Abstract
We compiled and analyzed 24 years (1972-1995) of verified incidents of mountain lions killing domestic animals (n = 2,663) to examine trend, distribution, and types of conflicts in California. To model the relationships between mountain lion depredation and various human activity and habitat factors, we tested 2 predictive models. Domestic sheep depredation in counties was significantly (P < 0.05) related to amount of suitable mountain lion habitat. We hypothesize that increasing domestic sheep depredation may reflect regional increases in the distribution and abundance of mountain lions. A regression model of percent pet depredation indicated a significant (P < 0.05) association with average annual new house development (1979-1993). Counties with significant pet depredation are in the same regions where public safety problems have occurred and reflect a radiation of human activity into mountain lion habitat. Mountain lion depredation data may be a useful index of regional mountain lion activity. Livestock and pet depredation problems are increasing in different regions of the state for different reasons; pet depredations are increasing the most rapidly. Pet depredation may be a useful indicator of mountain lion proximity to humans.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 451-460 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 1996 |
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Keywords
- California
- depredation
- development
- domestic sheep
- human activity
- livestock
- mountain lion
- pets
- Puma concolor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Ecology
Cite this
Mountain lion and human activity in California : Testing speculations. / Torres, Steven G.; Mansfield, Terry M.; Foley, Janet E; Lupo, Thomas; Brinkhaus, Amy.
In: Wildlife Society Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 3, 1996, p. 451-460.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mountain lion and human activity in California
T2 - Testing speculations
AU - Torres, Steven G.
AU - Mansfield, Terry M.
AU - Foley, Janet E
AU - Lupo, Thomas
AU - Brinkhaus, Amy
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - We compiled and analyzed 24 years (1972-1995) of verified incidents of mountain lions killing domestic animals (n = 2,663) to examine trend, distribution, and types of conflicts in California. To model the relationships between mountain lion depredation and various human activity and habitat factors, we tested 2 predictive models. Domestic sheep depredation in counties was significantly (P < 0.05) related to amount of suitable mountain lion habitat. We hypothesize that increasing domestic sheep depredation may reflect regional increases in the distribution and abundance of mountain lions. A regression model of percent pet depredation indicated a significant (P < 0.05) association with average annual new house development (1979-1993). Counties with significant pet depredation are in the same regions where public safety problems have occurred and reflect a radiation of human activity into mountain lion habitat. Mountain lion depredation data may be a useful index of regional mountain lion activity. Livestock and pet depredation problems are increasing in different regions of the state for different reasons; pet depredations are increasing the most rapidly. Pet depredation may be a useful indicator of mountain lion proximity to humans.
AB - We compiled and analyzed 24 years (1972-1995) of verified incidents of mountain lions killing domestic animals (n = 2,663) to examine trend, distribution, and types of conflicts in California. To model the relationships between mountain lion depredation and various human activity and habitat factors, we tested 2 predictive models. Domestic sheep depredation in counties was significantly (P < 0.05) related to amount of suitable mountain lion habitat. We hypothesize that increasing domestic sheep depredation may reflect regional increases in the distribution and abundance of mountain lions. A regression model of percent pet depredation indicated a significant (P < 0.05) association with average annual new house development (1979-1993). Counties with significant pet depredation are in the same regions where public safety problems have occurred and reflect a radiation of human activity into mountain lion habitat. Mountain lion depredation data may be a useful index of regional mountain lion activity. Livestock and pet depredation problems are increasing in different regions of the state for different reasons; pet depredations are increasing the most rapidly. Pet depredation may be a useful indicator of mountain lion proximity to humans.
KW - California
KW - depredation
KW - development
KW - domestic sheep
KW - human activity
KW - livestock
KW - mountain lion
KW - pets
KW - Puma concolor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029660530&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029660530&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0029660530
VL - 24
SP - 451
EP - 460
JO - Wildlife Society Bulletin
JF - Wildlife Society Bulletin
SN - 0091-7648
IS - 3
ER -