by Susan Hughes, Bexar Audubon
Society
From the December 2000/January 2001
Issue
of "Bexar Tracks," the BAS
Newsletter
The founder of the new Mountain Lion
Foundation of
Why do we need a mountain lion
foundation in
Because Texas has so little public
land, the need for citizen interest in and understanding of the Puma concolor (the cat of one color...some sources use the
name Felis concolor)
is vital to the preservation of the species and to its survival in the wild in
what was a major part of its range.
Mountain lions were once the most
widely distributed mammal in the western hemisphere, occupying almost any
habitat with large mammals for prey, water, and a place to use for cover. Today
they have withdrawn from most of their historical range due to habitat
destruction and persecution by humans.
The mountain lion is the largest of
the purring cats. It does not roar. It is able to jump 30 feet horizontally and
18 feet vertically from a standing start.
With a body that is mostly muscle
and sinew, a lion's light skeleton will fit into a hiking-boot box.
Mountain lions are solitary hunters.
They do not share food except with cubs, and they will not eat carrion or steal
the remains of another animal's kill. Each individual depends upon his own
hunting skills to survive, so they cannot afford to be injured and they take
care to avoid situations in which they might be.
The mountain lion will typically
make a kill every 7-16 days, although a pregnant female or one with cubs may
kill more frequently. The lion will return to its kill until it is all consumed
or, in hot weather, until the meat has spoiled.
With a life span of about 10 years
in the wild (up to 35 years in captivity), the mountain lion is solitary and
typically coexists by avoiding others of its species.
The range of an individual male
mountain lion is 60-600 square miles; the range of the female is 13-100 square
miles.
Concerns about mountain lion attacks
were also discussed. In
The Mountain Lion Foundation is
focusing its program on habitat conservation — since loss of habitat is the
single greatest threat to the lion, and habitat loss is occurring at a rate of
about 1 million acres a year.
The foundation has a three-year
working plan, comprising:
— scientists’
and landowners’ forum.
— information
and education.
— economic
and recreation opportunities.
— private
and public initiatives.
Scientists will be involved in
status evaluations, defining the natural history, formulating management plans,
and building cooperative links with landowners and volunteers. Landowners will
contribute livestock protection strategies, research, natural-history
knowledge, and economic opportunities.
The foundation will work to provide
conferences and workshops, media packets, and Internet-accessible information
through its website.
Economic and recreational
opportunities sought include ecotourism, sale of
products and artifacts from mountain-lion-friendly ranches, and tax reform for
protecting open spaces. The group also plans to recognize the work of various
partners and leaders in the effort to protect lions and habitat.
The Mountain Lion Foundation needs
many kinds of research equipment and volunteers of all sorts. Check the website
or contact Dr. Armentrout at mailto:dede@mountainlions-texas.org
for information.