Seasonal habitat selection of cougars Puma concolor by sex and reproductive state in west‐central Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Resource selection studies are commonly used to assess the landscape features that animals select or avoid in their environment. Selection for certain landscape features and landcover types may vary by sex and reproductive status of an individual, and habitat selection studies should incorporate these factors. Cougars Puma concolor are a wide‐ranging species that live in a diversity of habitats with varying levels of human disturbance. Geographic positioning satellite telemetry collars were deployed on 55 males, single females and females with kittens. We used a two‐stage resource selection function to assess the seasonal habitat characteristics used by adult cougars in west‐central, Alberta, Canada, near the northern extent of the species range, from 2016 to 2018. A latent selection difference function was used to compare differences in habitat selction between groups. All groups selected for similar habitat types including edge habitat, close proximity to water, sloped terrain, forested habitat and avoided roads. During the summer, close proximity to water and wetland land cover were among the most selected features for all groups. Forest and edge habitats also were important for single females and males. During the winter, forested habitat was one of the most important covariates for all groups along with close proximity to water, edge habitat and slope for single females and males. Selection for slope and avoidance of open agricultural land were among the most important for females with kittens. Our results provide insights into those landscape variables that are important for cougars at the northern extent of their geographical range.