Cougars or Mountain Lions are increasing in numbers in Oregon with Lane County having the highest density in the state. The big cats are also making their way to Roseburg and the Portland suburbs. Though they number to more than 6,000 including kittens, cougar sightings and encounters are uncommon as they are naturally reclusive and prefer to avoid humans. Oregon’s Cougar Management Plan necessitates a population of 3,000 of the big cats but there is no ceiling. Because kittens are included in the count, leading wildlife biologists and managers in other states have come to believe the population has been drastically overestimated which can lead to overhunting that in turn can disrupt social structures and lead to more conflict with livestock and people.
Cougars are territorial animals and sustain a home range of up to 100 miles. Their main food source is deer, but they will consume other animals such as elk, racoons, bighorn sheep and, unfortunately, livestock. This is naturally upsetting to those owners whose animals have been killed and a desire for vengeance is understandable. Landowners or their agent may legally kill a livestock damaging cougar without obtaining a permit from ODFW though other laws such as the prohibition of discharging a firearm within city limits may apply. The incident must be reported to a local ODFW office, and the cougar carcass turned in for sampling in a period of ten days. This is so ODFW can determine the cougar’s sex, age and other information as the data is needed for its population model. However, there are things people can do to discourage unwanted visits from cougars and protect their livestock from attack. It can not only save a goat or a sheep from dying a violent death, but also a cougar who is merely following instinct. Once a cougar learns where it can find an easy meal, it will return, therefore properly housing livestock at night when cougars are most active is vital to keeping animals safe. To just leave an animal out in a pasture is to invite tragedy, though for those people who have large operations, closing livestock in a barn might not be feasible. Relocating cougars does not work, according to Christopher Yee, from ODFW since they are so highly territorial and there is also the chance that they could resume attacking livestock at a new location. In this case, it is advisable to not leave food and garbage outside and to use garbage cans that are animal proof. Motion-activated outdoor lighting is helpful livestock guardian dogs can help ward off predators, though there is no guarantee of their effectiveness. Motion-activated alarms have shown some success but one has to be quick to respond in order for them to be effective. Cougars are not living among us; we are living among them. This was their home first and as cougar numbers are increasing, the odds of cougar/human interaction are increasing too. Young cougars, who are known to have a high mortality rate, can be pushed into urban fringes as they attempt to establish a range of their own. Taking personal responsibility can help a lot when it comes to discouraging cougars from making an unwanted visit. However, even the most cautious can find themselves encountering a cougar and when this happens, cougars will retreat when given the chance and given a way to escape. Staying calm and maintaining eye contact is very helpful and when picking up children it is best to do so without bending down or turning one’s back on a cougar. Do not run, but back away slowly as running triggers a chase response in cougars which could result in an attack. In the event a cougar seems aggressive, looking bigger by raising one’s arms and clapping one’s hands can scare them off. In the very rare event that a cougar attacks, a person should fight back with rocks, sticks, bear or pepper spray or anything else available. The taking of a life is not pleasant, and nobody wants to go outside in the morning and discover a loved goat or sheep dead and mangled. But the loss of a cougar’s life is not pleasant, either. If precautions are taken and a mutual respect between humans and cougars is established on the land that is shared, this can only be a win-win for people, cougars, and livestock alike.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
July 2024
Categories |