Mountain lions face greater risk of becoming roadkill in wildfire’s aftermath, study says
The mountain lion family has had a difficult time of it in the last several years.
The state lost nearly 5,000 cubs to mountain lions in 2009 – by far the greatest loss of a species in recorded history. Since then, the population has recovered and has now exceeded 2,000 lions in the Bitterroot Valley.
However, recent estimates place the statewide total at 3,200, and that figure has not changed for several years, despite the recovery.
Now, a study in the Feb. 17 issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management looks at what effect, if any, the wildfires of 2010 have had on the remaining lion populations of the Bitterroot Valley. Based on data from two mountain lion research efforts in the region, the study demonstrates that, from a human perspective, the wildfires have not had much of an impact on the population.
While the study does not predict how long the lion population will continue to recover, it does conclude that human actions have had a negative impact on the species and recommend that the state’s mountain lion population be monitored.
“There are a number of recommendations for how to help lion recovery, starting with the recognition that there are individuals in the forest and even within towns who haven’t experienced as much of a fear of big animals as they used to, and that we need to do a better job of informing them of the risks to their pets and other wildlife,” said lead author Matthew Vaz. “And they should be educated about how to respond if something happens to one of their pets.”
Other recommendations include the development of community education programs that are specific to mountain lions and their wildlife, and public education programs that tell people of the risks of mountain lions.
Vaz noted that the state has a comprehensive plan to help the mountain lion population rebound, and that the first order of business is to develop a long-term plan to help the species recover
