Cougar Predation on Wild Ungulates in a Multi-Prey, Multi-Predator System in West Central Alberta

The complex interrelationship between cougars and their prey in multi-predator, multi-prey systems is posing increasingly important puzzles for wildlife managers. It is important for management purposes that we better understand why secondary prey sometimes coexist with large cougar populations and elsewhere succumb to cougar predation, or why cougars sometimes prefer the less abundant ungulate species in a region.  We need additional knowledge in order to effectively manage for the long-term viability of populations of both predator and prey in multi-prey ecosystems where predators can represent a serious threat to small ungulate populations. In addition, more information is required about the role that habitat plays in predicting cougar predation patterns, how anthropogenic landscape change might affect these patterns, and consequently how these changes might affect cougar populations. What is needed is a study that brings many of the variables most likely to influence cougar predation patterns together in a single analytical exercise. This University of Alberta study aims to achieve this kind of multi-variate analysis through a combination of new GPS collar technology and extensive background ecological work in the Rocky-Clearwater forest in west central Alberta.

For a more detailed account of the project’s background, objectives, methods, and uniquely advantageous study site. visit the “research” page on the navigation bar above or click here; And don’t neglect to visit the other pages on the navigation bar to learn more about the research team, receive regular progress updates, pursue other useful links, or contact us.

Partners
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A project of this scope and complexity is impossible without the support of many partners. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the companies and organizations whose logos appear below. To visit an organization's website click on its logo. For more information on the stake of these organizations in the project, and on how your company or organization can get involved, visit the "partners" page on the navigation bar above.