Mountain Lions in the Bitterroot--More Than We Thought

A new population estimate of mountain lions in the southern reaches of the Bitterroot suggests there are at least twice as many animals as wildlife managers initially thought.

Researchers from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the University of Montana released results of the DNA-based estimate of adult mountain lions this week.

The research team used cutting-edge population modeling techniques coupled with DNA sampling collected from both live and hunter-harvested animals to develop estimates that predicted a population of 85 adult lions in the West Fork and 82 in the East Fork.

Those numbers did not include juveniles or kittens.

The research project followed initial findings from a large-scale, three-year Bitterroot elk study that showed mountain lions were the main predator of elk calves in the southern portion of the valley.

“When mountain lions started turning up as a major cause of elk calf mortality in their first year of life, we wanted to establish a baseline for the lion population in the valley,” University of Montana researcher Mark Hebblewhite said Wednesday.

DNA samples of mountain lions were collected from Dec. 12, 2012, through April 2013 under the direction of FWP’s Kelly Proffitt and Hebblewhite.

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