![]() The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, pulled together data and researchers from almost a dozen mountain lion research projects across the state, providing a big-picture look at mountain lion mortality and survival in California. Benson hopes ecologists and social scientists will be encouraged to investigate more directly how human attitudes and perceptions affect the survival of large carnivores. While the study authors discovered a correlation between declining mortality rates and election results, further research was necessary to prove a clear link, they said. “We definitely understand that voting records on environmental issues don’t fully capture the complex views that people have about large carnivores, or their tolerance of them,” Benson said. They found that regional support for these initiatives were an even better predictor of mountain lion survival than the density of goat and sheep farms, where the carnivores are more likely to enter into conflict with humans. To tackle the question - albeit indirectly - Benson and colleagues compiled election results for California propositions related to environmental issues such as watershed conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, plastic grocery bags and a bond measure for parks and other projects. “We had the idea that, ‘OK, well, there’s not annual ballots on whether mountain lions are good or bad, but in most years, there’s something to do with the environment,” said John Benson, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the study leader. But a livestock killing doesn’t always lead to a death sentence for the culprit. This safety net may stem from an unlikely source: public opinion.Ī common cause of death of mountain lions is so-called depredation killings, in which individuals apply to the state for permission to kill a cat responsible for the death of livestock or other domestic animals. In some of California’s most densely populated areas, such as Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, cougars saw the highest survival rates over the study period. These include parts of the Peninsular and Transverse mountain ranges in Southern California, as well as on the Central Coast and in the Sierra Foothills. The most dangerous areas for mountain lions are regions the researchers classified as having an “intermediate human presence,” or rural areas with a lower density of development. To the researchers’ surprise, the highest mortality rates due to humans did not occur in traffic-laden metropolises or agricultural areas, where pumas and livestock owners endure a tense relationship. Slightly more than half of the deaths were caused by humans. Of 263 documented deaths, researchers were able to determine a cause for 199. In the first long-term, statewide analysis of mountain lion mortality, researchers examined records for 590 radio-collared cats from Siskiyou to San Diego counties, between 19. Yet new research suggests that the charismatic cats may face less risk from humans in counties where voters supported “pro-environment” ballot measures - an indication that human attitudes can play a role in survival rates. The average California mountain lion is more likely to die at the hands of a human than of natural causes. Permitted killings by ranchers and homeowners.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |