138 Mountain Lions of the Black Hills
on reduced populations of deer, elk, and other prey species were circumstantially
linked. Our studies barely touched upon these interactions. Nevertheless, the com-
plexities of systems with predators and their prey require an understanding of all the
components and their interactions (fig. E.2).
Studying mountain lions for over a de cade allowed my students and me to docu-
ment how the species could expand from just a few individuals in the mid-1990s to
what we termed a saturated population in a relatively short period of time. We wit-
nessed how the species learned to capture and consume new prey species when prey
availability changed, and how it could remain viable when the population was reduced
through harvest. There will always be a mystique associated with a species that can
weigh up to 175 lbs., that travels about its home area mostly at night, and that is secre-
tive in its nature. Our work has provided insight into how it successfully recolonized a
small corner of its distribution in North Amer i ca, the Black Hills. I have confidence
that with continued management the species will thrive and provide future genera-
tions the thrill of seeing this charismatic critter in its natu ral environment.
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