November 2019 • Nebraskaland 27
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In 2015, Game and Parks staff members Mallory
Irvine, Laura McHale, Todd Nordeen, Micah Ellstrom
and Greg Schenbeck stand near the first cougar to
be trapped, immobilized and collared for research
in the Pine Ridge. Researchers employ traps or
dogs to capture mountain lions for collaring. The
traps are designed to do no harm to the animals.
When treeing a cat with dogs, researchers dart the
animal and take care in getting it down. Sometimes,
a staff member must climb a tree and lower the
immobilized cat off a limb into a safety net.
