Diet of Cougars (Puma concolor) Following a Decline in a Population of Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus): Lack of Evidence for Switching Prey

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey T. Villepique ◽  
Becky M. Pierce ◽  
Vernon C. Bleich ◽  
R. Terry Bowyer
Keyword(s):  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus

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

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 1555-1565 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. Laundré ◽  
L. Hernández ◽  
S.G. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Population Change ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Deer Population ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Proximate Factor ◽  
A Minor ◽  
The Impact

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 (>3 pumas/100 km2), predation by pumas delayed deer recovery by 2–3 years. Percent winter mortality of fawns (r2 = 0.62, P < 0.001) and adult female deer (r2 = 0.68, P < 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.

scholarly journals Observations of Wild Cougar (Puma concolor) Kittens with Live Prey: Implications for Learning and Survival

2013 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mark Elbroch ◽  
Howard Quigley
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Video Data ◽  
Operant Learning ◽  
Live Prey ◽  
In The Wild

The Cougar (Puma concolor) is a cryptic species in which social learning or opportunity learning has yet to be documented in the wild. “Opportunity teaching” is teaching in which an animal creates opportunities for conspecifics to observe or participate in operant learning. We present video data on an observation of Cougar kittens exhibiting social learning and inefficiency and inexperience in attempting to kill a live Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawn. Our observations provide evidence for the importance of maternal care and they help explain why Cougar kittens less than a year of age have low survival rates.

Resource competition and apparent competition in declining mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (7) ◽  
pp. 499-504
Author(s):  
Robert B. Wielgus
Keyword(s):  
High Mortality ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Apparent Competition ◽  
Resident Male ◽  
Deer Population ◽  
Competition Hypothesis

Resource competition and apparent competition have both been suggested as the cause of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)) decline concurrent with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman, 1780)) increase. I tested for both hypotheses by conducting a “press” and “release” experiment in a mule deer, white-tailed deer, and cougar (Puma concolor (L., 1771)) community. If resource competition is causal, then predation should decrease, but other sources of mortality should increase following increased mortality of cougars and release of competing white-tailed deer. If apparent competition is causal, then predation should decrease and mule deer should increase following increased mortality of cougars and release of white-tailed deer. I accepted the apparent competition hypothesis because high mortality of female cougars and cougar population decline was associated with both white-tailed deer and mule deer population growth. Very high mortality of female cougars appeared to result in mule deer population recovery. However, high mortality of male cougars (with increased male immigration) preceding high female mortality appeared to result in sexually segregated prey-switching by females with cubs from abundant white-tailed deer to rare mule deer to avoid sexually selected infanticide. High mortality of resident male cougars may have precipitated the mule deer decline in the first place.

Human–carnivore competition for antlered ungulates: do pumas select for bulls and bucks?

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mark Elbroch ◽  
Jennifer Feltner ◽  
Howard Quigley
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Large Carnivores ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Study Sites

Context Many institutions of wildlife management and their hunting constituents tend to value ungulates over large carnivores, in part due to financial incentives associated with ungulate hunting over carnivore hunting. This system benefits from mythology that presents large carnivores as competitors for antlered male ungulates most prized by the hunting community. Aims We explored puma (Puma concolor) foraging and prey selection in two study areas in the Rocky Mountains, USA, to test whether pumas were competing with human hunters for antlered elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Methods We employed GPS technology to track pumas and document their prey. We measured population- and individual-level selection by comparing prey killed by pumas to two estimates of prey availability: (1) landscape-level as determined by annual agency game counts; and (2) total prey killed by marked pumas. Key results Pumas in both study systems killed small numbers of antlered elk and mule deer. Pumas exhibited avoidance of mature elk, instead strongly selecting for elk calves over any other age or sex class. Pumas in both systems also selected for mule deer fawns; however, they also exhibited small positive selection (Jacob’s index of 0.08 in CO and 0.11 in WY on a scale of 0.0–1.0) for antlered mule deer. Conclusions In terms of numbers killed, pumas were not a competitor with human hunters for either antlered species. In terms of prey selection, pumas showed that they may be greater competition for rare antlered mule deer but not for antlered elk. In both study sites, antlered elk and deer remained at levels at which they could perform their ecological functions. Implications Our results highlight the fact that the overhunting of large carnivores over competition for antlered ungulates is mostly unfounded; we should instead focus management, media attention and conservation science on disentangling the complex ecology driving localised declines of mule deer, elk and other important ungulate resources, many of which are anthropogenic in nature and can be addressed.

scholarly journals Mountain lions prey selectively on prion-infected mule deer

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline E. Krumm ◽  
Mary M. Conner ◽  
N. Thompson Hobbs ◽  
Don O. Hunter ◽  
Michael W. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Disease Prevalence ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Mountain Lions ◽  
Mountain Lion ◽  
Prey Items

The possibility that predators choose prey selectively based on age or condition has been suggested but rarely tested. We examined whether mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) selectively prey upon mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) infected with chronic wasting disease, a prion disease. We located kill sites of mountain lions in the northern Front Range of Colorado, USA, and compared disease prevalence among lion-killed adult (≥2 years old) deer with prevalence among sympatric deer taken by hunters in the vicinity of kill sites. Hunter-killed female deer were less likely to be infected than males (odds ratios (OR) = 0.2, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.1–0.6; p = 0.015). However, both female (OR = 8.5, 95% CI = 2.3–30.9) and male deer (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1–10) killed by a mountain lion were more likely to be infected than same-sex deer killed in the vicinity by a hunter ( p < 0.001), suggesting that mountain lions in this area actively selected prion-infected individuals when targeting adult mule deer as prey items.

Tolazoline-Induced Apnea in Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Alan Mortenson ◽  
Jason Andrew Robison
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus

Growth and seasonal weight changes as they relate to spring and autumn set points in mule deer

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 744-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyle A. Renecker ◽  
W. M. Samuel
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Annual Cycles ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Compensatory Gain ◽  
Highly Correlated

Growth rate and potential, 25 hand-reared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) were examined. When possible, body weights of all animals were recorded weekly. Female deer matured faster than males, but males attained a larger body size. Regressions of winter weight loss of both sexes on peak autumn weight were highly correlated. Similarly, spring and summer compensatory gain in females could be predicted from the minimum spring weight. Annual cycles of intake and weight gain may have adaptations that improve reproductive success and winter survival.

EVALUATION OP STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF HAND-REARED MULE DEER FAWNS (Odocoileus hemionus)

1978 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRUCE D. TRINDLE ◽  
LON D. LEWIS ◽  
LLOYD H. LAUERMAN
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus
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