OutdoorNebraska

Females obviously must have dispersed to create the three populations we have now. It really just shows that our mountain lion populations are part of a larger regional population where animals are continually mixing. We are on the eastern edge of a population of thousands of mountain A female mountain lion harvested during the 2014 hunting season was wearing an ear-tag placed by researchers in the Black Hills. Is it common to find a female mountain lion so far from where it was born? A t a B Q: PHOTO BY JUSIN WAMBOLD W hen delivering presentations about mountain lions, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Sam Wilson begins by saying he has a four-pronged explanation about how the state's most controversial cat arrived in the state in the 1990s. Then, laughs ensue when he shows a photo of a mountain lion with arrows pointing to each of its four feet. Beyond the humor, Wilson discusses the science behind the Commission's efforts to manage this species. It's an area where he has much experience. Wilson has fulfilled the role of furbearer and carnivore specialist at Game and Parks for more than a decade. During that time, he has worked extensively with Nebraska's mountain lion population, heading up innovative population studies, verifying sightings and educating the public about the species. He's participated in conferences and workshops on mountain lion science and management across the western and midwestern United States, and he's worked with biologists from neighboring states to better manage regional lion populations. A lifelong hunter and outdoorsman, Wilson received his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied fisheries and wildlife. He received his Masters of Science through the University of Nebraska while working with scientists from the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. NEBRASKAland recently sat down with Wilson to answer some commonly asked questions about this elusive and at times controversial carnivore. SAM WILSON A male mountain lion in captivity. 2 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • Mountain Lions in Nebraska Q: What is the history and present status of mountain lions in Nebraska? Mountain lions are native to Nebraska but were eliminated from the state by the end of the 1800s. Mountain lion populations in neighboring mountain states increased as prey species recovered, bounties for killing mountain lions ended and states started managing mountain lions as game animals during the 1960s-1970s. This management as a game animal with limited harvest allowed mountain lion populations to increase and expand out to nearby habitat in Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. In Nebraska, the first modern mountain lion confirmations occurred in 1991, when tracks were found and a female was shot in the Pine Ridge. In 1995, the Nebraska Legislature classified mountain lions as a game animal, which means the species can only be hunted under rules prescribed by the Commission. Year- round protection under game law allowed the recolonization of suitable habitat in Nebraska over the last two decades. We now have breeding populations in three areas: the Pine Ridge, Niobrara River Valley and Wildcat Hills, and we typically have a few mountain lions roaming other parts of the state as well. Well, we didn't stock them and the agency does not intend to eliminate them. The Commission's goal is to maintain mountain lion populations in Nebraska over the long term as we do with all game animals. Mountain lions are a native species and part of the heritage of our state, so we want to ensure they are around for generations to come; however, our challenge is to manage the biological and social aspects of having mountain lions in Nebraska. We manage populations of game animals such as mountain lions through harvest seasons. Deer, elk and turkeys are just a few examples of game animals thriving with careful management that includes hunting. Game populations are evaluated annually to determine what, if any, harvest should be allowed. The basic premise is that when populations increase, harvest levels can increase, and when populations decrease, harvest can be reduced or stopped. This careful management is what has allowed many of these game species to be so successful over the long term. Public perception ranges from "the Game and Parks Commission stocked mountain lions" to "the Game and Parks Commission wants to eliminate them." What is the Commission's goal in mountain lion management? P a l w Q:

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