Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Location: Enjoying the CYBER-JUNGLE!
|Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 3:49 am Post subject: Ten-year research project near end (mountain lions)
| LIFE OF MOUNTAIN LIONS: Ten-year research project near end
By Michael Babcock
GREAT FALLS (MONT.) TRIBUNE
|GREAT FALLS, Mont. - A 10-year study of mountain lions by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is winding down, and researchers are almost gleeful with what they believe will be the results.
Using houndsmen to help radio collar the lions, deer hunters to report lion encounters and DNA samples to identify individual lions, researchers may soon be able to determine how hunting affects lion populations and to predict accurately the number of lions in a specific area.
"This study is helping us to better understand mountain lion population dynamics, which helps us to establish population objectives, population trends, and to set harvest quotas," said Jeff Hagener, director of Montana wildlife agency.
Wildlife population management tools sometimes include "harvesting" animals to keep their numbers in check. Anyone have thoughts on this
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