 2007, Montague et
sequence available. This genome is also quite representative of other, al. 2014
closely related cat species like the European and Near Eastern wildcats. Felis margarita in progress http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/biopro-
However, incomplete draft genomes have been made available for the ject/286909
lion, tiger, and snow leopard. A draft genome usually means nearly
Felis chaus in progress http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/biopro-
all the DNA bases and genes are known, but still exist in thousands of
ject/286908
fragments of unknown order. Stitching together all these fragments
into their respective chromosomes requires a much larger effort. Ge-
nomes for the cheetah, jaguar, Iberian lynx, Asian leopard cat, desert Felis silvestris in progress http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/biopro-
cat, jungle cat, and Florida panther are near completion and will be ject/253950
available soon, but several lineages, including the ocelot, caracal, and Panthera tigris Draft Cho et al. 2013
bay cat are still without a representative genome. Researchers can
Panthera leo Draft Cho et al. 2013
also reduce a genome to only the parts that are actively made into
proteins. These “transcriptomes”, as they are often called, have been Panthera Draft Cho et al. 2013
sequenced from mountain lion blood and a cheetah’s “spots”. uncia
The genomes sequenced to date have provided a wealth of in- Panthera onca in progress http://www.pucrs.br/fabio/labs/ge-
formation on the evolutionary history of felids. It appears that ex- noma/jaguargenome
tensive diversification has occurred in the olfactory activity of many Acinonyx in progress http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/biopro-
species. Additionally, modification of genes related to meat digestion jubatus ject/297824
and muscle development is common across the genus Panthera. In
the snow leopard, unique mutations have been identified that are

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 13

Regional News
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina
South Argentina (Río Negro)
In Río Negro province, north of the Argen-
tinean Patagonia, the government promotes
the lethal control of pumas (Puma concolor)
through rewards (Law N° 763). This policy
has been erratically applied since 1972. Its
efficiency in mitigating depredation dam-
age has not been evaluated and its impact
on puma populations is still unknown. In
2014 Pablo Gáspero (gaspero.pablo@gmail.
com) launched a project to study carnivore-
livestock conflicts from a socio-ecological
approach: a combination of psychosocial
research with ecology of landscape and com-
munity. Given the complexity of regional
livestock systems, he established two study
sites. One is dominated by small holders
and another one by large sheep farms. In
this context he assesses farmer´s behavior
regarding carnivores, and responses of the as-
semblage facing the anthropic disturbances:
hunt pressures and environmental degrada-
tion. In both sites he estimates abundance
and habitat selection using analogic camera
traps. Pablo also studies prey selection pat-
terns. His main objective is to promote car-
nivore-friendly husbandry practices.
South Argentina (Chubut)
In Patagonia Argentina, sheep farmers con-
sider the puma as a major predator of sheep.
In Chubut Province the puma was declared
harmful to livestock farming and its hunt-
ing is encouraged through rewards for each
captured puma. Information about factors
underlying the conflict between farmers and
the puma is poor. Research conducted by
Romina Llanos (rllanos@cenpat-conicet.gob.
ar) and her colleagues addresses the issue
from an interdisciplinary perspective, com-
bining concepts and techniques of both the
natural and social sciences. They hope their
results will contribute to the management
of the cougar in Chubut, showing alterna-
tives that minimize conflict and ensure puma
conservation, and also providing ways to im-
prove provincial regulations. They aim for
a deeper understanding of the relationship
between different stakeholders and native
fauna.
~Nicolás Caruso
14 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016
NORTH AMERICA student at SDSU (Randy.Johnson@sdstate.
United States edu).
-Randy Johnson
Arizona
The Arizona Game & Fish Department will South Dakota
continue to monitor mountain lion popula- South Dakota will once again hold a state-
tions on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge wide mountain lion hunting season. The
this winter.   After a long, hot summer the Black Hills season will run from December
monitoring using camera traps and snare 26, 2015 to March 31, 2016, or stop imme-
sites will commence in November.   New diately if a quota of 75 total mountain lions
GPS trap transmitter hardware was pro- or 50 females is reached. The use of hounds
cured this summer and will allow remote within the Black Hills region is only allowed
monitoring of all deployed snares set this within Custer State Park, during specific in-
season.  This new capability will increase the tervals. Outside of the Black Hills area, the
area to be monitored and provide real-time season remains open year-round and without
information on snare status. a harvest quota. A rule change implemented
-John Clemons   during 2015 allows for the use of hounds to
pursue mountain lions on private land out-
North Dakota side of the Black Hills.
The North Dakota mountain lion hunting
The 2016 mountain lion harvest quota
season opened on September 4, 2015 and is identical to the 2015 hunting season. Last
will continue until March 31, 2016. The year, the season remained open until March
state is split into two hunting zones, with the 31, and a total of 43 mountain lions were
entire established mountain lion population harvested, 22 of which were females. For
within Zone 1, in the western part of the more information or to check harvest up-
state. This Zone has a quota system in place, dates, visit gfp.sd.gov.
allowing for 14 mountain lions to be taken
Bobcat research continues in western
from September 4, 2015 to November 22, South Dakota. The project, a joint effort be-
2015. After this early season, an additional 7 tween South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
mountain lions may be taken during the late and South Dakota State University, was initi-
season, running November 23, 2015 until ated in 2012 and will continue until spring
March 31, 2016. The use of hounds to pur- 2016. The project’s objectives include assess-
sue and take mountain lions is only allowed ing bobcat survival, cause-specific mortal-
during the late season. Zone 2 comprises the ity, home range size, and population size in
rest of the state and is considered unsuitable western South Dakota. The research is being
habitat. Zone 2 remains open for the entire conducted by Brandon Tycz (Brandon.Tycz@
season, and has no quota. sdstate.edu), a graduate student at South Da-
The 2016 mountain lion hunting season kota State University.
quota and structure is identical to the 2015 -Randy Johnson
season. During last year’s season, a total of
12 mountain lions were harvested, with 5 Kentucky
during the early season and 7 during the late Since 2012, the Kentucky Department of
season. All harvested lions were within Zone Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) has
1. For more information or to check harvest been monitoring the bobcat population in
updates, visit gf.nd.gov. central Kentucky. State furbearer biologist,
The only felid research currently taking Laura Palmer, is leading the study and has
place in North Dakota is an ongoing moun- collared approximately 60 bobcats since its
tain lion research project. This is a coopera- inception. After accounting for collar fail-
tive effort between the North Dakota Game ures and missing animals, about 40 of these
and Fish Department and South Dakota bobcats will ultimately provide data on their
State University (SDSU). This winter marks home range characteristics and movement
the second and final season of intensive cap- patterns. KDFWR also intends to identify
ture efforts. The project’s objectives include survival rates and causes of mortality for these
fitting mountain lions with GPS collars to cats, as well as improve methods of monitor-
investigate survival, cause-specific mortality, ing bobcats through the use of remotely-
habitat use and more. This project is part of triggered cameras and statistical population
research done by Randy Johnson, a master’s reconstruction in Kentucky. Both VHF and
 Regional News
GPS collars are used to monitor the popula- gars with dogs was legal (1989 – 1994) and life population and distribution dynamics in
tion. Individual bobcats are tracked until a illegal (2002 – 2011). Model results indicate Wisconsin. This study aims to improve pop-
minimum of 12 months of data is compiled, that current management practices and har- ulation estimates and explore the spatial and
and the home range is established. vest regulations, combined with short-term, temporal components that drive species dy-
As the study is still ongoing, data has not intensive, and localized population reduc- namics in the state. Population dynamics will
been conclusively analyzed; however, some tions, are unlikely to negatively affect the be related to variables that can be remotely
patterns are evident that are consistent with short-term viability of cougar populations in sensed using satellites including vegetation
other bobcat home range research. Males northeast Oregon. To investigate the relative cover types, structure, and phenology, as
tend to have larger home ranges than females, factors influencing elk population growth well as community species interactions. Vol-
and move throughout them more often. Ac- rates, Darren also developed a population unteer citizens are the primary data collec-
cording to bobcat technician Savannah Dyer, model parameterized with empirically-de- tors and will be placing cameras, uploading
most of the collared bobcats exist within a rived vital rates for elk in northeast Oregon. pictures, classifying animals, and conducting
smaller “core range,” in which they can be Modeling results provided a novel finding survey-based sampling. This study will also
found regularly—moving only for lack of that cougars can be a strong limiting fac- explore how the program impacts volunteers
food or mates, or when disturbed by anthro- tor on elk populations. This research will and their communities. Bobcat management
pogenic factors such as nearby logging and help guide cougar and elk management in in the state could benefit from this research
agricultural operations. The study is sched- northeast Oregon and provide a framework by providing more cohesive sampling. Cur-
uled for completion in 2016, at which time a for assessing the relative effects of top-down, rent management of bobcats in Wisconsin is
full report will be written. bottom-up, and abiotic factors on ungulate separated into two zones, north and south.
-Glen Kalisz population growth rates in other areas. Sampling practices and efforts in each of the
Oregon Beth Orning, a PhD student at Oregon bobcat management zones are vastly differ-
Dr. Darren Clark, Wildlife Research Biolo- State University under Dr. Katie Dugger, is ent. In the north zone, population trend
gist for Oregon’s Department of Fish and starting a project in association with Or- estimates are based off of long-term harvest
Wildlife, just completed his dissertation re- egon Department of Fish and Wildlife that data that is incorporated into age-structured
search at Oregon State University on cou- will examine the effects of recolonizing gray models and supplemented by track surveys.
gar prey selection and population dynamics, wolves (Canis lupus) on cougar and ungulate The south zone was recently opened to bob-
emphasizing implications for elk (Cervus populations in northeast Oregon. The objec- cat harvest, and lacks longitudinal trend in-
canadensis nelsoni) populations in northeast tives for this project are to document the prey formation. This study should provide more
Oregon. In a 3-year study, Darren fitted 25 selection, habitat use, and distribution of cohesive sampling efforts that will allow for
adult cougars with Global Positioning Sys- wolves and cougar, and to identify direct and better understanding of each region and
tem (GPS) collars to identify kill sites and indirect interspecific interactions through how they compare and contrast. The spatial,
investigate diets, kill rates and prey selection. changes in cougar survivorship, prey selec- temporal, and species relationship data will
The remains of 1,213 cougar-killed prey tion patterns, habitat use and distribution in further provide the state with useful infor-
items were located over 7,642 days. Results the Mt. Emily Wildlife Management Unit. mation to assist decision making related to
strongly supported the hypothesis that cou- Information from this research will provide Wisconsin bobcat populations.
gar predation is influenced by season, gen- managers with additional knowledge of -Cheyenne Yates
der, and cougar reproductive status and that how wolf populations affect cougar popula- Mexico
these patterns in cougar predation may be tions as well as subsequent effects on elk and The National Alliance for Jaguar
generalizable among ecosystems. Darren also mule deer (Odocoileus hermionus hermionus) Conservation of Mexico. The National
examined cougar survival at 3 study areas in populations in Oregon. This project is in the Alliance for Jaguar Conservation (NAJC;
Oregon during 1989 – 2011. Results indi- design and data collection phase with cap- Alianza Nacional para la Conservación del
cated that sub-adult males had significantly tures currently underway and field work to Jaguar in Spanish) is a Mexican coalition
lower survival rates than sub-adult females, be completed in winter 2017. of individuals from academic institutions,
but survival rates of males and females were -Beth Orning
NGOs, private sector, and government that
similar by 4 or 5 years of age. Results also Wisconsin has developed and is implementing a novel
suggested that survival rates of cougars in ar- In fall of 2015, graduate students Christine strategy to ensure the long-term survival
eas where hunting cougars with dogs is illegal Anhalt-Depies and John Clare at the Uni- of jaguar populations in the country. The
is be substantially higher than in areas where versity of Wisconsin – Madison and started National Strategy for Jaguar Conservation is
use of dogs is legal. An article detailing this a multi-faceted wildlife project in conjunc- the result of 10 years of collaborative work
survival analysis will appear in the Journal tion with the Wisconsin DNR. The state of of the NAJC and a leading effort in Latin
of Wildlife Management later this year. Addi- Wisconsin is interested in finding improved America to propose national conservation
tionally, estimates of cougar vital rates from ways to monitor and manage various wildlife policies to address specific actions at
empirical data collected in northeast Oregon species throughout the state, especially fur- different scales, integrating all sectors of
were used to parameterize a projection model bearers like bobcats (Lynx rufus). The project society.
to estimate population growth rates of cou- will use citizen science and remote cameras According to Dr. Gerardo Ceballos
gars in northeast Oregon when hunting cou- to better understand relationships of wild- from the National Autonomous University’s

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 15

Regional News
Ecology Institute (UNAM) and coordinator
of the Alliance, jaguar populations in
Mexico have declined from an estimated
20,000 individuals at the beginning of the
20th century to almost 4,000 calculated
during the first national census performed
in 2009-2011. A second census of jaguar
populations and their prey is planned for
2016 and is one of the components of the
strategy. Jaguars in Mexico face severe threats
that include poaching, habitat loss from
tourism and urban development, rampant
deforestation and climate change. The
National Strategy has been designed to avoid
further deterioration of jaguar populations
in the country.
The strategy comprises nine main
components to be developed and
implemented over the next five years:
1. Priority areas for jaguar conservation:
The most critical areas for jaguar
conservation in the country have been
identified over the last decade, along
with four biological corridors that
will ensure their long term survival
by protecting more than two million
hectares of critical habitat, across the
most important natural protected areas.
The eastern corridor would stretch from
the northern state of Tamaulipas to the
Yucatan Peninsula in the south and the
western one would connect the states of
Sonora through Chiapas, on the border
with Guatemala.
2. Management of jaguars for
rehabilitation and translocations: A
protocol was developed to provide
a step by step guide for the capture,
rehabilitation and release or translocation
of jaguars that face conflicts with humans.
The protocol is a joint effort of jaguar
researchers, field biologists, veterinarians,
institutions and two governmental
agencies, the Federal Prosecutor for
Environmental Protection (PROFEPA)
and the National Commission of
Natural Protected Areas (CONANP).
An important part of this strategy is
the creation of National Centers for
Jaguar Research and Rehabilitation that
will provide state of the art facilities
to rehabilitate wild jaguars that are
candidates to be released back in their
16 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016
habitats and also provide adequate Social efforts to save the jaguar in Mexico.
facilities to house captive-born jaguars The jaguar faces threats such as the loss and
that have been seized by the government fragmentation of habitat, lack of natural prey,
and cannot be released. Guidelines for and poaching. In Mexico killing jaguars in
future reintroductions of wild-born retaliation for livestock predation is one of
jaguars in critical conservation areas are the greatest threats to the species and the
also part of this strategy. support of local communities to conserve
3. Road infrastructure and mitigation jaguar populations in the wild is badly
strategies: We have identified the needed. In 2015, we celebrated 10 years of
main problems of existing highway jaguar conservation efforts in Mexico follow-
infrastructure for connectivity on critical ing declaration of 2005 as the “Year of the
areas for jaguar conservation. We will Jaguar” by the Priority Species Conservation
create guidelines to mitigate the impacts Directorate of the National Commission for
of current and future road infrastructure Protected Areas (CONANP) and the Jaguar
on jaguars and other wildlife, develop Conservation and Sustainable Management
restoration measures and monitor Experts Group. One of the main actions
wildlife passage performance for adaptive to be implemented was the integration and
management. training of local volunteers for monitoring
4. Mitigation strategies for human-jaguar jaguars (Jaguar Rangers) in different areas,
conflict: To mitigate the causal factors of with a second objective of attending to con-
livestock depredation by jaguars, we will flicts arising from livestock predation. At the
consolidate the livestock insurance as start of the program, 42 committees were
the main program to compensate for the formed, with 653 members from 14 States.
loss of cattle and implement preventive In 2015, there are 114 committees in 12
measures and education campaigns with states, with more than 1,200 members who
the local communities that face conflicts have received training and equipment to pro-
with predators. tect the jaguar and its habitat, and monitor
5. Communication, education and jaguar populations. In 2014 , PROFEPA and
outreach: A large-scale communication CONANP established an Excellence Award
and outreach strategy will be designed for the best “Jaguar Committee”, which was
and implemented to position the jaguar won by the Ceniceros (Municipality Pijijia-
as a flagship species of the identity, pan) local community in Chiapas. In 2008,
culture, conservation and sustainable with the support of the Priority Species Di-
development in Mexico. rectorate of CONANP, strategies were imple-
Other components include community mented to address livestock predation con-
management, law enforcement, and flict, including workshops for farmers and
international cooperation to connect visits by wildlife biologists to assess reports
populations (or individuals) in Mexico, the of livestock predation by large cats, as well
United States and Central America. The as forums and the implemention of a com-
NAJC along with other institutions plans to pensation program for farmers who have lost
establish 4 million hectares of new protected cattle to feline predation. Educational ma-
areas and biological corridors extending from terials of posters and leaflets have also been
the US border to the Central America border. disseminated throughout the country. Su-
The conservation of the critical habitat and pervisory visits by experts to sites of reported
the protection of jaguars from poaching will jaguar attacks on livestock have found that
ensure their survival in Mexico. feral dogs cause greater economic loss to
For more information, visit http:// farmers than wild cats. We are working to
alianzajaguarmexico.mx/ and gceballo@ control this threat. The efforts made by the
ecologia.unam.mx Jaguar Conservation and Management Spe-
cialist Group in collaboration with the Pri-
ority Species Directorate of CONANP and
other agencies have had a major impact on
Jaguar conservation efforts in Mexico.
 Q&A Corner

H ere is where we print some of the discussions currently taking place on our online forum. You can pose a question or participate in these
discussions at https: groups.google.com/group/WildFelid. To participate you may need to create a free account (if you don’t already
have one), and answer a simple question: “Why do you want to be a member of the WFA google group?” This protocol helps the site manager
maintain the forum’s professional integrity. Members can ask questions about, or provide insights into, their felid research, management, and
conservation work.
Bobcat hunting threshold to maintain population stability
Question: In general terms, does anybody have a number/threshold
for bobcats regarding what percentage of “harvest” a population can
sustain without decline....similar to the 14-15% number that is said
to characterize puma populations?  If you do have a number in mind,
do you have any documentation to support it?  I’d love to have some-
thing on this topic.
 ~Don Molde
Response: Where did you get your “sustainability” figure of removal
of 14-15% for a puma population? Most states manage at >25% in
their management plans.
~Ron Thompson
Response: Memory suggests that I’ve seen that number recently in
work by Wielgus and his group, maybe in news reports about it.  Also,
Rich Beausoleil’s paper, Research to Regulation:  Cougar Social Be-
havior as a Guide for Management, Wildlife Society Bulletin 37(3):  population size.”
680-688; 2013, says that setting “harvest limits” (my quotes...I hate
the word “harvest”) at the intrinsic rate of growth of 14% might be a
good thing.  My local fish and game agency uses 15-17% and calls it
“conservative.”  That’s not to say that higher kill rates don’t occur, and
that percentage figure obviously doesn’t take into account the impact
on social structure, cub survival, etc., if resident male lions are not
left alone. Do you have something better about lions...or bobcats?
 ~Don Molde
Response: I think I can shed some light on the question on where
puma harvest rates of >25% come from and have been used by some
states to justify cougar hunting mortality. As far as I can tell the ori-
gin seems to be a federal aid report published by Nevada Dep. of
Wildlife back in 1983, The Mountain Lion in Nevada. On page 19
in a section called  Population Turnover, the authors suggest that a
lion population can replace 30% mortality per year. No data on lion
population dynamics as a result of an intensive study were reported
to support the claim. The report goes on to say that their claim was
supported by Robinette et al. 1977 “that the annual recruitment and
mortality of cougars in their Utah study area was 32%.” I dug up the
Robinette report years ago to look it up myself, and there were no
data there to support it either. The Nevada report continues with, “It
appears that under moderate to heavy exploitation (30-50% removal)
Nevada lion populations have the recruitment capability of rapidly
replacing annual losses.” This was apparently manna for wildlife man-
agers. It gave them something published that they could use to justify
cougar hunting kill rates, where there had been nothing before (as far
as I know). These rates were probably satisfyingly high.
Later on in 1992 there were two publications involving puma
removal rates. Lindzey et al. in The Wildlife Society Bulletin reported
that a puma population with a 27% removal of harvest-age (>1-year-
old) pumas (in a previously non-hunted population in Utah) did not
recover to pre-removal levels 2 years later. They concluded that the
population would not have been expected to recover as quickly from
a second year’s harvest of similar intensity. With cougar populations
that are hunted annually, I think it’s safe to say the authors would
expect an annual 27% kill of harvest-age pumas to result in a declining
population. Then Jalkotzy and Ross (1992) in the Journal of Wild-
life Management report on an Alberta cougar population that had a
high 21.1% kill of independent cougars. But, the authors cautioned
that “potential effects of this harvest rate was offset by interceding
years when no cougars were shot. It is unknown what annual harvest
rates could be sustained and still allow for stability or growth in the
Interestingly, I have seen publications as late as the mid-2000›s
citing Ashman et al. and Jalkotzy and Ross as justification that cougar
populations can sustain 20-30% kill rates. I think the evidence in
support of that is weak or non-existent. But in the 2000›s we seem to
be getting somewhere. Anderson and Lindzey 2005 indicated that a
cougar population in Wyoming «recovered in numbers after 2 years
of intensive harvest (~43% of independent cougars) followed by 3
years of light harvest (~18% of independent cougars). Such a big
change in cougar mortality caused by hunting should be expected to
result in greater survival and population growth depending upon ab-
sence of other causes of mortality, emigration, and immigration. Also
in the 2000›s, the Washington cougar research group (summarized
in the Beausoleil et al. Wildlife Society Bulletin article) recommended
“using the harvest threshold of 14%.” This was based on intrinsic
population growth rate estimates.
Here in Colorado we have just completed a puma population-
level test of killing 15% of independent cougars with the expecta-
tion that a 15% «harvest» (in wildlife agency parlance) will result in
a «stable-to-increasing» population. However, the 15% harvest rate
resulted in a declining puma population, because that removal added
to other natural and human-caused mortality in the population. Af-
ter we reduced the hunter harvest rate to about 11-12% the popula-
tion of independent pumas seemed to stabilize (the decline halted).
Clearly, if we want to conserve puma populations and provide sport-
hunting opportunity there is need for appropriate regulation with a
strong foundation in the biology and ecology of the animal. Maybe
there is some other information out there I›m missing. There is still
a lot to learn about this.

For more detailed discussions of this subject and more, go to: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/WildFelid

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 17

2016 Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship

T he Wild Felid Research and Management Association began awarding the Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship in 2009
to encourage and support graduate level university students involved in wild felid research. To date, seventeen
scholarships have been awarded, two each year starting 2009 and 3 each year starting 2013. The scholarship was cre-
ated to honor four distinguished and dedicated biologists who lost their lives while seeking to understand and con-
tribute to the conservation of wildlife, including wild felids: Dave Maehr (1956-2008), Ian Ross (1958-2003), Rocky
Spencer (1952-2007), and Eric York (1970-2007). Deanna Dawn, a founding member of WFA, and Donna Krucki,
naturalist & park ranger, were added to this renowned group in 2012 and 2015, respectively. More on these inspiring
biologists can be found on the WFA’s web site: www.wildfelid.org. Scholarships are made possible through grants and donations to WFA. The
Summerlee Foundation has been a major sponsor of the scholarship and has provided the funds to support 10 scholarships. Dee Dawn and
other contributions in honor of Deanna Dawn allowed WFA to provide a third scholarship in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
PURPOSE OF THE FUND: The Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship provides financial aid to a graduate-level university student conducting
research on wild felids. The scholarship is awarded during summer. The recipient receives $1,000 and is recognized in the WFA’s newsletter,
the Wild Felid Monitor. Applications are evaluated based on: demonstrated need for financial aid; participation in a research project that aims
to improve our understanding of wild felid biology, management and/or conservation; and undergraduate and graduate GPA. Awarding of
the scholarship is contingent on available funds; however, the WFA Council hopes that donations and grants will enable WFA to offer the
scholarship annually.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND ADMINISTRATION: The WFA’s Scholarship Committee administers the Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship and
selects recipients, who are subject to approval by a majority of the WFA board of directors. The Scholarship Committee reserves the right not
to award a scholarship or to award more than one scholarship during a calendar year, depending on the Committee’s opinion of the applicants’
qualifications and the availability of funds. All Committee decisions are final.
APPLICATION CRITERIA: Applicants for the Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship must meet the following criteria:
• You must be a student member of the Wild Felid Research and Management Association. (You may submit a membership form with
payment to WFA when submitting your scholarship application if you are not currently a member).
• By July 1, 2016, you must have completed a Bachelor of Science (or Arts) Degree and be enrolled in a graduate program in Wildlife
Biology, Wildlife Management, or a related natural resource field.
• Recipients of the Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship agree to provide an update of their research in the Wild Felid Monitor.
APPLICATION: The application includes 5 parts:
1. Current résumé.
2. Transcript indicating completion of a Bachelor’s Degree.
3. Transcript of your graduate studies or a copy of your acceptance letter into a graduate program in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Management,
or a related natural resource field.
4. Two letters of reference (with phone numbers and email addresses). One reference shall be from a professor familiar with your academic
capabilities and accomplishments. The second reference shall be from a supervisor whom you worked for in a natural resources related
position (volunteer or internship work is acceptable).
5. A short essay (500-750 words) describing: (1) your interests in wild felid research; (2) your career goals; (3) how you would use the award
to further your professional development; and (4) your demonstration of financial need. At the top of your essay, provide the following
so we may include it in the summer issue of the Wild Felid Monitor: Name and email address; degree applying for; department and uni-
versity attending; major advisor and his/her email address; thesis/dissertation title; research objectives; completion date.
We encourage applicants to send parts 1 and 5 (résumé and essay) of their applications electronically. Please clearly name files with your last
name and subject (e.g., Smith WFLS Essay.doc). Emailed copies of scanned transcripts are also acceptable for consideration, though the
Scholarship Committee may ask for certified transcripts prior to final selection. References can also send their letters electronically.
All application materials must be received by the Scholarship Chairperson by MARCH 30 2016. Incomplete applications will not be con-
sidered.
Completed applications should be mailed or emailed to:
Dr. Marcella Kelly, Associate Professor
Emailing: makelly2@vt.edu , put “Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship Application” in the subject line
Mailing:
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Science
146 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321, USA

18 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016


Assessing biotic interactions and non-invasive density estimates for Canada lynx at their
southern trailing edge
Arthur Scully, M.S. Student, Washington State University, Recipient of 2015 Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship. Arthur.Scully@wsu.edu
A nthropogenic climate change is predicted to be an extreme long
term disturbance to current ecosystems, yet our understanding
of its effects on species interactions is alarmingly incomplete. While
predictive models based on species tolerances to variables explicit to
climate change (i.e., temperature and precipitation) exist, they do not
include changes to biological interactions which are essential to spe-
cies persistence. Specialist boreal species that are cold/snow-depen-
dent, such as federally threatened Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), are
predicted to have their ranges reduced to northern latitudes and high
elevations while simultaneously, generalist species that can persist in
warmer drier climates, such as bobcats (Lynx rufus), are predicted to
expand northward and upward. Boreal species are predicted to ex-
perience more intense interactions with generalist species as climate
change progresses, but the implications of these changing interac-
tions for boreal species remain unknown.
Canada lynx examining a scratch pad at a density camera station
Canada lynx are federally threatened in the United States, with
only five known viable populations dispersed along the US/Canada
border. In conjunction with assessing interactions, accurate and re-
peatable density estimates are essential to conservation of this species.
To obtain density estimates with elusive, wide-ranging, mammalian
carnivores, such as Canada lynx, traditional invasive methods are not
efficient. Camera-traps coupled with new statistical analysis have in-
creased the efficacy of non-invasive techniques for density and abun-
dance estimation.
Using camera-traps and occupancy modelling I am testing two
predictions related to interactions between lynx and bobcats: i) bob-
cats will alter lynx occupancy patterns, and ii) lynx will have greater
spatial overlap with bobcats, and more evidence of altered space use
in snow-off time periods. Simultaneously, I am using camera traps
and spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models to test pre-
Notes from the Field
dictions that relate to density estimation methodology: i) individual
lynx can be accurately and consistently identified from camera im-
ages, and ii) SECR models, combined with camera-trapping data,
provide precise density estimates for lynx.
My study site is on Washington State Department of Natural Re-
sources managed lands within The Loomis State Forest in Okanogan
County (551 km2). Loomis contains one of the last remaining lynx
populations in the state. To assess bobcat/lynx interactions, I have
created a grid of 187 4-km2 (2 km by 2 km) cells over the study site.
Within each cell, I randomly placed two cameras on roads or trails no
closer than 500 m from each other. To date, I have surveyed 55 grid
cells during snow-on and 89 during snow-off time periods. My goal
is to survey at least 100 grid cells (300 camera locations), both snow-
on and snow-off by the end of summer 2016 for assessment of lynx-
bobcat interactions via two-species occupancy models. I will then as-
sess density and abundance of lynx where presence of lynx is known,
using double-sided camera stations on trails with a scratch-pad mari-
nated in a scent lure placed between the cameras.These methods will
maximize the likelihood of capturing the uniquely-marked flanks of
lynx to increase the chance of individual identification
Canada lynx with visible unique flank markings yawns as it pass-
es a camera.
Data extraction and compilation involving more than 100 cam-
era-traps is an immense undertaking. With the assistance provided
by the Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship, I procured a computer and
software required for data compilation. I employed two technicians,
six for-credit interns, and four volunteers, improving my ability to
manage the large data set. Personnel involved gained skills in re-
search, as well as a fundamental understanding of the project itself.
I used the remainder of the Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship to
replace equipment that was burned, stolen, damaged by vandals, or
that malfunctioned. Thank you Wild Felid Association for your con-
tribution to this project; I was honored to be chosen as a recipient
of this scholarship. Updates and photos from this and other proj-
ects concerning Canada lynx in Washington State can be found at
www.facebook.com/WALynx.
Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 19
Management Notes
Canada lynx monitoring in Colorado
Jacob S. Ivan, Mammals Researcher, jake.ivan@state.co.us
Eric Odell, Species Conservation Program Manager
Scott Wait, Senior Biologist, Southwest Region. Colorado Parks and Wildlife

B etween 1999 and 2006, in an effort to restore Canada lynx (Lynx

canadensis) to the southern portion of their former range, 218
individuals were reintroduced into Colorado. In 2010, the Colorado
‘occasion,’ and any photo of a lynx obtained during a 30-day period
Division of Wildlife (now Colorado Parks and Wildlife [CPW])
determined that the reintroduction effort met all benchmarks of
success, and that the population of Canada lynx in the state was viable
and self-sustaining. To track the persistence of this new population
and determine the long-term success of the reintroduction, a
minimally-invasive, statewide monitoring program is required.
was considered a detection during that occasion. Camera sets yielded
134,695 photos of which 302 were lynx. Lynx were detected at 27
cameras in seven camera units (Figure 1). Of note, resident lynx were
documented for the first time in the LaGarita Mountains north of
Creede. Similarly, resident lynx were documented about 15 km from
the New Mexico border in the South San Juans, an area rarely used
by resident animals in the past. In both cases, lynx were detected at
camera sets. Adult females with kittens were detected at cameras in

In 2010, the Colorado Division of Wildlife determined that the reintroduction effort met all benchmarks of success,
and that the population of Canada lynx in the state was viable and self-sustaining.

During 2014-15 we sampled 50 75-km2 units selected at units near Silverton and Platoro Reservoir.
random from 179 units of potential lynx habitat in the San Juan Using Program MARK (White and Burnham1999) we fitted
Mountains of southwest Colorado. Of the 50 units, 19 were sampled standard occupancy models (MacKenzie et al. 2006) to our survey data
via snow tracking conducted between January 1 and March 31. On to estimate the probability of a unit being occupied by lynx over the
each of 3 occasions, we searched roadways (paved roads and logging course of the winter. The best-fitting model characterized occupancy as a
roads) and trails for lynx tracks. Crews searched the maximum linear function of 2 covariates: the proportion of the sample unit covered by
distance of roads possible within each survey unit, given safety and spruce-fir forest and the number of photos of hares recorded at camera
logistical constraints. stations. In both cases,
Crews covered a total the association was
of 884 km during snow positive, indicating
tracking surveys — 697 that the probability
km by snow machine, of lynx use increased
140 km by vehicle, and with more spruce-
47 km by snowshoe. fir and more hares.
Mean distance surveyed Associations between
per occasion was 20 lynx occupancy and
km. Lynx were detected other covariates
within seven snow were much weaker.
tracking units. Scat Detection probability
or hair samples were was relatively high for
collected associated snow tracking surveys
with seven of the 12 (p = 0.56, 95% .C. I.:
lynx tracks discovered 0.41−0.69), and low
(tracks were discovered for monthly camera
at some units on >1 surveys (p = 0.24,
occasion). Genetic 95% C.I.: 0.12−0.41)
analyses confirmed all during December−
7 samples to be lynx. February. Camera
The remaining 31 units detection probability
could not be surveyed increased to 0.41 (95%
via snow tracking C.I. : 0.21−0.65)
because they occurred in wilderness or were otherwise inaccessible. during breeding season (March and April). For winter, 2014-2015
Survey crews deployed 4 passive infrared motion cameras in we estimated that 29% of the sample units in the San Juans were
each of these units during fall, 2014. A total of 124 cameras were occupied by lynx (95% C.I.: 0.15 − 0.48). Occupancy estimates
deployed. Cameras were baited with visual attractants and scent from the 2014-2015 monitoring effort were similar to those obtained
lure to enhance detection of lynx. Cameras were retrieved during during pilot research work in 2010-2011 but the sampling frames
summer, 2015. Camera data were binned such that each of 5 30- were different between the 2 years, so results are not comparable.
day periods from December 1 through April 30 was considered an

20 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 Tools of the Trade
PumaPlex: A tool for the genetic analysis of pumas (Puma concolor)
John A. Erwin, Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics and James E. Rogers School of Law, University of Arizona
jaerwin@email.arizona.edu

P umaPlex, a genotyping array designed for the Sequenom MassAr-

ray platform, was recently developed for genetic analysis of puma
samples (Fitak et al., 2015). As opposed to traditional microsatel-
lites, PumaPlex harnesses another genetic marker, single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs) (Table 1), and has been designed as a rapid,
high-throughput, and cost effective method for gathering genetic
data. SNPs, which are variable positions in the DNA sequence, have
become the preferred marker of the genomic revolution. Compared
with microsatellites, SNPs have several advantages. They are ana-
lyzed in smaller fragments, which is vital when using degraded DNA
from non-invasive samples like scats. They are more numerous in the
genome, hence we can analyze either a few or nearly a million in just
one reaction. Perhaps most important, SNPs are easily compared
across labs and studies. Ideally, PumaPlex will become a valuable tool
for managers and researchers alike that will usher in a new era in
puma genetics, through the use of a puma genetic database.
PumaPlex was developed by first extracting RNA from 12 pu-
mas collected throughout Arizona.This RNA, which represents ac-
tively used genes, was then pooled and converted into a single cDNA
library which was sequenced on a 454 platform and aligned into a
transcriptome. Putative SNPs were identified and then verified on
the Sequenom Mass Array platform. PumaPlex contains 25 SNPs
that are simultaneously genotyped in up to 384 samples in a single
machine run. In general, Fitak et al. focused on describing the de-
velopment of PumaPlex, its validation in over 700 North American
pumas, and the online GIS database available to share genetic data.
The authors demonstrated that PumaPlex could accurately identify
both individuals and sibling pairs, and outperformed microsatellites
by significant margins in scat samples. Finally, Fitak et al. discussed
the weaknesses of PumaPlex, which, most importantly, includes the
inability to detect low to moderate population subdivision.
Empirical studies and genetic theory suggest between 4 and 10
times more SNPs than microsatellites are needed to detect subtle
population subdivision (Knowles 2010; Morin et al. 2009). There-
fore, efforts are already underway to increase the number of SNPs on
PumaPlex. PumaPlex has since been expanded from one assay with
25 SNPs to PumaPlex100 having 4 assays with 100 SNPs (Erwin et
al., unpublished). To improve the identification of SNPs, both the
puma transcriptome and more recent puma genomic sequence data
were compared with the domestic cat genome sequence and only
SNPs found in both were kept. This extra step more than tripled
the SNP validation success rate. Although development is still not
complete, expanding PumaPlex to 100 SNPs will improve level of
resolution to examine population structure.
PumaPlex and PumaPlex100 can be used to answer a wide range
of wildlife questions. PumaPlex100 is being used to analyze nearly
300 samples from the Uncompahgre Plateau. In conjunction with
Dr. Ken Logan and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Division, we are
examining the effects of sport hunting on population and sexual
structure of mountain lions. PumaPlex100 will be used to examine
population structure, estimate reproductive success for individuals,
estimate relatedness between individuals, and determine paternity.
With PumaPlex and PumaPlex100; we have tools for a variety of
applications. Having both versions available allows users to either
pick higher resolution for fewer samples or lower resolution for more
samples. While the price per sample goes up significantly with to the
PumaPlex100 (from about $6.50 a sample to $26 a sample), one run
of either chip is the same price, with results in just a few weeks for ei-
ther. Both chips compare favorably to the $120/sample, requiring up
to a year, for microsatellites. Equally important, the data produced
is analytically simple and can be readily examined in a plethora of
programs. In a world requiring biologists to increasingly moonlight
as computer scientists, this analytical ease makes PumaPlex useful to
managers and researchers of all skill levels. PumaPlex can be extreme-
ly effective for scat or hair samples, as SNP-based methods make bet-
ter use of the degraded and low quantity DNA often obtained from
non-invasive samples. Such noninvasive samples must still be run in
triplicate. Perhaps the most important aspect of SNP-based genotyp-
ing, is that results are comparable from one lab to another. Results
from microsatellites are almost incomparable from one study to the
next, due to unavoidable variations in the procedures (Schlötterer,
2004; Vignal et al., 2002). SNPs do not suffer these inconsistencies.
Ultimately, both versions of PumaPlex will allow for a shared database
of puma genetic results that will facilitate collaboration never before
possible, allowing conclusions to be drawn across entirely new scales.
We envision that the meta-studies made possible through combining
datasets will offer significant insight into puma biology while serving
as a guide for the potential of shared data for other species.
For more information on PumaPlex, PumaPlex100, or the puma
genetic database read Fitak et al. 2015 or contact the author. The
Puma Genetic Database is publically available at: http://www.arcgis.
com/home/item.html?id=4d9e04e504bb453691fbff736df49b3b.

Microsatellites SNPs
AATTGACACACACACTTGACTAC Puma 1 AATTGATATATCAGC
AATTGACACACACACACTTGACTAC Puma 2 AATTGATGTATCAGC
AATTGACACACACACACACTTGACTAC Puma 3 AATTGATATATCAGC

Table 1. Microsatellites are stretches of repeats of 2 to 5 bases between 10 and 50 repeats long. Within populations, they vary in
number, making them useful genetic markers. A single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP, is a site in the DNA where a single base varies
between individuals. Samples are from the same individual when they are identical for every SNP marker. While there are often many
different alleles at each microsatellite loci, demonstrated by the 5, 6, and 7 AC repeats above, SNPs typically have only two potential
variants for each marker, demonstrated by the A or G in the figure. Thus more SNP markers are needed to provide the same amount
of information as microsatellites.

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 21

Tools of the Trade
Estimating leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis sumatranus) population density in Sumatra,
Indonesia
Christopher B. Satter, Febri A. Widodo, Ben C. Augustine, Christopher Rowe, Marcella J. Kelly, Sunarto Sunarto, tiger1vt.edu

T he leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis sumatranus) inhabits Additionally, if too few recaptures of the same individual at different
the lowland tropical rainforests and temperate forests, as well as traps are recorded, density estimates may be biased (Sollmann et al.
shrub, marsh, agriculture,and coastal areas of Asia. Of all the small 2012).
wild cats, leopard have the widest geographical distribution across This study was conducted in the flat lowland forest of Tesso Nilo
Asia (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). Most studies on leopard cats National Park, in Riau province, Central Sumatra (Fig. 1). The study
have focused on movement patterns and diet, while studies of abun- area was divided into 2 x 2 km grid cells and two remotely triggered
dance and density are rare (Mohamed et al. 2013; Bashir et al. 2013; infrared cameras were placed in alternate cells on opposite sides of
Srivathsa et al. 2015). We employed camera-trapping methodology trails and logging roads, for a total of 22 camera stations that oper-
in traditional and spatially explicit capture-recapture frameworks ated for 103 days. Individual leopard cats were identified by their
to estimate leopard cat density on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. unique coat patterns, and capture histories were developed for each
Originally, the camera trapping study targeted tigers (Panthera tigris, identified individual.
Sunarto et al. 2013), but our study highlights the important infor- We compared traditional methods of estimating density to new-
mation that can be gained by analyzing ancillary data to produce er, spatially-explicit (SECR) methods. For traditional methods, we
population estimates for non-target species. used program MARK to estimate abundance and converted those
101 E 102 E 103 E estimates to density by buffering our trapping grid with ½ mean
Kampar Peninsula
maximum distance moved (½MMDM) by cats among camera traps
Bukit Bungkuk
(Wilson and Anderson, 1985). For SECR methods, we used pro-
RIAU PROVINCE
gram DENSITY to estimate density directly.
0

Tesso Nilo Kerumutan

S U M AT R A
Rimbang Baling

WEST SUMATRA
PROVINCE

Camera trap station

Major road �
Kilometers
Peranap
Province boundary
0 10 20 40
1S

1S

Natural forest 2007

Bukit Tigapuluh
Major protected areas in central Sumatra JAMBI PROVINCE
101 E 102 E 103 E

Figure 1. Location of the study area in Riau Province, Central Su-

matra. The camera trapping grid, originally set up for tigers, was
located in Tesso Nilo National Park within circled area above. Oth-
er major protected areas are noted as well (adapted from Sunarto
et al. 2013).

In comparison to the larger, more charismatic cat species, small Figure 2. Density estimates from programs MARK (Traditional)
cats have received less attention (Brodie 2009). The Indonesian is- and DENSITY (Spatially explicit) for Tesso Nilo National Park,
land of Sumatra is unique in that it is home to six species of wild Sumatra in 2007. The top model in MARK included a time com-
cats, including the leopard cat. Currently the leopard cat is listed as ponent that split capture occasions into two groups, the first ~25
“Least Concern” by the International Union for the Conservation of days, where capture rate was higher than the remaining days. The
Nature (IUCN) red list. Leopard cat populations have been resilient top model in DENSITY included a time effect on detection prob-
to degraded forests and human modified landscapes such as palm oil ability, while the spatial scale parameter sigma was constant. Error
plantations (Mohamed et al. 2013). However, the pet trade, habitat bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
loss, illegal logging, and illegal human settlements make it important
to monitor population status of leopard cats in Sumatra and to fur- We identified 31 individual leopard cats from 61 photo-capture
ther explore the impacts of human disturbance. events in the Tesso Nilo survey in 2007. Density estimates from
Camera traps are useful because they allow multiple species to both traditional and spatially-explicit mark recapture models were
be documented during a single survey, but researchers must be cau- similar at 20.4 (12.6 – 28.3 CI)/100 km2 and 21.0 (14.0 – 31.0
tious in estimating densities of non-target species. Spatial organiza- CI)/100 km2, respectively (Fig 2.). However, precision was low (i.e.,
tion of traps (i.e., trap spacing) based upon individual movement of wide confidence intervals), due to low detection probability. We ob-
the target species may may not be provide appropriate sampling for tained few spatial recaptures, which are important for both modelling
other species (Sollmann et al. 2012). If traps are too far apart relative frameworks. In this study, only 3 of 31 individuals were captured at
to the individual movement, this can result in “holes” in the trapping multiple camera stations, due to the wide camera spacing designed
grid, violating assumptions of traditional capture-recapture methods. for tigers. The spatial recaptures may be sufficient to estimate density
22 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016
 Tools of the Trade
without substantial bias because the spatial scale parameter was esti- those of Srivathsa et al. (2015) from the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, India
mated at values consistent with leopard cat home range sizes in other (4.5 - 10.5 individuals/100 km2). Bashir et al. (2013) in Sikkim, In-
studies (see below), however if the few individuals that were spatially- dia reported similar estimates to ours at 17.0 - 22.3 individuals/100
recaptured were not representative of the population (e.g., dispersers), km2. Since, leopard cats are habitat generalists, adapting well to
σ could be overestimated, leading to an underestimate of density. human-modified landscapes (Grassman et al. 2005; Rajaratnam et al.
We examined the limited data available for leopard cats from 2007; Mohamed et al. 2013) and are known to prey heavily on small
Thailand and found that home range size varied between 1.5 to 14.0 rodents (Grassman et al. 2005; Bashir et al. 2013), which benefit
km2, but time intervals for these calculations were highly variable, from disturbed and fragmented areas (Schmid-Holmes and Dricka-
ranging from 1 month to a year (Rabinowitz, 1990; Grassman, 2000; mer, 2001), this may explain our high leopard cat densities in Tesso
Grassman et al. 2005). Rabinowitz (1990) reported home range sizes Nilo. Riau Province has a high deforestation rate (Uryu et al. 2007),
for individuals tracked for 1-month intervals of 1.5 – 2.8 km2, and and is still undergoing intensive logging and deforestation (Sunarto
Grassman (2000) reported leopard cat ranges over 7 weeks range of et al. 2015).
3.1 – 3.3 km2. Given these small home ranges, our camera traps were Our study demonstrates that ancillary data from cameras traps
probably too far apart (~4 km) during our 3-month trapping period, can be used to estimate population parameters for non-target species
and may have recorded long distance movements only, yielding an using capture-recapture models providing a conservative, if impre-
overestimate of movement parameters and underestimate of density. cise, estimate of density until a study targeting the smaller species is
We may have missed individual leopard cats entirely due to large done. Increasing the density of traps would raise capture probabilities,
spacing between camera traps. increase precision, and lead to more spatial recaptures, potentially
Our leopard cat density estimates were slightly higher than esti- reducing negative bias for leopard cats. We highlight the importance
mates of Mohamed et al. (2013) for the neighboring island of Bor- of trap spacing and study design, and encourage investigators to be
neo, (9.6-16.5 individuals/100 km2) and substantially higher than mindful of the potential constraints of by-catch data.

Maximizing information obtained from neotropical wild felid scat: making the most out of poop
J Bernardo Mesa-Cruz and Marcella J. Kelly. Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech. bmesa@vtedu.

O btaining biological data from wild Neotropical felids is challeng- rounding human-modified areas (Fig. 1). For each sample, we removed
ing due to their secretive nature, thick habitat, and the perceived a small portion (~0.5 g) of the outer surface of the scat, suspended it
or real risks of aggression towards humans. Nevertheless, recent ad- in DET buffer and stored it at room temperature until genetic analysis
vances in non-invasive DNA and hormone analyses have improved the to determine species and individual following Wultsch et al. (2014).
feasibility of field monitoring (Kelly et al. 2012). Additionally, use of We also put 1-3 g of each scat in buffered formalin (10%, pH 7) and
detector dogs to find scat, has been shown to greatly improve efficiency stored subsamples at room temperature for endoparasite analysis
of sample collection (Long et al. 2007). (Zajac&Conboy 2012). Remaining scats were stored in a resealable
Anthropic activities have increased in recent decades across the plastic bags and kept frozen for later FGM and prey item analyses
range of Neotropical felids, resulting in increased levels of human-felid (Foster et al. 2010; Mesa-Cruz et al. 2014). Lastly, we collected infor-
conflict (H-FC) (Inskip & Zimmermann 2009). While habitat loss mation related to habitat features surrounding the scat deposit site. We

Jaguar, puma, and ocelot were present in both the RBCMA and in human-modified habitats, whereas the jaguarundi
was detected only in the human-modified areas.

and poaching are directly related to felid population declines, other po-
tential consequences of H-FC could be an increase in adrenal activity
that negatively impacts reproductive rates, animal health, and height-
ens animal aggression resulting in even more H-FC. Additionally, a
decrease in native prey outside protected areas could result in livestock
predation for larger cats, and poultry predation for smaller cats, which
may increase retaliatory killing by people.Therefore, to inform man-
agement decisions, conservation we should maximize the information
collected from biological samples, such as including scat. In this study,
we classified scat samples genetically, explored DNA amplification suc-
cess, and compared endoparasite species richness (ESR), diet, and fecal
glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) in protected and human-modified
areas in Belize Central America.
We used a scat detector dog to locate samples in a mosaic land-
scape mosaic that included Rio Bravo Conservation and Management
Area (RBMCA), the largest private protected area in Belize and sur-
adopted a systematic searching approach to ensure reliability of FGM
concentrations in scat by visiting each transect (5-10 km) at a 4-day
interval. Mesa-Cruz et al. (2014) found FGM concentrations to re-
main stable over this time period. Samples found in the first visit were
cleared off the trails and were not included in the FGM analysis due to
unknown scat age and hence possible degradation of FGM.
We surveyed 420 km and collected 336 felid scat samples, 82 in
RBCMA and 254 in human-modified areas (Fig. 1). DNA amplifica-
tion success was remarkably higher at 62.5% for samples found under
>70% canopy cover compared to only 16.3% success for those samples
with very little (<34%) canopy cover. Scats found in non-protected
areas usually were located in areas with very little canopy cover. DNA
analysis resulted in identifying 46 individuals from five felid species:
jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus parda-
lis), jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), and cat (Felis silvestris cattus). We
did not find any margay (Leopardus wiedii) samples.

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 23

Tools of the Trade
Figure 1. Geographical distribution of felid scat samples in
our study area in Belize, Central America. Samples classified as
“large cat” were identified by morphology and positive identifi-
cation by detector dog, due to failure to amplify DNA via mo-
lecular techniques. Study sites included a protected area, A. Rio
Bravo Conservation and Management Area – RBCMA (outlined
in white), and human-modified non-protected areas, B. San Car-
los Village; C. Indian Church Village; D. Indian Creek Village; E.
Shipyard Village; F. San Felipe Village.
Estimated parasite richness (e.g., ESR) can provide a coarse assess-
ment of the ability of the host to control infections. We identified a total
of 24 genera of endoparasites and one unidentified species. Most scat
samples were positive for nematodes (60%), trematodes (70%), and pro-
tozoans (85%). Average ESR within species ranged from 3 to 6.6, but
was not significantly different across felid species. Numbers of parasite
eggs were highly variable within and among felid species (range 1 to
352). Despite the gradient obtained in ESR values, we found no associa-
tion with adrenal activity based on FGM.
We conducted diet analysis for all genetically identified scats, as well
as and for the large scats that did not amplify but were positively identi-
fied as felid by the scat detector dog. Small felid scats that did not amplify
are of ambiguous origin due to quick degradation rates in the field, thus
were not included. We identified 35 prey species in felid scats. Jaguars
more frequently consumed peccary Pecari spp. and armadillos (Dasypus
sp), whereas pumas consumed more cervids (e.g. red brocket (Mazama
americana) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Cotton rats
(Sigmodon spp.) were the most frequent prey item for jaguarundis , oce-
lots, and domestic cats. For large cat scats, small-sized prey were more
commonly found in human-modified areas (small 50%; medium: 40%;
large: 10%), while medium-sized prey were more frequent in the pro-
tected area (small 25%; medium: 75% large: 0%). Livestock or other
domestic animals were not found in any felid scats. Despite observing
diet partitioning among these felids, domestic cats may compete with
ocelots and jaguarundis for small prey in human-modified areas. These
findings support the opportunistic nature of jaguar and puma predation,
indicating that habitat modification outside of RBCMA might be influ-
encing a shift to smaller prey for large felids; but pressure is not strong
enough for these felids to shift their diets to livestock entirely. However,
24 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016
Figure 2. Information from a single scat can provide information
on multiple aspects of felid biology such as genetic ID, endopara-
site richness, hormone concentrations, and diet. Such informa-
tion can be interrelated and linked to landscape modifications.
there are records of livestock predation in the area.
For the three species (jaguar, puma, ocelot) where we had samples
from both inside and outside protected areas, we found no significant
effects of habitat protection on ESR and FGM concentrations, but
our samples sizes were very low small outside of protected areas. We
also found no association between ESR and adrenal activity based on
FGM. Interestingly, pumas and jaguarundis exhibited significantly
higher FGM concentrations than other felids.
Despite limitations in DNA amplification outside protected areas,
we observed important spatial distribution trends. Jaguar, puma, and
ocelot were present in both the RBCMA and in human-modified habi-
tats, whereas the jaguarundi was detected only in the human-modified
areas. This is consistent with previous reports that found the jagua-
rundi ranging in heterogeneous habitats with intermingled closed and
open areas (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). The jaguarundi and margay
are known to be present, but rare, in the RBCMA, making them dif-
ficult to detect. The margay is also mostly arboreal thus sensitive to
forest clearing, and it may deposit feces in areas out of the detector
dog’s scent reach. Domestic cats were found only in human-modified
habitats, despite close proximity to the RBCMA. This finding is im-
portant for local conservation efforts at RBCMA because it suggests
that domestic cats have not colonized the protected area, as they have
in other parts of the world (Farris et al. 2015, Kays and DeWan 2004).
One explanation for this finding may be that the native carnivore guild
is out-competing domestic cats within the protected forest.
We demonstrated that non-invasive surveys are feasible to address
multiple aspects of Neotropical felid ecology (Fig 2), as long as ex-
perimental design accounts for low DNA amplification success outside
protected areas. Future field surveys could overcome sample degrada-
tion issues in human-modified landscapes by adding one or two more
dog detection teams, revisiting transects at 2-day intervals instead of
4-day, and/or extending the duration of field surveys. We provide a
baseline for FGM, ESR, and diet in Belizean felids within and outside
of protected areas, providing a template for expanding this approach to
future studies across Mesoamerica.

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harvest, climate change, and the extirpa-
tion of an island population. Canadian
Field-Naturalist 129: 139-151.
Lievano Latorre, L. F. et al. 2015. Non-fly-
ing mammal community in a periurban
area in the Andes, Cundinamarca, Co-
lombia. Acta Biologica Colombiana 20:
193-202.
Litvaitis, J. A. et al. 2015. Bobcats (Lynx ru-
fus) as a model organism to investigate
the effects of roads on wide-ranging car-
nivores. Environmental Management
55: 1366-1376.
Lopes Palmeira, F. B. et al. 2015. Livestock
predation by puma (Puma concolor) in
the highlands of a southeastern Brazilian
Atlantic Forest. Environmental Manage-
ment 56: 903-915.
Lopez, J. 2015. Biodiversity on the brink:
the role of “assisted migration” in man-
aging endangered species threatened
with rising seas. Harvard Environmen-
tal Law Review 39: 157-190.
McCarthy, K. P. et al. 2015. Does hunting
activity for game species have indirect
effects on resource selection by the en-
dangered Florida panther? Animal Con-
servation 18: 138-145.
McClintock, B. T. et al. 2015. Endangered
Florida panther population size deter-
mined from public reports of motor ve-
hicle collision mortalities. Journal of Ap-
plied Ecology 52: 893-901.
Moreira-Arce, D. et al. 2015. Diurnal hu-
man activity and introduced species af-
fect occurrence of carnivores in a hu-
man-dominated landscape. Plos One
10: e0137854.
Moreno, R. et al. 2015. Causes of jaguar
killing in Panama - a long term survey
using interviews. Cat News 62: 40-42.
Perri, A. R. et al. 2015. A bobcat burial
and other reported intentional animal
burials from Illinois Hopewell mounds.
Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology
40: 282-301.
Pienaar, E. F. et al. 2015. Conflicts between
cattlemen and the Florida panther: in-
sights and policy recommendations
from interviews with Florida cattlemen.
Human Ecology 43: 577-588.
Povilitis, T. 2015. Recovering the jaguar
(Panthera onca) in peripheral range: a
challenge to conservation policy. Oryx
49: 626-631.
Serieys, L. E. K. et al. 2015. Anticoagulant
rodenticides in urban bobcats: exposure,
risk factors and potential effects based
on a 16-year study. Ecotoxicology 24:
844-862.
Srbek-Araujo, A. C. et al. 2015. Jaguar
(Panthera onca Linnaeus, 1758) roadkill
in Brazilian Atlantic Forest and implica-
tions for species conservation. Brazilian
Journal of Biology 75: 581-586.
Sugiyama, N. et al. 2015. Stable isotopes
and zooarchaeology at Teotihuacan,
Mexico reveal earliest evidence of wild
carnivore management in Mesoamerica.
Plos One 10: e0135635.
Thornton, D. H. et al. 2015. Spatially ex-
plicit capture-recapture analysis of bob-
cat (Lynx rufus) density: implications for
mesocarnivore monitoring. Wildlife Re-
search 42: 394-404.
Vickers, T. W. et al. 2015. Survival and
mortality of pumas (Puma concolor) in a
fragmented, urbanizing landscape. Plos
One 10: e0131490.
Wang, Y. et al. 2015. Mesopredator spatial
and temporal responses to large pred-
ators and human development in the
Santa Cruz Mountains of California. Bi-
ological Conservation 190: 23-33.
Zanin, M. et al. 2015. Landscapes attributes
and their consequences on jaguar (Pan-
thera onca) and cattle depredation occur-
rence. European Journal of Wildlife Re-
search 61: 529-537.
Genetics and Disease
Dubey, J. P. et al. 2015. Isolation and genet-
ic characterization of Toxoplasma gon-
dii from black bears (Ursus americanus),
bobcats (Lynx rufus), and feral cats (Felis
 Recent Publications
catus) from Pennsylvania. Journal of Eu- Allen, M. L. et al. 2015. The role of scent scorpioides (LINNAEUS, 1766). Her-
karyotic Microbiology 62: 410-415. marking in mate selection by female petozoa 27: 205-207.
Gallas, M. 2015. Pathologies of Oligacan- pumas (Puma concolor). Plos One 10: Koen, E. L. et al. 2015. Isolation of periph-
thorhynchus pardalis (Acanthocephala, e0139087. eral populations of Canada lynx (Lynx
Oligacanthorhynchidae) in Leopardus ti- Caruso, N. et al. 2015. Modelling the eco- canadensis). Canadian Journal of Zool-
grinus (Carnivora, Felidae) in Southern logical niche of an endangered popula- ogy 93: 521-530.
Brazil. Revista Brasileira De Parasitolo- tion of Puma concolor: First application Lesmeister, D. B. et al. 2015. Spatial and
gia Veterinaria 24: 251-251. of the GNESFA method to an elusive temporal structure of a mesocarnivore
Klippel, A. H. et al. 2015. Identifying road- carnivore. Ecological Modelling 297: guild in midwestern North America.
killed animals in a Brazilian Biologi- 11-19. Wildlife Monographs 191: 1-61.
cal Reserve crossed by a highway using Castilho, C. S. et al. 2015. Evaluating land- Lopez-Gonzalez, C. A. et al. 2015. Bob-
DNA barcodes. Genome 58: 228-229. scape connectivity for Puma concol- cat abundance (Lynx rufus escuinapae
Lozano, C. C. et al. 2015. Identification of or and Panthera onca among Atlantic J. A. Allen, 1903) in the Parque Nacio-
novel gammaherpesviruses in ocelots forest protected areas. Environmental nal El Cimatario, Queretaro, Mexico.
(Leopardus pardalis) and bobcats (Lynx Management 55: 1377-1389. Acta Zoologica Mexicana Nueva Serie
rufus) in Panama and Colorado, USA. Clare, J. D. J. et al. 2015. Predicting bob- 31: 138-140.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases 51: 911- cat abundance at a landscape scale and Martinez-Hernandez, A. et al. 2015. Den-
915. evaluating occupancy as a density index sity of threatened ocelot (Leopardus par-
Napolitano, C. et al. 2015. Reduced genetic in central Wisconsin. Journal of Wild- dalis) in the Sierra Abra-Tanchipa Bio-
diversity and increased dispersal in guig- life Management 79: 469-480. sphere Reserve, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
na (Leopardus guigna) in Chilean frag- Cooper, S. M. et al. 2015. Nocturnal move- Oryx 49: 619-625.
mented landscapes. Journal of Heredity ments and habitat selection of meso- Melville, H. I. A. S. et al. 2015. Home-
106: 522-536. predators encountering bobwhite nests. range interactions of three sympatric
Onuma, S. S. M. et al. 2015. Detection of Wildlife Society Bulletin 39: 138-146. mesopredators in east Texas. Canadian
Leptospira spp. and Brucella abortus an- Elbroch, L. M. et al. 2015. Recolonizing Journal of Zoology 93: 547-557.
tibodies in free-living jaguars (Panthera wolves influence the realized niche of Morrison, C. D. et al. 2015. Space-use,
onca) in two protected areas of north- resident cougars. Zoological Studies 54: movement and dispersal of sub-adult
ern Pantanal, Brazil. Revista Do Institu- 41. cougars in a geographically isolated pop-
to De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo Elbroch, L. M. et al. 2015. Spatial associ- ulation. Peerj 3: e1118.
57: 177-180. ations in a solitary predator: using ge- Rodgers, T. W. et al. 2015. Socio-spatial or-
Prentice, M. B. et al. 2015. A test of somat- netic tools and GPS technology to as- ganization and kin structure in ocelots
ic mosaicism in the androgen receptor sess cougar social organization in the from integration of camera trapping and
gene of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). Southern Yellowstone Ecosystem. Acta noninvasive genetics. Journal of Mam-
BMC Genetics 16: 125. Ethologica 18: 127-136. malogy 96: 120-128.
Sanchioli, R. G. 2015. Feline hemotropic Frakes, R. A. et al. 2015. Landscape analy- Rodgers, T. W. et al. 2015. Communal la-
mycoplasmosis in jaguar (Panthera sis of adult Florida panther habitat. Plos trines act as potentially important com-
onca): case report. Biotemas 28: 153- One 10: e0133044. munication centers in ocelots (Leopar-
156. Guilder, J. et al. 2015. Jaguars (Panthera dus pardalis). Mammalian Biology 80:
Schneider, A. et al. 2015. Recurrent evolu- onca) increase kill utilization rates and 380-384.
tion of melanism in South American fe- share prey in response to seasonal fluc- Rose, C. et al. 2015. Diet of the recover-
lids. Plos Genetics 11: e1004892. tuations in nesting green turtle (Che- ing Ohio bobcat (Lynx rufus) with a con-
Valdez, F. P. et al. 2015. Population genet- lonia mydas mydas) abundance in Tor- sideration of two subpopulations. Amer-
ics of jaguars (Panthera onca) in the Bra- tuguero National Park, Costa Rica. ican Midland Naturalist 173: 305-317.
zilian Pantanal: molecular evidence for Mammalian Biology 80: 65-72. Saenz-Bolanos, C. et al. 2015. Records of
demographic connectivity on a regional Hernandez, F. et al. 2015. Activity patterns black jaguars at Parque Nacional Barbil-
scale. Journal of Heredity 106: 503-511. by two colour morphs of the vulnerable la, Costa Rica. Cat News 62: 38-39.
Verma, S. K. et al. 2015. Detection of Sar- guina, Leopardus guigna (Molina 1782), Segura, V. 2015. A three-dimensional skull
cocystis spp. infection in bobcats (Lynx in temperate forests of southern Chile. ontogeny in the bobcat (Lynx rufus)
rufus). Veterinary Parasitology 212: Gayana 79: 102-105. (Carnivora: Felidae): a comparison with
422-426. Hernandez-SaintMartin, A. D. et al. 2015. other carnivores. Canadian Journal of
Ecology Food habits of jaguar and puma in a Zoology 93: 225-237.
protected area and adjacent fragmented Watkins, A. et al. 2015. A spatially explic-
Allen, M. L. et al. 2015. The comparative ef- landscape of northeastern Mexico. Nat- it agent-based model of the interactions
fects of large carnivores on the acquisi- ural Areas Journal 35: 308-317. between jaguar populations and their
tion of carrion by scavengers. American Hugo Montalvo, V. et al. 2015. The jaguar habitats. Ecological Modelling 306:
Naturalist 185: 822-833. as a potential predator of Kinosternon 268-277.

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 27

Recent Publications
Yaap, B. et al. 2015. Mammal use of Raphia
taedigera palm stands in Costa Rica’s
Osa Peninsula. Mammalia 79: 357-362.
Research Methodologies
Alonso, R. S. et al. 2015. Mark-recapture
and mark-resight methods for estimat-
ing abundance with remote cameras:
a carnivore case study. Plos One 10:
e0123032.
Beausoleil, R. A. et al. 2015. Using DNA
to evaluate field identification of cou-
gar sex by agency staff and hunters us-
ing trained dogs. Wildlife Society Bulle-
tin 39: 203-209.
Blecha, K. A. et al. 2015. Improvements on
GPS location cluster analysis for the pre-
diction of large carnivore feeding activ-
ities: ground-truth detection probability
Book Review
The Predator Paradox: ending the war with wolves, bears, cougars, and coyotes
By John Shivik, Beacon Press, 2014
28 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016
and inclusion of activity sensor mea- Mumma, M. A. et al. 2015. Evaluating non-
sures. Plos One 10: e0138915. invasive genetic sampling techniques
Clare, J. D. J. et al. 2015. Comparing the to estimate large carnivore abundance.
costs and detectability of bobcat using Molecular Ecology Resources 15: 1133-
scat-detecting dog and remote camera 1144.
surveys in central Wisconsin. Wildlife Rinaldi, A. R. et al. 2015. Is it possible to
Society Bulletin 39: 210-217. identify four small Neotropical felids
Hanks, E. M. et al. 2015. Continuous-time (Carnivora: Felidae) based on hair mi-
discrete-space models for animal move- crostructure? Zoologia 32: 77-82.
ment. Annals of Applied Statistics 9: Robinson, H. S. et al. 2015. Linking re-
145-165. source selection and mortality modeling
Kowalski, B. et al. 2015. Effects of land- for population estimation of mountain
scape covariates on the distribution and lions in Montana. Ecological Modelling
detection probabilities of mammalian 312: 11-25.
carnivores. Journal of Mammalogy 96: Wultsch, C. et al. 2015. Optimizing collec-
511-521. tion methods for noninvasive genetic
Martinez-Gutierrez, P. G. et al. 2015. Pred- sampling of Neotropical felids. Wildlife
ator identification methods in diet stud- Society Bulletin 39: 403-412.
ies: uncertain assignment produces bi-
ased results? Ecography 38: 922-929.
J ohn Shivik has spent much of his career striving to understand human-carnivore con-
flicts and attempting to mitigate them using non-lethal techniques. This well-written,
thought-provoking book provides a balanced explanation of this conflict using a wealth of
insight and personal anecdotes. Then, most importantly, it offers some solutions on just
how we might “end the war”. The first section, fittingly titled “The battlefield,” outlines
the conflicts, including depredation on livestock, dangers to people and pets, effects of
predation on wild prey populations, and the history of predator bounties. This last topic
triggers a discussion on perceptions versus reality – we always seem to fall back on failed
programs because of fear and the “placebo effect” (i.e., the action makes us feel better).
The second section, “Détente” discusses many of the methods we can employ to reduce
conflicts: aversive stimuli, altering predator behavior, and altering human behavior (e.g.,
improved livestock husbandry), as well as the need for an informed, engaged public. As
John states, “The predator paradox is about the interface of humans, animals, and the
environment, and not about an easy, clear morality from a distance….. With people and
predators encroaching on each other, now more than ever we need to disseminate accurate
and useful information.“ Although the book mostly focuses on wolves and coyotes, the
challenges are quite similar for all the large carnivores. Shivik touches on jaguar – livestock
conflict in Brazil and provides some common-sense actions when encountering a cougar.
This is an honest, intimate, and engaging work that provides a better understanding of how
we treat predators and what coexisting with them really means.
~Linda Sweanor

Using DNA to evaluate field identification of cougar sex by
agency staff and hunters using trained dogs
Beausoliel, R. and K. I. Warheit. 2015. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 39:203-209.
Abstract—Cougar (Puma concolor) hunting has been classified typi-
cally as either selective-hunting with the aid of dogs or nonselective-
hunting without dogs; this is based on the assumption that hunters
using dogs to tree cougars can better identify sex of cougars prior to
harvest. Subsequent to hunt activity, 94% of all wildlife agencies that
allow cougar hunting have mandatory inspections where sex is iden-
tified and recorded by agency staff. To test the ability of hunters and
agency staff in Washington, USA, to correctly identify sex of cougars
in the field, laboratory analysis of DNA from tissue samples collected
by experienced hound handlers using biopsy darts and collected dur-
ing staff inspection of mortalities, respectively, was compared with
visual identification and used to determine error rates. The sex as-
signed by dog hunters in the field matched sex from DNA analysis
70% of the time (n=159); correct identification varied between 57%
and 88%/year. The sex identified by agency staff during inspection
of mortalities matched DNA analysis 87% of the time (n=1,329);
correct identification varied between 71% and 90%/year. Because sex
misclassification has the potential to alter intended harvest as well as
assessing success of management prescriptions, agencies may want to
initiate education programs internally and outside their agency. The
majority of states and provinces already have mandatory inspections;
therefore, agencies would benefit from initiating DNA collection
during mandatory inspections to identify error rates of sex identifica-
tion by staff within their jurisdiction.
The status and distribution of the Iberian lynx (Felis pardina
Temminck) in Coto Donana A r e a , SW S p a i n
F. Palomares, et. al. 2015. Biological Conservation 51: 159-169.
Abstract—The distribution and relative abundance of the Iberian
lynx at the Doiiana National Park and its surroundings ( SW Spain)
have been determined by tracks and faeces by searching in 5 x 5 km
squares. Two density categories distinguish sampling units where lynx
reproduction is or is not estimated to occur. Absolute abundance was
estimated in two ways by comparing with previous radiotelemetric
studies.The population is made up of no more than 50 individuals,
divided into two nuclei relatively isolated one from the other.
High relative density mostly coincided with protected areas.
Lynx presence positively correlated with shrub cover and rabbit
abundance. The lynx population undergoes high unnatural mortal-
ity rates. Conservation proposals are noted.
The predator-prey power law: biomass scaling across terrestrial
and aquatic biomes
Ian A. Hatton, et al. 2015. Science 349:6252.
Abstract—Ecosystems exhibit surprising regularities in structure
and function across terrestrial and aquatic biomes worldwide.We as-
sembled a global data set for 2260 communities of large mammals,
invertebrates, plants, and plankton. We find that predator and prey
biomass follow a general scaling law with exponents consistently near
¾. This pervasive pattern implies that the structure of the biomass
pyramid becomes increasingly bottom-heavy at higher biomass. Sim-
ilar exponents are obtained for community production-biomass rela-
tions, suggesting conserved links between ecosystem structure
and function. These exponents are similar to many body mass al-
lometries, and yet ecosystem scaling emerges independently from
Research Highlights
individual-level scaling, which is not fully understood. These patterns
suggest a greater degree of ecosystem-level organization than previ-
ously recognized and a more predictive approach to ecological theory.
Assessing the distribution of a vulnerable felid species: threats
from human land use and climate change to the kodkod
(Leopardus guigna)
Cuyckens, G. A. E. et al., 2015. Oryx 49: 611-618.
Abstract—Climate change and habitat fragmentation are consid-
ered key pressures on biodiversity, and mammalian carnivores with
a limited geographical distribution are particularly vulnerable. The
kodkod, a small felid endemic to the temperate forests of southern
Chile and Argentina, has the smallest geographical range of any New
World felid. Although the species occurs in protected areas in both
countries, it is not known how well these areas protect the kodkod
either currently or under climate change scenarios. We used species
distribution models and spatial analyses to assess the distribution of
the kodkod, examining the effects of changes in human land use and
future climate change. We also assessed the species’ present represen-
tation in protected areas and in light of climate change scenarios. We
found that the kodkod has already lost 5.5% of its range as a result
of human land use, particularly in central areas of its distribution
with intermediate habitat suitability. Climate change, together with
human land use, will affect 40% of the kodkod’s present potential
distribution by the year 2050. Currently, 12.5% of the species’ po-
tential distribution lies in protected areas and this will increase to
14% in the future. This increase does not, however, mean an increase
in protected habitat but rather a reduction of the species’ total poten-
tial range; a relatively larger percentage will be protected in Argentina
than in Chile but the species is more susceptible to extinction in
Argentina and the Chilean Matorral.
Demography, prey abundance, and management affect number
of cougar mortalities associated with livestock conflicts
Hiller, T. L., et al. 2015. Journal of Wildlife Management 79:978-
988.
Abstract—Balancing the ecological importance of large carnivores
with human tolerances across multiple-use landscapes presents a
complex and often controversial management scenario. Increasing
cougar (Puma concolor) populations in the western United States,
coupled with an increasing human population and distribution,
may contribute to increased numbers of interactions and conflicts
(e.g., livestock depredation) with cougars. We assessed county-level
factors associated with mortalities of cougars of different sexes and
ages resulting from livestock conflicts in Oregon during 1990-1999.
Factors included cougar population density, human population den-
sity, proportion of the cougar population that were juvenile males,
cougar harvest, prey availability, habitat conditions, and climate
measured at the county level. We used generalized linear mixed mod-
els and quasi-likelihood Akaike’s Information Criterion (QAIC) to
rank models. Two of 26 models were competitive (∆QAIC < 4, ∑w
= 0.72) and both contained cougar population density and cougar
harvest density; the second-best model also included proportion of
juvenile males in the population. From model-averaging, we deter-
mined cougar mortalities associated with livestock conflicts increased
with increasing cougar population density (95% CL = 0.48–1.37)
and decreased with increasing cougar harvest density (95% CL =
-0.58 to -0.02). An exploratory model including cougar population
density, cougar harvest density, proportion of juvenile male cougars,
Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 29
Research Highlights
beef cattle density, relative deer density, and all pairwise interactions Socio-spatial organization and kin structure in ocelots from inte-
was equal to the QAIC-top model from the previous set of 26 models. gration of camera trapping and noninvasive genetics.
Under a scenario of a high proportion (0.40) of juvenile males, num- Rodgers, T. W. et al. 2015. Journal of Mammalogy 96: 120-128.
ber of cougar mortalities related to livestock conflicts increased 219
% when cougar population density increased from 300/10,000 km2 Abstract—Kin selection theory predicts that under certain condi-
to 400/10,000 km2. In contrast, the number of cougar mortalities tions animals will tolerate related individuals in their home ranges.
decreased with increasing harvest when cougar population densities We examined the relationship between spatiotemporal overlap and
were high (500/10,000 km2), but we found no relationship at lower genetic relatedness in ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) to determine if kin
cougar population densities. As beef cattle densities increased, the selection plays a role in structuring ocelot populations. We used 3
number of cougar mortalities increased substantially (low deer popu- years of camera trapping to examine the spatial organization of an
lations), remained relatively low and constant (average deer popula- ocelot population on Barro Colorado Island in Panama. We also
tion), and decreased (high deer populations). Where landowner toler- placed camera traps on ocelot latrines to match photographs of in-
ance to cougar-livestock conflicts is an issue, wildlife managers may dividual ocelots with microsatellite genotypes from feces. Strengths
provide expertise to reduce conflicts by increasing density of wild un- of spatiotemporal overlap between individual ocelots were calculated
gulate prey, increasing hunter-harvest, and reducing vulnerability of using a half-weight association index based on how often individuals
livestock, depending on factors that may be contributing to conflicts. were photographed at the same camera within 30 days of one another.
.
We calculated relatedness between individuals based on 11 variable
Interspecific interactions between wild felids vary across scales microsatellite loci. Male ocelots overlapped with ≤ 11 females, and
and levels of urbanization females overlapped with ≤ 7 males. We detected no clear evidence
Jesse Lewis, et al. 2015. Ecology and Evolution, first published of strict intersexual territoriality in either sex. Mean overlap among
online: 9 DEC 2015, DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1812 males was more than 5 times greater than overlap among females;
however, spatiotemporal overlap was strong between some female
Abstract—Ongoing global landscape change resulting from urban-
pairs. Overall, overlapping individuals were more related to one an-
ization is increasingly linked to changes in species distributions and
other than was the sample population as a whole, consistent with the
community interactions. However, relatively little is known about
hypothesis that kin selection influences ocelot spatial organization.
how urbanization influences competitive interactions among mam-
This finding was driven by relatedness among overlapping females,
malian carnivores, particularly related to wild felids. We evaluated
and by relatedness among overlapping individuals of opposite sex,
interspecific interactions between medium- and large-sized carni-
but not by overlapping males.
vores across a gradient of urbanization and multiple scales. Specifi-
cally, we investigated spatial and temporal interactions of bobcats Ecology and status of the jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi): a
and pumas by evaluating circadian activity patterns, broad-scale synthesis of existing knowledge
seasonal interactions, and fine-scale daily interactions in wild- Giordano, Anthony J. 2015. Mammal Review ISSN 0305-1838:
land–urban interface (WUI), exurban residential development, and 1-14.
wildland habitats. Across levels of urbanization, interspecific interac-
tions were evaluated using two-species and single-species occupancy Abstract—The ecology of the jaguarundi is poorly known, so I re-
models with data from motion-activated cameras. As predicted, viewed the literature for all original data and remarks on jaguarundi
urbanization increased the opportunity for interspecific interactions observations, ecology, and behaviour to synthesize what is known
between wild felids. Although pumas did not exclude bobcats from about the species. Jaguarundis occupy and use a range of habitats with
areas at broad spatial or temporal scales, bobcats responded behav- dense undergrowth from northern Mexico to central Argentina, but
iorally to the presence of pumas at finer scales, but patterns varied may be most abundant in seasonal dry, Atlantic, gallery, and mixed
across levels of urbanization. In wildland habitat, bobcats avoided grassland/agricultural forest landscapes. Jaguarundis are principally
using areas for short temporal periods after a puma visited an predators of small (sigmodontine) rodents, although other mammals,
area. In contrast, bobcats did not appear to avoid areas that pumas birds, and squamate reptiles are taken regularly. The vast majority
recently visited in landscapes influenced by urbanization (exurban of jaguarundi camera-trap records occurred during daylight hours
development and WUI habitat). In addition, overlap in circadian (0600 h–1800 h); jaguaurndis are also predominantly terrestrial, al-
activity patterns between bobcats and pumas increased in exurban though they appear to be capable tree climbers. Home range sizes for
development compared to wildland habitat. Across study areas, bob- jaguarundis vary greatly, but most are ≤25 km2; female territories may
cats used sites less frequently as the number of puma photographs be much smaller than or similar in size to those of males. Males may
increased at a site. Overall, bobcats appear to shape their behavior concentrate movements in one area before shifting to another and,
at fine spatial and temporal scales to reduce encounters with pumas, as with other felids, intersexual overlap in habitat use appears to be
but residential development can potentially alter these strategies common. Interference competition may be important in influencing
and increase interaction opportunities. We explore three hypotheses the distribution and ecology of jaguarundis, although their diurnal
to explain our results of how urbanization affected interspecific habits may somewhat mitigate its effect. Conflict between humans
interactions that consider activity patterns, landscape configuration, and jaguarundis over small livestock may be widespread among rural
and animal scent marking. Altered competitive interactions between human communities and is likely to be underreported. Despite this
animals in urbanized landscapes could potentially increase aggres- conflict, jaguarundis can persist in agriculturally modified landscapes
sive encounters and the frequency of disease transmission. and small forest fragments. Additional research on local jaguarundi
populations from more areas should be a priority to determine the
true status of the species.

30 Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016

 WFA Representatives
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
2016 Coordinator: Sarah Hegg sarahjhegg@gmail.com

California Kentucky Texas

Veronica Yovovich 2013- Glen Kalisz 2016- Price Rumbelow 2014-
vyovovich@gmail.com gpkalisz@gmail.com drumbelow@sulross.edu
Justine Smith 2016- E. Kentucky University, Richmond Sul Ross State University, Alpine
justinealyssasmith@gmail.com Minnesota Washington
UC Santa Cruz Meredith Palmer 2016- Michael Havrda 2016-
Colorado palme516@umn.edu mvhavrda@uw.edu
Patrick Lendrum 2015- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Univ. of Washington, Seattle
patrick.lendrum@colostate.edu New Mexico Wisconsin
CSU, Ft Collins Susan Bard 2015- Cheyenne Yates 2016-
Georgia sbard06@gmail.com cyate663@uwsp.edu
Kelsey Turner 2016- NMSU, Las Cruces University of WI, Stevens Point
91kelseyleigh@gmail.com North Dakota & South Dakota Wyoming & Montana
University of Georgia, Athens Randy Johnson 2015- Colby Anton 2015-
Illinois randy.johnson@sdstate.edu colbyanton@gmail.com
Jessica Fort 2015- SD State University, Brookings
bonobopeace@gmail.com SIU, Oregon
Carbondale Beth Orning 2015-
beth.orning@gmail.com
OR State University, Corvallis

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
2016 Latin America Coordinator: Sandra Ortiz, soamvz@gmail.com
2016 North American Coordinator, Michael Cove, mvcove@ncsu.edu

South America Central America

Argentina Costa Rica Central USA
Nicolás Caruso 2013- José González-Maya, PhD 2011- Suzie Prange 2016-
nccaruso@gmail.com (see Colombia, above) Suzie.prange@dnr.state.oh.us
Universidad Nacional del Sur Ohio Division of Wildlife, Athens

Brazil North America Southeastern USA

Henrique Concone 2014- Michael Cove 2013 –
Canada
hvbconcone@procarnivoros.org.br mvcove@ncsu.edu
Aliah Knopff, 2012-
Instituto Pró-Carnívoros NCSU, Raleigh
aliah.knopff@gmail.com
Colombia Talus Environmental Consulting Alaska, USA
José González-Maya, PhD 2011- Calgary, Alberta Aimee Rockhill 2016-
jfgonzalez@procat-conservation.org aimee_rockhill@fws.gov
Mexico Koyukuk/Nowitna NWF
jfgonzalezmaya@gmail.com
Sandra Ortiz, MVZ MsC 2016-
ProCAT Colombia & International Arizona, USA
soamvz@gmail.com
Bogotá, Colombia; Heredia, Costa Rica John Clemons 2012 –
Alianza Nacional para la Conservación del
Venezuela Jaguar clemonsjp@aol.com
Maria Puerto Carrillo 2016- AZ Desert Bighorn Sheep Society
maripuerto@gmail.com
Venezuelan Inst. for Sci. Research (IVIC)

Wild Felid Monitor Winter 2016 31

 Ocelot with black iguana

About the Wild Felid Research and Management Association

T he Wild Felid Research and Management Association is open to professional biologists, wildlife managers, and others dedi-
cated to the conservation of wild felid species, with emphasis on those species in the Western Hemisphere. The Wild Felid
Association acts in an advisory capacity to facilitate wild felid conservation, management, and research, public education about
wild felids, and functions among various governments, agencies, councils, universities, and organizations responsible or inter-
ested in wild felids and their habitats.
Our intention is to:
1. Provide for and encourage the coordination and exchange of information on the ecology, management, and
conservation of wild felids;
2. Provide liaison with other groups; and,
3. Provide a format for conducting workshops, panels, and conferences on research, management and conservation
topics related to wild felids.
Our goal:
The goal of the Wild Felid Association is to promote the management, conservation and restoration of wild felids
through science-based research, management, and education.
Our objectives:
1. Promote and foster well-designed research of the highest scientific and professional standards.
2. Support and promote sound stewardship of wild felids through scientifically based population and habitat management.
3. Promote opportunities for communication and collaboration across scientific disciplines and among wild felid
research scientists and managers through conferences, workshops, and newsletters.
4. Increase public awareness and understanding of the ecology, conservation, and management of wild felids by
encouraging the translation of technical information into popular literature and other media, and other educational
forums.

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