Predation Rates and Use of Habitats and Wildlife Drinkers by Mountain Lions

Funding for this agreement supports a collaborative project between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and New Mexico State University. The project has two emphasis areas, namely: 1) building baseline information describing mountain lion use of Chihuahuan Desert, habitats home range sizes, movement rates, and habitat associations and 2) cataloging mountain lion prey rates and prey type. This baseline information will occur for approximately 1 year. Subsequently, we will block mountain lions use of wildlife drinkers and evaluate if changes occur in the above metrics-habitat use, prey rates and type. This occurs for a second year. Funding is for personnel time to trap, collar, track, and evaluate kill sites of mountain lions before management actions occur and then monitor lion response after management action. This process documents baseline information and mountain lion responses to the treatments. The project will occur in New Mexico with potential to expand in Arizona. This agreement supports 10 percent indirect costs.