OutdoorNebraska

Mountain lions have established reproducing populations in three areas of Nebraska – the Pine Ridge, the Wildcat Hills and the Niobrara River Valley. Young lions likely moved into these areas from nearby established populations in the Black Hills and Wyoming. Mountain Lions in Nebraska • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 5 MAP DATA PROVIDED BY THE COUGAR NETWORK – COUGARNET.ORG AND THE NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION Established breeding range Pine Ridge Niobrara River Valley Black Hills Wildcat Hills KEY Known or suspected movement between populations killed by other means by the time we conducted our 2014 survey. It is important to make clear that the 2014 population estimate only applies to the time frame that the survey took place, May and June 2014. The further away you get in time the more likely it is that the population has changed from births, deaths, immigration and/or emigration. Why did the Commission decide to hold a hunting season in Nebraska and how was it determined what kind of hunting season was appropriate? W a w s Q: When the Nebraska Legislature classified the mountain lion as a game animal in 1995, it signaled to the Commission that hunting of the species should be allowed if the population was large enough to sustain a harvest. This is the same criteria we use for any other species on the state's game animal list, from deer to bobcats to pheasants. State statue also identifies Game and Parks as the appropriate agency to set hunting seasons. We understood that any decision we made about mountain lion hunting would be controversial, and we sought to find a reasonable middle ground to protect the species' long-term persistence in the state while allowing some appropriate level of hunting opportunity along the way. To find this middle ground, we looked at a number of published studies about how populations have respond to different levels of harvest in western states where mountain lion hunting has been permitted for years. We D ue to their secretive nature and low density, mountain lions rarely interact with people. Mountain lions typically hide or flee when a person is encountered. In the rare case that you encounter a mountain lion and it does not flee, the following tips may help you avert danger: 1. Do not approach a mountain lion. 2. Leave the animal an avenue of escape. 3. Stay calm, move slowly. 4. Back away to safety if you can. Do not turn your back or run. 5. Raise your arms and anything you are carrying to try to appear larger. 6. If children are present, lift them up to prevent them from running. 7. If you are being attacked, fight back. Mountain lions have been successfully fended off with bare hands. Use rocks, sticks or any weapons you can find. Try to remain on your feet and get back up if knocked down. ■ Encounters Connectivity Between Populations

• Cover