Puma Predation Research Articles

Jaguar and Puma Predation on Cattle Calves in Northeastern Sonora, Mexico

Predation by jaguars ( Panthera onca ) and pumas ( Puma concolor ) is often a source of conflict with cattle ranching in northeastern Sonora, Mexico. Because jaguars are endangered in Mexico, such conflicts have biological, social, and economic consequences. We documented the extent of predation by jaguars and pumas on cattle in 1999–2004 in northeastern Sonora, where the northernmost breeding population of jaguars exists in North America. Jaguars and pumas killed only calves < 12 mo old, and calves constituted 58% of prey biomass consumed by jaguars and 9% by pumas. Annual cause-specific mortality rates of confirmed jaguar predation (≤ 0.018), confirmed and suspected jaguar predation (≤ 0.018), and all confirmed and suspected large felid predation (≤ 0.018) were low and cattle calf survival was high (0.89–0.98 annually). If calves reported as missing but for which no evidence of mortality could be found were classed as large felid predation, annual cause-specific rates increased to 0.006–0.038. Collectively, confirmed jaguar and puma predation accounted for < 14% (57/408) of total cattle losses, with jaguars responsible for 14% of all calf losses; this could increase to a maximum of 36% (146/408) if missing calves were included in the totals. While jaguar and puma predation may have an impact on some small cattle operations, it is generally minor compared to losses from other causes in northeastern Sonora. Moreover, 91% of all confirmed calf kills were associated with three individual jaguars in our study. Targeting problem cats rather than broad-scale predator control may therefore be a viable alternative to address chronic predation problems. Because most (83%) instances of jaguar predation occurred during the dry season along thick riparian habitats, modified cattle husbandry operations, such as establishment of permanent water sources in uplands and away from dense vegetative cover, could ameliorate many cases of predation by jaguars on cattle. La predación por jaguares y pumas es a menudo fuente de conflicto con ganaderos en el Noreste de Sonora, México. Debido a que los jaguares están en peligro de extinción en México tales conflictos tienen repercusiones biológicas, sociales y económicas. Documentamos el grado de depredación en ganado por jaguares y pumas de 1999 al 2004 en el noroeste de Sonora, donde existe la población reproductiva de jaguares localizada más al norte en la región de Norte América. Los jaguares y pumas matan becerros de menos de 12 meses de edad, y los becerros constituyen el 57% de la biomasa de las presas consumidas por jaguares y 9% por pumas. La mortalidad anual por causas especificas debida a la depredación confirmada (≤ 0.018), por los jaguares y la asumida (≤ 0.018), y así como toda la confirmada y asumida de los felinos (≤ 0.018), fue baja y la sobrevivencia de los becerros fue alta (0.89–0.98 anualmente). Si los becerros se reportaban como perdidos pero no se encontró evidencia de la mortalidad se clasificaron como depredación anual de de los felinos, así, la tasa de la causa específica anual se incrementó de 0.006–0.038. Colectivamente, (como grupo) la predación confirmada por jaguares y pumas contó < 14% (57/408) de la pérdida total de ganado, con los jaguares responsables del 14% de todas la pérdidas de los becerros; esto se podría incrementar a una máximo de 36% (146/408) si los becerros perdidos se incluyeran en los totales. Aunque la predación de jaguares y pumas quizá tengan un impacto en algunas operaciones ganaderas pequeñas, esta pérdida es generalmente menor comparada con pérdidas debidas a diferentes causas en el noroeste de Sonora. Además, 91% de las muertes confirmadas de becerros se asociaron con tres jaguares en nuestro estudio. El enfocarse en los felinos problemáticos, en lugar de llevar a cabo un control general de predadores podría ser una alternativa viable para manejar los problemas crónicos de la predación. Debido a que en la mayoría (83%) de las instancias la predación de los jaguares ocurrió durante la época de sequía cerca de las zonas rivereñas, la modificación del manejo del ganado, tal como el establecimiento de fuentes permanentes de agua en zonas alejadas de las zonas rivereñas y de la densa vegetación, podría disminuir la predación del jaguar hacia el ganado.

Summer predation rates on ungulate prey by a large keystone predator: how many ungulates does a large predator kill?

AbstractEstimates of predation rates by large predators can provide valuable information on their potential impact on their ungulate prey populations. This is especially the case for pumas Puma concolor and its main prey, mule deer Odocoileus hemionus. However, only limited information on predation rates of pumas exist where mule deer are the only ungulate prey available. I used VHF telemetry data collected over 24‐h monitoring sessions and once daily over consecutive days to derive two independent estimates of puma predation rates on mule deer where they were the only large prey available. For the 24‐h data, I had 48 time blocks on female pumas with kittens, 43 blocks on females without kittens and 30 blocks on males. For the daily consecutive data, the average number of consecutive days followed was 51.5±4.2 days. There were data on five female pumas with kittens, five pregnant females and nine females without kittens. Predation rates over an average month of 30 days from the 24‐h monitoring sessions were 2.0 mule deer per puma month for males (15.1 days per kill), 2.1 mule deer per puma month (14.3 days per kill) for females without kittens and 2.5 mule deer per puma month (12.0 days per kill) for pregnant females and females with kittens. For the consecutive daily data, females without kittens had an estimated predation rate of 2.1±0.14 mule deer per puma month (14.9±0.90 days per kill). Pregnant and females with kittens had predation rates of 2.7±0.18 and 2.6±0.21 mule deer per puma month, respectively (11.4±0.72 and 12.0±1.1 days per kill, respectively). Predation rates estimated in this study compared with those estimated by energetic demand for pumas in the study area but were lower than other field derived estimates. These data help increase our understanding of predation impacts of large predators on their prey.

Frequent Transmission of Immunodeficiency Viruses among Bobcats and Pumas

With the exception of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which emerged in humans after cross-species transmissions of simian immunodeficiency viruses from nonhuman primates, immunodeficiency viruses of the family Lentiviridae represent species-specific viruses that rarely cross species barriers to infect new hosts. Among the Felidae, numerous immunodeficiency-like lentiviruses have been documented, but only a few cross-species transmissions have been recorded, and these have not been perpetuated in the recipient species. Lentivirus seroprevalence was determined for 79 bobcats (Lynx rufus) and 31 pumas (Puma concolor) from well-defined populations in Southern California. Partial genomic sequences were subsequently obtained from 18 and 12 seropositive bobcats and pumas, respectively. Genotypes were analyzed for phylogenic relatedness and genotypic composition among the study set and archived feline lentivirus sequences. This investigation of feline immunodeficiency virus infection in bobcats and pumas of Southern California provides evidence that cross-species infection has occurred frequently among these animals. The data suggest that transmission has occurred in multiple locations and are most consistent with the spread of the virus from bobcats to pumas. Although the ultimate causes remain unknown, these transmission events may occur as a result of puma predation on bobcats, a situation similar to that which fostered transmission of HIV to humans, and likely represent the emergence of a lentivirus with relaxed barriers to cross-species transmission. This unusual observation provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate the ecological, behavioral, and molecular conditions that favor repeated transmissions and persistence of lentivirus between species.

Impact of puma predation on the decline and recovery of a mule deer population in southeastern Idaho

We modeled the impact of puma ( Puma concolor (L., 1771)) predation on the decline and recovery of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)) in southern Idaho based on estimates of puma numbers, predation rates of pumas, and reproductive variables of deer. Deer populations peaked in 1992–1993, then declined more than 55% and remained low for the next 11 years. Puma numbers peaked 4–6 years after deer populations peaked but then declined to original levels. Estimated puma predation on the deer population before and after the decline was 2.2%–3.3% and 3.1%–5.8%, respectively. At high puma densities (&gt;3 pumas/100 km2), predation by pumas delayed deer recovery by 2–3 years. Percent winter mortality of fawns (r2 = 0.62, P &lt; 0.001) and adult female deer (r2 = 0.68, P &lt; 0.001) correlated positively with December–January snowfall. Incorporation of winter snowfall amounts in the model produced a pattern of deer population change matching estimated changes based on field survey data. We conclude that pumas probably were a minor factor in the decline of the deer population in our area and did not suppress deer recovery. We propose that winter snowfall was the primary ultimate and proximate factor in the deer decline and suppression of their recovery.

SCAVENGING BEHAVIOR IN PUMA

We examined scavenging on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) carcasses by puma (Puma concolor) in the Peninsular Ranges of San Diego County, California. Between January 2001 and October 2003, we placed 44 deer carcasses at 23 sites and used them to examine scavenging events. We also documented 2 additional deer carcasses, not placed as bait, that were scavenged by puma. Eight to 12 puma (6 males, 2 to 5 females, and 1 of unknown sex) scavenged 20 of 46 deer carcasses (43.5%) at 12 of the 25 sites. Six puma (4 males, 2 females) were captured 7 times at scavenging sites. We identified 7 scavenging puma (5 males, 2 females) through captures and telemetry, and 1 unmarked, scavenging male from a camera trap. The 7 telemetered puma that scavenged ranged in age from 11 months to 9 years, and each individual scavenged on 1 to 6 deer (mean = 2.3). Deer carcasses were found and scavenged by puma from 1 to 14 days (mean = 5 days) after deposition, when carcass conditions ranged from frozen and fresh to rotting and maggot-infested. Puma treated scavenged carcasses as they would their own kills, dragging carcasses to preferred sites, caching, depositing scats, and making scrapes in the area. However, puma did not always attempt to cache tethered carcasses. During fieldwork, we also discovered that 1 telemetered puma repeatedly visited a domestic livestock graveyard and scavenged on surface-discarded horse and cattle carcasses. Puma are known to be opportunistic predators, but our results indicate that they are opportunistic scavengers as well. Due to the propensity of puma to scavenge, it is likely that some perceived kills might be scavenging events. Frequent monitoring and timely field investigation of mortality signals detected from telemetered prey species will help investigators identify those events. Scavenging behavior should be considered when evaluating or predicting the effects of puma predation on prey species.

Predicting Early Mortality of Newborn Guanacos by Birth Mass and Hematological Parameters: A Provisional Model

We measured hematological determinants, endocrine parameters, and birth mass of 145 newborn (chulengo) guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, to determine if these factors were predictors of early mortality. Within 10 days of life, 16% of chulengos died in 1991 and 14% died in 1992. The principal cause (68%) of chulengo mortality was predation by the Patagonian puma (Felis concolor patagonia), but the role of compromised health was unknown. We assessed the health status of hand-captured chulengos by measuring white blood cell (WBC) count, differential leukocyte count, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (N:L), metarubricyte count, cortisol levels, total T3 and T4, and birth mass. We evaluated the prognostic relation of these parameters on neonatal mortality through Chi-square and Bayesian analyses. Band neutrophil count >1000/μL, lymphocyte count >4000/μL, N:L ratio 300/μL, and birth mass 1000/μL (suggestive of sepsis) showed signs of puma predation, while 100% (4/4) with an N:L ratio <2.0 (possible prematurity) showed signs of puma predation. The hematological parameters showing the strongest relation with mortality were also some of the least expensive and easiest parameters to measure. Readers should consider this Bayesian model groundwork for future studies assessing health-related neonatal mortality in guanacos. The approach also has research and management implications for other wildlife species.