34 Nebraskaland • November 2019
The Nebraska Game and Parks' management goal
for mountain lions is to maintain resilient, healthy,
and socially acceptable mountain lion populations
that are in balance with available habitat and other
wildlife species over the long term. Mountain lions
are a native species and part of the heritage of our
state, so we want to ensure they are around for
generations to come; however, our challenge is to
manage both the biological and the social aspects
of having mountain lions in Nebraska.
We manage populations of game animals such
as mountain lions through harvest seasons. Deer,
elk and turkeys are just a few examples of game
animals thriving with careful management that
includes hunting.
Game populations are evaluated annually to
determine what, if any, harvest should be allowed.
The basic premise is that when populations
increase, harvest levels can increase, and when
populations decrease, harvest can be reduced
or stopped. Management through hunting may
benefi t the health of the species by reducing the
probability of disease events, territorial confl icts,
and starvation which may occur more often
when population levels are very high. Hunting
also ensures the population is maintained at an
acceptable level for the people living in the area.
Mountain lion population estimates in the Pine
Ridge have increased dramatically over the last few
years, from 22 total animals (kittens and adults)
in 2014 to 59 during the 2017 survey. By 2017,
estimates of mountain lion density (the number of
animals in a given area) was much higher in the
Pine Ridge than densities in most western states
with a harvest season.
At the same time the population estimates
increased, we began experiencing problems with
livestock depredation. Public input from people
living in the Pine Ridge area indicated that the
population level was above what many landowners
were willing to accept. A carefully regulated harvest
season, with a limit on the number of mountain
lions harvested, allows Game and Parks to meet
the management goal of maintaining a resilient,
healthy, and socially acceptable population in the
Pine Ridge.
This is the same proven strategy that has allowed
other game species to thrive in Nebraska and
ensures mountain lions will remain in our state
for generations to come.
Why a Hunting Season?
By Sam Wilson, Wildlife Biologist
HOLDEN
BRUCE,
AT
RIGHT,
AND
GUIDE
DERIC
ANDERSON,
SEARCH
FOR
COUGARS
IN
SIOUX
COUNTY
IN
2014
DURING
NEBRASKA'S
FIRST
OFFICIAL
MOUNTAIN
LION
HUNT.
