Maurice G. Hornocker

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PATHOGEN SEROPREVALENCE AND INFECTION IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN COUGARS

Serological and genetic material collected over 15 years (1990–2004) from 207 cougars (Puma concolor) in four populations in the Rocky Mountains were examined for evidence of current or prior exposure to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline parvovirus (FPV), feline coronavirus (FCoV), feline calicivirus (FCV), canine distemper virus (CDV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and Yersinia pestis. Serologic data were analyzed for annual variation in seroconversions to assess whether these pathogens are epidemic or endemic in cougars, and to determine whether family membership, age, sex, or location influence risk of exposure. FIV and FPV were clearly endemic in the studied populations, whereas exposure to FCoV, FCV, CDV, and Y. pestis was more sporadic. No evidence was found for FHV. Age was the most consistent predictor of increased exposure risk, often with no other important factors emerging. Evidence for transmission within family groups was limited to FIV and FCoV, whereas some indication for host sex affecting exposure probability was found for FIV and Y. pestis. Overall, cougar populations exhibited few differences in terms of pathogen presence and prevalence, suggesting the presence of similar risk factors throughout the study region.

Cougar Survival and Source-Sink Structure on Greater Yellowstone's Northern Range

ABSTRACT We studied survival and causes of mortality of radiocollared cougars (Puma concolor) on the Greater Yellowstone Northern Range (GYNR) prior to (1987–1994) and after wolf (Canis lupus) reintroduction (1998–2005) and evaluated temporal, spatial, and environmental factors that explain variation in adult, subadult, and kitten survival. Using Program MARK and multimodel inference, we modeled cougar survival based on demographic status, season, and landscape attributes. Our best models for adult and independent subadults indicated that females survived better than males and survival increased with age until cougars reached older ages. Lower elevations and increasing density of roads, particularly in areas open to cougar hunting north of Yellowstone National Park (YNP), increased mortality risks for cougars on the GYNR. Indices of ungulate biomass, cougar and wolf population size, winter severity, rainfall, and individual characteristics such as the presence of dependent young, age class, and use of Park or Wilderness were not important predictors of survival. Kitten survival increased with age, was lower during winter, increased with increasing minimum estimates of elk calf biomass, and increased with increasing density of adult male cougars. Using our best model, we mapped adult cougar survival on the GYNR landscape. Results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated a good model fit for both female (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.70–0.92, n = 35 locations) and male cougars (AUC = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.74– 0.94, n = 49 locations) relative to hunter harvest locations in our study area. Using minimum estimates of survival necessary to sustain the study population, we developed a source-sink surface and we identify several measures that resource management agencies can take to enhance cougar population management based on a source-sink strategy.

Influences of seasons on bobcats in Idaho

We studied a bobcat (Felis rufus) population in the Frank-Church River of No Return Wilderness (RNRW), Idaho, during 1982-85, to determine the influences of seasons on bobcat use of space, elevation, habitat, and prey. We fitted 30 of 35 captured bobcats with radio collars and collected 1,372 daytime telemetry locations. Weighted bivariate normal estimates of home-range sizes for 7 resident adults were smaller (P 20 cm, bobcats were more vulnerable to trapping. We recommend that harvest be controlled and populations closely monitored in areas where bobcat densities are low and where bobcat behavior is influenced by winter conditions. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 53(1): 197-202 Regional bobcat populations differ in habitat use, diet, spatial requirements, and density (McCord and Cordoza 1982, Fuller et al. 1985, Litvaitis et al. 1986b). At northern latitudes, winter conditions and site productivity (Harestad and Bunnell 1979) may influence bobcat density (Berg 1979) and home-range size (Fuller et al. 1985). Snow depth influences bobcat travel patterns (McCord 1974), use of habitats (Bailey 1974, Hamilton 1982), and natural (Petraborg and Gunvalson 1962, Major 1983, Litvaitis et al. 1986a) and man-caused mortality (Petraborg and Gunvalson 1962). We studied a bobcat population in RNRW in central Idaho from 1982 through 1985 to determine seasonal influences on bobcat use of space, habitats, and prey, and to assess the influences of winter conditions on the vulnerability of bobcats to trapping. The U.S. Forest Service and University of Idaho Wilderness Research Center provided logistic support for our study. We are indebted to H. A. Akenson, J. J. Akenson, K. R. Higgs, D. P. Koehler, M. M. Koehler, T. W. Koehler, K. M. Murphy, and R. A. Sutherland for their field assistance. E. D. Ables, E. G. Bizeau, E. O. Garton, D. R. Johnson, J. M. Peek, and H. B. Quigley offered helpful suggestions on the manuscript. Funding for this study was provided by the Idaho Fish and Game Department, the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Boone and Crockett Club, National Geographic Socie y, National Rifle Association, National Wildlife Federation, University of Idaho Wilderness Research Center, and Wildlife Research Institute. This is Contribution 384 of the Idaho Forest, Wildlife, and Range Experiment Sta-

A Comparison of Methods for Obtaining Mortality Records of Ring-Necked Pheasants

We question whether recoveries of leg bands offer a sufficiently precise method of measuring the causes and magnitude of natural mortalities in game-bird populations. This paper describes a method for assessing first-year mortality of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) by using colored neck markers to supplement numbered leg bands. We are indebted to Robert L. Brown and Gerry Atwell for aid in recovering leg bands and neck markers. Robert Green and Hank Engbrecht of the Montana State Fish and Game Department furnished the pheasants and readied them for release. METHOD