JuvenilemountainlionfittedwithGPScollarforconservationscienceproject
inSonomaCounty
MediaContact
WendyCoy,ACRCommunicationsManager
415-868-9244ext.123/707-829-9582cell
[email protected]
November13,2016–GlenEllen,SonomaCounty,CA–Conservationbiologistsandeducators
fromAudubonCanyonRanch(ACR),aregionalleaderinconservationscience,announcedthat
theyhavefittedasecondmountainlionwithasatellitetelemetrycollar.Themountainlionisa
juvenilefemale,estimatedtobe13.5monthsold,andsoontodispersefromitsmother.The
teamhadtrackedthismountainlionforalittleoveramonth,afterplacingacollaronher
mother(dam)inearlyOctober.ThejuvenilewascapturedonpropertyborderingAnnadelState
ParknearSantaRosa,California.AfteroutfittingthelionwithaGPScollar,recording
measurementsandcollectingbiologicalsamplesforanalysis,theresearchteamreleasedthe
mountainlionatthecapturesite.
NamedP2(Puma2)forourscientificrecords,themountainlionweighsabout70poundsandis
inextremelygoodhealth.“Mom(P1)hasbeenfeedingherwell!”notedDr.QuintonMartins,
ACR’sleadresearcherontheproject.Thecapture,ledbyDr.Martins,wasattendedbyACR
staffandveterinariansDr.JimCodingtonandDr.DeanaClifford(CaliforniaDepartmentofFish
andWildlifeveterinarian),CaliforniaStateParksRangerRobertBirklandandveterinarianextern
Dr.ClaireButkus.
“Theteamworkedexceptionallyhardtomakethiscaptureanditfinallypaidoff,”saidJohn
Petersen,ACRExecutiveDirector,notingthatthismarksthesecondmountainliontobe
capturedandfittedwithaGPScollarunderaScientificCollectionpermitissuedtoACRby
CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlifeinJuly.
“Monitoringthedispersalbehaviorofajuvenilefemalewillgiveussignificantinsightintotheir
populationdynamics.Evidenceofphilopatry(wheremomallowsP2tostayinornearher
territory),dispersalbehavior,evidenceofsurvivalorcausesofmortalityarebutsomeofthe
keyunknownswewillgleanfromthesedata,”saidMartins.Resultsofthisworkwillbeclosely
monitoredbyCDFW,providingcriticalinformationfortheirstatewidemountainlion
conservationprogram.“Asacommunity-basedeffort,weareespeciallygratefultothemany
landownersinthisareawhoareinterestedandwillingtoprovideuscriticalaccesstotheir
land,”Martinsadded,notingthatresearcherssetouttoretrospectivelymonitorGPSlocation
datatoelicitinformationonthefeedingandmovementbehaviorofthesecats.Aclusterof
sequentiallyoccurringGPSpointsoftensignifiessignsofakillforinstance.Thesecouldoccur
anywherewithinthelargerangesofthesecats,andoftenfallonprivateland.
ACR’sresearchersusedahumanely-designedcagetraptocapturethejuvenilemountainlion.
Thetrapwasfittedwithasatellitetraptransmitteraswellasmotion-activatedcameras,
allowingtheteamtobenotifiedinstantlyoncethemountainlionwasinsideminimizingstress
andpossibleinjurytotheanimal.BiologicalsampleswillbeanalyzedatUCDavis,andwill
providevitalgeneticandhealthinformationaboutthelocalpopulationofmountainlions.
AboutTheACRMountainLionProject
TheACRMountainLionProjectstudiesmountainlionswithinanareathatencompasses
approximately1,000squaremiles,primarilyintheMayacamasMountains(areaseastofHwy
101andwestofHwy29)inSonomaandNapaCounties,andpairstheresearchwithextensive
educationandoutreachprograms.ProjectpartnersincludetheCaliforniaDepartmentofFish
andWildlife,CaliforniaStateParks,SonomaCountyRegionalParks,andSonomaLandTrust.
ACR’sresearchgoalsincludeusingthedatatogainabetterunderstandingofhowwildlifein
generalmovebetweenhabitatareas.“Mountainlionsaresometimescalledan‘umbrella
species’becausetheyhavelargerangesandspecialhabitatrequirements,”saidJeanneWirka,
ACR’sDirectorofStewardship.“Ifamountainlionpopulationisabletosurviveandthriveina
fragmentedlandscape,itsuggestsotheranimalscanaswell.”Conservationoflionstherefore
automaticallyinfersensuringconservationofallothercomponentsofthisecosystem.
TheProject’seducationandoutreachprogramswillbuildonACR’sdeeptiestolocal
communitiesintheBayAreathroughitextensiveeducationprograms.
TheACRMountainLionProjectisfundedinpartbytheGordonandBettyMooreFoundation,
SonomaLandTrust,Patagonia,BushtracksExpeditions,SerengetiEyewear,InternationalFund
forAnimalWelfare(IFAW),CalpineandgeneroussupportersofACR.
AboutACR
AudubonCanyonRanchisa501(c)(3)not-for-profitenvironmentalconservationandeducation
organization.Itwasfoundedin1962tosafeguardBolinasLagoonfromirresponsible
development,leadingthewayfortheprotectionofTomalesBay.Today,ACRactsasguardian
offourmainnaturepreservesinMarin,SonomaandLakecounties.These5,000acresoftidal
flats,marshlands,coastalprairie,oakwoodlandsandredwoodgrovesprovidesignificant
habitattowildlifeandhavebeenplacedinourcarebygenerousdonorstostewardandprotect
inperpetuity.
ACR’sprogramsaremadepossiblethankstothecontributionofthousandsofhoursof
volunteerservice,anddonationsfromcaringindividuals,foundationsandbusinesses.Lookfor
ACRonFacebook,TwitterandInstagram.Formoreinformation,visitwww.egret.org,call415868-9244,[email protected].
Photocredit:P2releaseimagebyJimCodington.
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