OutdoorNebraska

O ne of the fundamental questions in managing a species is "How many are there?" Given that wild animals often try hard not to be seen or heard, wildlife scientists have spent decades developing survey methods that yield reliable results. The key to these state-of-the- art methods is to count the animals that are seen or heard and, using mathematical principles, also estimate those that were not detected. These sophisticated approaches are particularly needed to accurately count species such as mountain lions that are notoriously wide- ranging and elusive. Nebraska's mountain lion scat survey uses one such modern approach. For several weeks in May and June, a specially trained dog is used to search as much potential habitat as possible for mountain lion droppings, or scats. The collected scats are sent to a genetics lab to confirm which are from mountain lions and, when possible, to identify individual mountain lions, their gender and in some cases, even their age. A reliable estimate of population size can then be calculated for the area searched that accounts for both those animals that were identified as well as additional animals that are likely present in the population. Commission biologists conducted such surveys in the Pine Ridge of northwestern Nebraska in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and in the central Niobrara River Valley east of Valentine in 2014 only. The 2014 survey resulted in the collection of 43 verified cougar scats, 38 of which were found in the Pine Ridge. The remaining five were found in the central Niobrara Valley. In all, 278 miles were searched in 2014 during 40 days of hiking. The 2014 survey encompassed nine more days and 80 more miles in the Pine Ridge than the 2012 survey. Nine of the 40 days were spent in the Niobrara Valley, resulting in the first extensive survey of that area. Lab results identified 12 individual mountain lions in the Pine Ridge during the survey, including seven females and five males. An additional 17 Pine Ridge scats were identified as mountain lion, but did not contain enough genetic material to identify a particular individual. The total Pine Ridge population, including those that were likely present but not identified, was estimated at 22 lions during May and June of 2014, including adults and mobile young. This is the same number estimated in 2012 for the Pine Ridge, though births, deaths and movements of animals in and out of the region undoubtedly resulted in a different mix of individuals between the two years. Three individuals were detected from scats collected in the Niobrara Valley during 2014, including two females and one male. The data, however, were not extensive enough to estimate a total population size for the area. Beyond the scat survey, a trail camera photo of a female with two kittens was verified during 2014 from the Wildcat Hills south of Scottsbluff, the first confirmation of reproduction there. Additional mountain lions likely roam the remainder of the state, but numbers for them are difficult to estimate due to the elusive nature of young dispersing animals that are constantly on the move. As with all wildlife, mountain lion populations are never static from one year to the next. The Commission will continue to use the best available science to monitor this challenging species. ■ Nebraska's Mountain Lion Scat Survey Karen DeMatteo works with Train, her scat-finding Chesapeake Bay retriever. At Metcalf Wildlife Management Area north of Hay Springs, Nick Zaczek, a National Wild Turkey Federation cooperative forester for the Game and Parks Commission, places scat into a bag for future study. PHOTOS BY JUSTIN HAAG Mountain Lions in Nebraska • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 3

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