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Cougar Habitat Analysis: Preliminary Model Results

This story map was created to accompany a hypothetical case study showing the use of suitability analysis for identifying potential wildlife habitat. Click the link above to view the case study.
 
The Department of Parks, Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), and national forest staff have undertaken a joint study of cougar populations in this part of the state. An initial phase of the study involves mapping potential cougar habitat. While the goal for DFW and national forest administrators is to identify potential habitat for wildlife management purposes, the goal for state park administrators is to identify areas of potential human-cougar interaction.
 
Puma concolor
 
The study area is comprised of three sub-watersheds that encompass the area surrounding the state park and include portions of the national forest, as seen in the map to the right.
An aerial image of the study area.

 

 

Analysis Results

 

 

A team of experts from the three agencies was created to conduct the analysis. A Boolean suitability model was selected as the best approach for this project: in order to be considered suitable habitat an area must meet all of the specified criteria.

 

 

Criteria for defining suitable cougar habitat were based on studies undertaken by DFW. Suitable areas must:

 

  • Be on steep slopes
  • Have sufficient vegetative cover
  • Be near streams
  • Be away from highways and major roads

 

 

Team members met to define the specific criteria for the analysis. Given the differing goals of the project, two analyses were conducted. One used criteria proposed by the state park participants and the other used criteria proposed by the participants from DFW and the national forest.

 

 

 

 

The state park model resulted in about 8% of the study area (5,900 hectares) being classified as potential cougar habitat, while the model proposed by DFW and the national forest staff resulted in about 39% of the study area (27,900 hectares) being classified as potential habitat.

 

 

Click the tabs on the map to view the results of the two analyses.

 

Scroll down to view the individual criteria.

 

Slope

 

Slopes range from a maximum of 50 degrees (dark red) to 0 degrees (light yellow).

 

Prior research conducted by DFW found that slopes greater than 18 degrees can be considered prime cougar habitat. While cougars can be found on gentler terrain, for the purposes of this study to identify likely cougar habitat the team accepted the 18-degree threshold as a viable definition of steep slopes.

 

The map to the right shows areas greater than 18 degrees in red. This value was used for both analyses.

 

Vegetation

 

Most of the study area is forested.

 

Both analyses include the three mature forest types (codes 34, 49, and 67) as potential habitat, and exclude the urban, agricultural, and open water types.

 

The analysis criteria proposed by the team members from the state park also excludes type 121 (Grass-shrub-sapling or Regernating young forest) on the grounds that in the study area this category represents recently logged areas that would not provide sufficeint cover for cougars. Click here to see the vegetation types included in the state park model (gray areas are excluded as habitat).

 

The analysis criteria proposed by the team members from DFW and the national forest includes type 121 on the grounds that in most cases these logged areas are surrounded by forest and would likley be utilized by cougars. Click here to see the vegetation types included in the DFW and national forest model (gray areas are excluded as habitat).

Streams

 

Streams and rivers within the study area.

 

The team members from the state park proposed that the area within 500 feet of a stream be considered potential cougar habitat, citing research showing that cougars tend to use riparian corridors to move around their territory. Click here to see the areas within 500 feet of a stream or river.

 

The team members from DFW and the national forest proposed that areas within 2500 feet of a stream be considered potential habitat, on the grounds that cougars have large territories and will range much further from water. Click here to see the area within 2500 feet of a stream or river.

 

Highways

 

There is one major highway running east-west across the study area.

 

The team members from the state park proposed that areas more than 1500 feet from a highway or major road be considered potential cougar habitat. This distance includes the roads within the state park--the experts believe the presence of people in these areas likely discourage their use by cougars. Click here to see the areas within 1500 feet of the highway--these areas are excluded as habitat.

 

The team members from DFW and the nation forest proposed that areas more than 500 feet from a highway or major road be considered potential cougar habitat, citing their own research that cougars are likely to approach and even cross these roads, on occassion. Click here to see the areas within 500 feet of the highway--there areas are excluded as habitat. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cougar Habitat Analysis: Preliminary Model Results

This story map was created to accompany a hypothetical case study showing the use of suitability analysis for identifying potential wildlife habitat. Click the link above to view the case study.
 
The Department of Parks, Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), and national forest staff have undertaken a joint study of cougar populations in this part of the state. An initial phase of the study involves mapping potential cougar habitat. While the goal for DFW and national forest administrators is to identify potential habitat for wildlife management purposes, the goal for state park administrators is to identify areas of potential human-cougar interaction.
 
Puma concolor
 
The study area is comprised of three sub-watersheds that encompass the area surrounding the state park and include portions of the national forest, as seen in the map to the right.
An aerial image of the study area.

 

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Analysis Results

 

 

A team of experts from the three agencies was created to conduct the analysis. A Boolean suitability model was selected as the best approach for this project: in order to be considered suitable habitat an area must meet all of the specified criteria.

 

 

Criteria for defining suitable cougar habitat were based on studies undertaken by DFW. Suitable areas must:

 

  • Be on steep slopes
  • Have sufficient vegetative cover
  • Be near streams
  • Be away from highways and major roads

 

 

Team members met to define the specific criteria for the analysis. Given the differing goals of the project, two analyses were conducted. One used criteria proposed by the state park participants and the other used criteria proposed by the participants from DFW and the national forest.

 

 

 

 

The state park model resulted in about 8% of the study area (5,900 hectares) being classified as potential cougar habitat, while the model proposed by DFW and the national forest staff resulted in about 39% of the study area (27,900 hectares) being classified as potential habitat.

 

 

Click the tabs on the map to view the results of the two analyses.

 

Scroll down to view the individual criteria.

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Slope

 

Slopes range from a maximum of 50 degrees (dark red) to 0 degrees (light yellow).

 

Prior research conducted by DFW found that slopes greater than 18 degrees can be considered prime cougar habitat. While cougars can be found on gentler terrain, for the purposes of this study to identify likely cougar habitat the team accepted the 18-degree threshold as a viable definition of steep slopes.

 

The map to the right shows areas greater than 18 degrees in red. This value was used for both analyses.

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Vegetation

 

Most of the study area is forested.

 

Both analyses include the three mature forest types (codes 34, 49, and 67) as potential habitat, and exclude the urban, agricultural, and open water types.

 

The analysis criteria proposed by the team members from the state park also excludes type 121 (Grass-shrub-sapling or Regernating young forest) on the grounds that in the study area this category represents recently logged areas that would not provide sufficeint cover for cougars. Click here to see the vegetation types included in the state park model (gray areas are excluded as habitat).

 

The analysis criteria proposed by the team members from DFW and the national forest includes type 121 on the grounds that in most cases these logged areas are surrounded by forest and would likley be utilized by cougars. Click here to see the vegetation types included in the DFW and national forest model (gray areas are excluded as habitat).

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Streams

 

Streams and rivers within the study area.

 

The team members from the state park proposed that the area within 500 feet of a stream be considered potential cougar habitat, citing research showing that cougars tend to use riparian corridors to move around their territory. Click here to see the areas within 500 feet of a stream or river.

 

The team members from DFW and the national forest proposed that areas within 2500 feet of a stream be considered potential habitat, on the grounds that cougars have large territories and will range much further from water. Click here to see the area within 2500 feet of a stream or river.

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Highways

 

There is one major highway running east-west across the study area.

 

The team members from the state park proposed that areas more than 1500 feet from a highway or major road be considered potential cougar habitat. This distance includes the roads within the state park--the experts believe the presence of people in these areas likely discourage their use by cougars. Click here to see the areas within 1500 feet of the highway--these areas are excluded as habitat.

 

The team members from DFW and the nation forest proposed that areas more than 500 feet from a highway or major road be considered potential cougar habitat, citing their own research that cougars are likely to approach and even cross these roads, on occassion. Click here to see the areas within 500 feet of the highway--there areas are excluded as habitat. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

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