Cougar research program looks likely
By Sheri Monk
All signs indicate a second cougar researcher will be coming to the Cypress Hills, ut this time, to study the cats living at the Centre Block and east bench of the region.
Brand Seifert, park manager for Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, says a conference call on Thursday will take place to plan some of the finer details.
“It sounds pretty positive,” said Seifert. “Sounds like we’re going to re-collar those cats that are out there and maybe collar some of the juveniles that are out there with adult cats. And then the plan is to move over to the Centre Block and try to get an adult cat or two and then maybe the east block.”
The student who expressed interest in performing the research work has worked with cougars before and is currently attending the University of Utah, but has been accepted into the University of Alberta. When he comes, he will be bringing his wife as well.
Seifert says the park has pledged accommodations for the couple as required, as well as a vehicle.
“We’re just coming down to the budget and the finances and who is going to pay for what,” Seifert added.
If the plan falls into place, the student would arrive in September of this year, but the cougars that are currently collared will have to be re-collared sometime before March. If the batteries in the collars run out of power, the expensive tracking device drops off and is usually lost forever.
The goal of this new study, which will complement the first research study recently completed by Michelle Bacon, will be to determine where, when, how the juvenile cougars are dispersing to once weaned and out of the care of their mother.
There have been no reports of livestock predation near the Cypress Hills to date.
An official press release is anticipated to announce the research program once it’s been made official.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
This was no big surprise that there will be a study. But I do wonder why the cougar population developed here and why so quickly? Perhaps the number of cougars had help from outside sources. Or is this some big freaky nature thing. Could someone please tell me?
MY VIEW said: “Could someone please tell me?”
It is possible trapped cougars from larger urban areas were release into the Cypress Hills. One heres rumours but nothing to substantiate them. But still, it is possible.
I have done a lot of research into that and no, I do not feel it is possible. If you consider the reintroduction of the wolves into Yellowstone which was very controversial, that was done transparently. Or the swift fox in these parts, the ferret at Grasslands…
In fact, in Sweden where the wolf population has somewhat recovered, the same rumour exists there, that they were introduced in the middle of the night through a secret government program.
There are three distinct areas they may have some from and solitary males will travel a long, long distance to find a female to breed. Male cougars service clusters of females.
Once a few were established in the Hills, it would not take long as the prey is so plentiful. Imagine how many deer, elk and moose there are, given the area was previously home to three major predators.
And, just yesterday I talked to someone to saw a cougar(s) near his spread at Climax fairly steady, and that was a couple of decades ago. So, I think they have always been in the area, but pressure in other eco-systems has increased and the Hills are a beacon of food, security and relative safety.
That’s my theory, anyway. (But I have spent hours and hours on this over the past couple of years.)
Thanks. I have heard the rumors about the calgary zoo but it is only gossip without proof.
I have also heard rumors of cougars in the hills for years from local ranchers.
I hope that this research can give us a better understanding of how the population boomed over the recent past.
I personally have seen a wolf in the hills and wonder why there has not been a growth in the wolf population. Is it that there is only a couple of these animals or are they staying away from people in general?
Two winters ago, there were two wolves, a male and a presumed female. The wolf was shot just outside of the park boundaries and the female disappeared shortly after.
I would suspect, that with all the ranch land any intact pack would need to cross to establish, that most would end up dead.
Any female heavy with pups would not be able to support herself or the pups without the help of a pack. And any lone male would continue to wander until he was able to join or start a new pack.
Thus, as I understand the situation at the Cypress Hills and the biology and sociology of wolves, it is not likely a pack will establish there again.
(Though I admit, it would be awesome if they did, I love all predators, but wolves are my very favourite for sure.)
Even saw a pack of six in Manitoba a couple of years ago! From a few feet away, it was incredible.
That would have been awesome to have seen. Thanks.
Leave your response!
Views
Meta
Recent Comments
Archives
Calendar
Gallery
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed