The Cougar Conundrum

June 1, 2020
A mountain biologist explores the lives of cougars, which are becoming ever more present in the places that humans tread. Attacks by cougars--variously called pumas, panthers, and mountain lions as well--seem to be on the upswing, though Elbroch observes that domesticated animals such as dogs and cows are far more dangerous, to say nothing of venomous arachnids and reptiles. An obvious reason for this spike, writes the author, is that there are simply more humans and, after a long campaign to eradicate them followed by an equally intense effort to restore them, more cougars, too. More and more humans are also spending more time outdoors, which increases the likelihood of encounters. Elbroch takes readers on a tour of cougar biology and ecology, emphasizing how important the big cats are to the ecosystem--e.g., they feed mostly on deer, which can easily become too abundant in the absence of predators. More pointedly, the author spends much of the book examining management practices, arguing against unrestricted hunting on several grounds, including the fact that "killing a mountain lion [has] more than ten times the impact in determining the likelihood that there will be conflicts in an area as compared to adding one more live mountain lion to that same area." Elbroch is particularly critical of trophy hunters, who, in the case of bears, "cause social chaos that increases infanticide for up to two years following the death of their trophy bear." The effects on mountain lion populations are less well known, but all the same, the author concludes that nonlethal conservation is preferable to but does not necessarily rule out hunting, making hunters and biologists natural allies: "We need bridges, not divisions, among stakeholders." Policymakers, conservationists, and hunters alike will find this a useful, if sometimes controversial, handbook. (photos)

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Starred review from July 1, 2020
Puma concolor, literally, "powerful animal, single color," is the scientific name of a cat with the largest range of any animal in the Western hemisphere. Called panther in the east, cougar in the mountain west, or mountain lion, this cat of many names is the subject of a thoughtful look at the role it plays in the modern American West. Livestock killer? Essential predator? Threat to human safety? Protected species of special concern? Elbroch (Mammal Tracks and Signs, 2019), an ecologist of the big cat group Panthera, originally intended to write about cougar social behavior. As lion-human conflicts began to increase with the cats recolonizing areas from which they'd been extirpated, Elbroch found himself penning notes about the mixture of facts and misinformation, often lurid, from both sides of the cougar debate, and the result is this wonderfully well thought-out book. The author explores what the mountain lion is as well as covering human and livestock safety, the effects of cat hunting on their prey base, and, in very interesting chapters, the politics behind lion management and discussions about who should be making management decisions. Elbroch bridges the divide between pro and con mountain lion perspectives in this brutally honest book. An instant classic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

August 1, 2020

Ecologist Elbroch, leader scientist of the Puma Program for Panthera and author of books including Mammal Tracks & Sign, contends that the mountain lion, a keystone species found throughout North America, can coexist alongside humans. Research on mountain lions is scarce, but we know that they are both reclusive and adaptable. While accounts of mountain lions attacking humans receive considerable media attention, these occurrences are rare and could possibly be avoided through hunter education programs, Elbroch maintains. Increased numbers of mountain lions coupled with habitat loss means that there are more interactions between mountain lions and humans. Elbroch contends that through strategic decision-making involving all interested parties (wildlife enthusiasts, hunters, biologists, state agencies, the general public), wise policy can be enacted to ensure these majestic creatures are conserved while maintaining human safety. A case study on successful collaboration between disparate entities in Montana details a possible way forward. VERDICT A concise account illustrating issues surrounding wildlife conservation efforts in the United States while providing an informative natural history of the mountain lion.--Diana Hartle, Univ. of Georgia Science Lib., Athens

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