THE PUMA - CAT OF ONE COLOUR (Puma concolor)

[Sully]

7 cats in Pantagonia National Park
https://twitter.com/KrisTompkins_/status...52673?s=19 Reply

[Dark Jaguar]

credits : Onças do Rio Negro Project

Puma family spotted in Northern Pantanal

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[Dark Jaguar]

credits: Claudia Campos

      PUMA IN THE CAATINGA BIOME NORTHEAST BRAZIL

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[Sully]

A very interesting find here. It explores how hunting pumas to maintain mule deer populations may have the opposite affect. Essentially, younger animals prefer mule deers where older ones prefer prey like elk, and as this hunting lowers the average age of the puma population, mule deer are hit harder than they would've been originally. 

Age‐specific foraging strategies among pumas, and its implications for aiding ungulate populations through carnivore control

Abstract

Humans have been controlling carnivore numbers for centuries. Predator hunting, however, may indirectly influence predator‐prey dynamics unintentionally by influencing the age‐ and sex‐structure of predator populations that exhibit intraspecific (IS) variation in prey selection. We tested for IS in a small population of pumas in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, United States, and identified foraging strategies shared by multiple individuals. Further, we tested extrinsic and intrinsic variables that explained differences in foraging strategy. Our top model was composed of a single intrinsic characteristic, Age. In short, the older the animal, the larger the prey it specialized upon. Our provocative results suggest that the current controversial strategy of increasing puma culling to aid mule deer, as currently underway in Colorado, may in fact exacerbate problems for mule deer by changing the age‐structure of the puma population to predominantly younger animals that are more likely to hunt deer over elk. Reply

[Sully]

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[Rage2277]

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toftphotosafaris-

Huge male puma trekking through the snow in Patagonia, Chile Reply

[Dark Jaguar]

credits: Patagon Journal  https://www.facebook.com/patagonjournal/photos/a.219687568597/10158213347043598/?type=3&theater

Puma family in Patagonia

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[BorneanTiger]

Considering this captive cougar's behaviour, is it a surprise that this feline species, which is more closely related to cheetahs and common cats, was called a "mountain lion" or "American lion"?

Puma concolor:

Panthera leo:

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[Lycaon]

Yelllowstone mountain lion with pronghorn.

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[BorneanTiger]

The first Californian cougar, known as "P-56", was killed under the state's new law of depredation on the 27th of January: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/11/us/ca...67PSuSDv5I

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[Dark Jaguar]

(02-13-2020, 06:19 PM)BorneanTiger Wrote: The first Californian cougar, known as "P-56", was killed under the state's new law of depredation on the 27th of January: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/11/us/ca...67PSuSDv5I

*This image is copyright of its original author

I really feel bad for those Mountain Lions. Reply

[Dark Jaguar]

Wonderful creature.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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[BorneanTiger]

(02-13-2020, 06:19 PM)BorneanTiger Wrote: The first Californian cougar, known as "P-56", was killed under the state's new law of depredation on the 27th of January: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/11/us/ca...67PSuSDv5I

*This image is copyright of its original author

@Sully has mentioned in this thread that this has led to calls for a review of the new law:

(02-15-2020, 08:55 PM)Sully Wrote: LA Leaders Want To End Killing Of Mountain Lions For Taking Livestock

The death of mountain lion P-56 has grabbed the attention of city leaders in L.A., where two council members are calling for an end to permitted killings.

The male mountain lion was shot and killed legally using what's known as a depredation permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife after a dozen sheep and lambs were killed in the Camarillo area. Such permits are issued to landowners who can prove the loss or damage of livestock was caused by mountain lions.
Councilmen Paul Koretz, whose 5th District covers parts of the westside and San Fernando Valley, and David Ryu, whose 4th District covers parts of Hollywood, the Hollywood Hills and Sherman Oaks, wrote a resolution calling for the state to stop issuing these permits and establish a fund to reimburse anyone who loses an animal in an attack.

"I am outraged at the unnecessary killing of mountain lion P56 in a time when we are working on all levels to protect our local wildlife and habitats. Thank you @davideryu & @BobBlumenfield for your support in stopping depredation permits and listing our local pumas as threatened"

Mountain lions are not threatened or endangered in California. However, Prop 117, a ballot measure passed in 1990, made them a "specially protected species," a status which, combined with other statutes, makes it illegal to hunt them, according to CDFW.

In Southern California, the spread of freeways and urban development have left them so dangerously isolated that their long-term survival is in question. P-56 was a collared lion that was part of an ongoing study in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area.

"I think there's just an insane disconnect between the fact that we are working to conserve our mountain lions, especially in the city of Los Angeles, where there's possibly one still surviving that's collared and there may be another one that's not collared — two males, and we just allowed one to be killed," Koretz said.
Speaking on KPCC's AirTalk, Koretz called the killing "absolutely unnecessary" and pointed to other steps that might be taken to prevent the loss of livestock, including the use of rubber bullets to deter mountain lions and using more sophisticated animal pens for protection.

But some residents in areas impacted by mountain lions say they have a right to defend life and property.

Wendell Phillips is one such resident. He lives in Malibu and had several alpacas and horses killed by P-45. He was issued a depredation permit but only managed to graze the animal with a bullet.

Phillips said victims of attacks shouldn't be blamed for not building a better pen or taking other precautions that don't end up working.

"I mean, it would be sort of like tantamount to telling a burglary victim, 'Your burglar alarm wasn't the best and therefore you're at fault for being burglarized,'" he said.
CDFW has said it will review P-56's death to make sure protocols were followed.

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[Dark Jaguar]

Onçafari

Southern Pantanal

''Our trap cameras recorded this puma using a fallen tree trunk to sharpen its claws. This is a behavior seen in other species of cats, like jaguars.''

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[Pckts]

Huge Female

Make sure you follow her page, it's great for North American Camera Trap shots. Reply