Introduction 13greeted with fascination), to a period of hatred focused on mountain lions because
the number of large prey (deer, elk [Cervus elaphus], and bighorn sheep [Ovis canaden-
sis]) killed by this large predatory species was believed to result in reduced hunting
opportunities for these as well as other species occupying the region. Over such a
span of time, covering significant changes in how mountain lions used the Black Hills
and were perceived by the public, we were able to gain insight into the ecol ogy and
general view of this charismatic species.
The Black Hills provide a unique system for the study of mountain lions because the
region is semi- isolated from other areas inhabited by mountain lions, and the prairies
that surround the ecoregion represent an alternative habitat with which established
lions and their young are unfamiliar. At times during our studies, we were able to view
lions leaving the ecoregion. More than once did lions, which we expected to disperse
from the region because of their age, venture away (mostly to the west) only to move
back to the mountain range at a later time. We suspect that these lions were in search
of habitats that resembled their natal area (ponderosa pine forest), and in fact many
dispersing lions traversed the bound aries of the ecoregion before leaving to the north-
west. This northwest area may lend itself to dispersal and movements out of the re-
gion because of the ponderosa pine fin gers of habitat that extend to the Bear Lodge
Mountains and pockets of Custer National Forest.
The following chapters provide an overview of information collected while study-
ing this mountain lion population over a 17- year period. During this time we focused
our activities on collecting information to answer questions on population size, move-
ments, ge ne tics, and prey use of the species. Although some of our work was limited
to specific time intervals, the long- term effort provided opportunities to describe re-
lationships between population size and other factors, such as survival, home range
size, and dispersal, as well as the effect of harvest and how the public perceived the
species.
Lit er a ture Cited
Anderson, C. R. 2003. Cougar ecol ogy, management, and population ge ne tics in Wyoming.
PhD diss., University of Wyoming.
Anderson, C. R., Jr., F. G. Lindzey, and D. B. McDonald. 2004. Ge ne tic structure of cougar
populations across the Wyoming Basin: Metapopulation or megapopulation. Journal of
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Beier, P. 1991. Cougar attacks on humans in the United States and Canada. Wildlife Society
Bulletin 19:403–412.
Berg, R. L., L. L. McDonald, and M. D. Strickland. 1983. Distribution of cougars in Wyoming
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Cougar Management Guidelines Working Group (CMGWG). 2005. Cougar Management
Guidelines. 1st ed. Wild Futures, Bainbridge Island, WA.
Dodge, R. I. 1998. The Black Hills. Gretna, LA: Pelican.