Colorado Parks and Wildlife is set to begin a three-year survey between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs to study the density of the mountain lion population in the area.
The zone is the fourth site of the agency’s study, now in its fifth year, which gives wildlife managers the information needed to develop robust management plans.
“Our modeling and our resource selection functions that govern lion population estimates, as well as lion harvest limits … have always estimated that we have fairly high lion densities here in this area, and so I think we're excited to test those estimates,” said Jamin Grigg, CPW’s senior wildlife biologist for the Southwest region.
In the first year of the study, wildlife biologists will equip 25 lions with radio collars.
CPW officials will dart lions if reported by the public in a timely manner, use cached kills to find lions, bait live traps with roadkill, and use hounds to track and tree lions in snowy conditions.
The goal is to maintain a population of 25 collared lions throughout the course of the study. In the second and third years of the study, CPW will place about 100 motion-sensored cameras in a grid throughout the study area that sound a call to attract lions at night.
Wildlife managers can produce an estimate of lion density in a given area by comparing the number of collared lions that appear on camera with the number of uncollared lions.
The model estimates there are about 3.5 independent mountain lions (kittens are not included) on every 39 square miles in the Southwest, although that can very greatly depending on the terrain. Results from the first two study areas, announced Nov. 12, revealed robust lion populations that, in the Gunnison basin, even exceeded predictions.
Results of the study will directly impact where lion harvest limits are set. That issue sped to the forefront of public consciousness this last year when controversial and expensive campaigns emerged on both sides of Proposition 127, a ballot measure that would have banned mountain lion hunting entirely. Voters rejected the measure by a 10% margin.
“Having accurate population estimates and good scientific data just helps us to validate our management decisions, and helps us to manage for healthy and robust lion populations,” Grigg said.
Collaring efforts are expected to commence before the New Year. The public can help with the study by quickly reporting lion sightings or fresh tracks. To report a mountain lion sighting between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs, call the office at 247-0855.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
