In 1843 a bounty program was called on cougars in the Oregon Territory. Cant find what you need? The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife say cougar sightings are rare in Oregon. Generally, treatment of wildlife in the State of Oregon is governed by theOregon Revised Statutes the states collection of all the laws passed by its legislature. Davidson, G. A., Clark, D. A., Johnson, B. K., Waits, L. P., & Adams, J. R. (2014). To address these problems, the 2006 Oregon Cougar Management Plan created a tool for wildlife managers known as a cougar target area. This is an area where ODFW staff or agents reduce the cougar population over a three-year period. Fence and shelter livestock. Should the number of cougars killed exceed a certain threshold, ODFW would end all sport hunting and cougar target area removals for the rest of the season (until Jan. 1 of the following year). Research conducted in Oregon has indicated these populations are resilient and recover rather quickly from these targeted removals. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.ll6. As a result, sport-hunting related cougar mortalities have increased to record highs despite the ban on using hounds. Tracks do not generally include claw marks because cougars have retractable claws. Contact 503-947-6042 orclick here. ODFW typically chooses three to four target areas at a time. As the time approaches, be sure to tune in for talking points with the Mountain Lion Foundation when proposals are released. Since hound-hunting is recognized as the most efficient method to hunt cougars, many proponents of Measure 18 saw it as a way to effectively reduce the number of cougars killed annually by sport hunters. Weilgus et al. Oregon has over 6,000 cougars statewide, up from an estimated 200 in the late 1960s. Since 2006, ODFW has completed about 10 cougar target areas across the state, and in most cases has achieved the desired effect. Immediately following Measure 18s passage, sport hunting related cougar mortalities declined dramatically statewide (22 in 1995). It was the last place to expect a population boom. The legislature may also meet in organizational sessions, the duration of which the constitution does not limit, in order to set legislative rules. Description and Range Regulations Locations Living with wildlife Preventing conflict Oregon has about 6,000 cougars statewide, up from an estimated 200 in the late 1960s. (2003). Growing populations are pushing these highly territorial animals into the urban fringe. People will report a cougar dashing across the road in front of them. Oregon News; 2, possibly 3 cougars reportedly sighted in western Lane County, sheriff says . 503.283.6343 | Portland office Cougars are hunted in Oregon on a quota basis. If a nearby state with similar habitat (Washington) has the same cougar hunting restrictions, as well as analogous cougar hunting policies (without the additional administrative removal plan), and that states policies and actions have resulted in a significant reduction in their cougar population, why does ODFW believe that similar results are not taking place in Oregon? Wildlife treatment is also managed by regulations in theOregon Administrative Rules the collection of all the state agency rules. Sometimes, they linger around residences during the daytime or stop showing fear of peoplebehavior that concerns wildlife managers. Each area has an annual quota, and ODFW staff or agents can remove cougars of any age or sex up until that quota is reached. Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Copyright 2023 Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. To help people be aware that they are in our area and are dangerous . ODFW will proactively manage cougar-livestock conflicts as measured by non-hunting mortalities and livestock damage complaints and ODFW may take management actions to reduce the cougar population. Once a quota in a certain zone is met, that zone will close for cougar hunting. (5)The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife posits that this drastic decline might be a direct result of current hunting policies which have caused ashift to harvesting more females and younger animals.. Copyright 2023 Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Oregon's Cougar Management Plan requires a minimum population of 3,000 cougars, but has no upward ceiling or limit on the cougar population. Between 1918 and 1961 (Oregons recorded cougar bounty period) 6,762 cougar carcasses were turned in for a bounty. Cougar tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks by paying attention to detail. In 2008 neighboring Washington state (which in 1996 passed similar legislation to Measure 18, and whose state wildlife agency followed ODFWs game plan of numerous, cheap cougar hunting tags and long hunt seasons) reported a nearly 40 percent drop in the states cougar population from five years previous. Native to Oregon, cougars range throughout the state, the highest densities occur in the Blue Mountains in the northeastern part of the state and in the southwestern Cascade Mountains . The numbers below are as of 11 April 2023, Information based on data sheets received at Wildlife Health and Population Lab. Within the U.S. cougars only exist in large enough numbers to maintain viable breeding populations in the western states. Cougars were nearly extinct by the late 1800's, and increasing deforestation, which reduced the cougar's habitat and its main food source, the white-tailed deer, spelled the final destruction of the eastern cougar. Prolonged absence of these predators leads herbivorous animal populations to wreak havoc on ecosystems' vegetation, reducing the health and biodiversity of both plants and animals. This group is for cougar ,Bobcat,coyote wolfs sightings . A comparable time period of regulated hunting has now passed (1967 to 2009 the last year of records released by ODFW). You would like to see a summer hunting season closure during the summer to help protect kittens when they are most likely to be denning. Females initiate courtship during which males and females live together. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? A Predictive Population Model for Cougars in Oregon. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Contact ODFW's Public Service Representative at: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov Another sighting was reported shortly before 5 a.m. in the area of Third Street and Wilson Avenue, Voll said. We thought wed take it one step further and said lets do a mapping system that is driven by community input and is cougars, bears and deer carcasses that seem to be attributable to cougars and bears, OMeara said. Wolf meetings were a common event in local towns, where the inhabitants would come together to discuss what to do about mountain lions and other predators, which always involved morepredator killing. A cougar is pictured in a file photo.AP Photo/National Park Service. Salem, OR 97302 Once considered to belargely solitary animals, recent research has indicated cougars have complex social structures. Year Zone A Zone B Zone C Zone D Zone E Zone F Total 2007 156 171 30 20 46 30 453 We won't share it with anyone else. If in the very unusual event that a cougar attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, bear or pepper spray, tools or any items available. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE :: Salem, OR 97302 :: Main Phone (503) 947-6000 or (800) 720-ODFW [6339] R:D|M=$_(9;U4 /IaxM{ 4)Y/(~auZ{6vZML9#\{!9 =N;;ip0^Tz>]/{U #~(}84N[;M{X{>;q&#J3,;8$C"$72XkEkKa^I4tTvWdqK.kNQ,#FBz! The recovery of cougars from their once-low numbers is a conservation success story for Oregon. - Do not run. An ODFW official quoted ina summer 2014 Oregonian/OregonLive reportabout cougar sightings said "the area surrounding the Portland-metro area and the suburbs is good cougar habitat.". Techniques: Hunting is open statewide under a general season all year, or until zone quotas are met. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Leave your dog at home or keep it on a leash. ODFW estimates Oregon's current population of cougars to be at around 6,600. In 1994, Oregon voters approved Measure 18, which banned the use of hounds to hunt cougars. OMeara said the idea came from a citizen who suggested APD make a mapping system to track where the cougars have been. A 1997 report by the Predator Defense Institute enumerated numerous deficiencies in the statewide cougar population estimates formulated by ODFW and argued that the agency biased its reporting of cougar sightings and incidents to support claims that the cougar population was growing significantly. Cougar runs in front of deputy's car Recent sightings include this one in Clackamas County where a cougar ran in front of a deputy's car and in Tigard, where multiple sightings have. Cant find what you need? Sightings are still rare, though, according to ODFW. Still, sightings do occur every few years usually on the wood-hemmed roads high above downtown, on Pipeline Road near the dump, for instance. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Settlers ferociously hunted the cougar, and bounties were placed on the animals to create further incentives for their speedy removal. The statewide population of cougars is growing, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Caitlin Fowlkes / Ashland Daily Tidings, SOU president gets feedback on realignment plan, Oregon will begin processing 2022 state income tax returns Jan. 23, Man sentenced in connection with beating death, Man admits to beating girlfriend's father to death, Police ID actor's son in suspected heroin death, an officer did shoot at a cougar near the Hannon Library. Information on how to contact your member of the Oregon House of Representatives can be foundherewhile information on how to contact your state senator can be foundhere. Oregon's Cougar Management Plan requires a minimum population of 3,000 cougars, but has no upward ceiling or limit on the cougar population. J. Wildl. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Anyone can go into the system and report sightings at. Also known as mountain lions or pumas, cougars are known for their strength, agility, and awesome ability to jump. Occupy a wide variety of biomes, but require habitat with large prey and cover for hunting. In the Redland area, a Clackamas County sheriffs deputys dash camera caught a cougar on video as it bounded out in front of the car, its legs kicked back in a long, exaggerated stretch before it cleared the road and disappeared into the trees. While individual cougars can be impacted, nothing indicates cougar populations are being threatened by the growing human populations and development, Broman said. }R8xh>@6sF*JD}Xo85bW|q4tFNs]!Cv^{T'cn8oZU/Gs.YtI!DgFrj[%A l]$I:0mhYC0dQSqpNsqM6]:'|u(Qnn8 }DgI# nZCPEjqScB; v|G;-&HR(kU>r#sVW 'Mmwo;ccWcbCBgtU T65 }K #I5hhl/+0=E.mz6? Cougars could still be removed if a damage or safety situation arises. You can check the statutes directly at a state-managed website:https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/Pages/ORS.aspxThese statutes are searchable. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. Contact 503-947-6042 or click here. However, with higher numbers of these predators comes increased conflict. ContactODFW's public service representative at odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Its been several years since he had to put up a cougar sighted sign anywhere in Astoria. In 1967 cougars were reclassified as game animals in an effort (according to ODFW) to protect the species from unregulated hunting. Y Great Basin Naturalist, 43(3), 425428. Sporthunters and landowners must check in the carcass of any cougar they kill within 10 days so ODFW can track its age and sex. When does ODFW start a cougar target area? Indeed, they are "shy," solitary creatures that spend the majority of their lives alone; cougars require large territories, between 100-300 square miles, which they defend from other cougars. The questions required to be answered when reporting a sighting came from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, OMeara said. 320 0 obj <> endobj 339 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[320 31]/Info 319 0 R/Length 93/Prev 736177/Root 321 0 R/Size 351/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream . During this 44-year period, the annual cougar mortality numbers only exceeded the 300 level three times, with the all time high of 375 reached in 1937. Ten years later, despite larger than ever mortalities caused by ODFWs Post-Measure 18 sport hunting policies, the Department ramped the population estimate up to 5,000 cougars. After three years of removing cougars, ODFW will assess whether or not the cougar target area had the desired effect and report these results to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in a public meeting. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Biologists in Oregon estimate that the cougar population there has tripled since the mid-1980s, to about 6,500 animals. Its rare to see a cougar in Astoria. Several factors can trigger a target area including the number of cougars being killed for livestock damage or public safety concerns in the area (indicating a high level of conflict once it reaches a certain threshold) and deer and elk populations falling below management objectives. . 541.382-2616 | Bend office Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Measure 18 outlaws the use of dogs for cougar sport hunting, which appealed to many as a way to reduce the number of cougars killed by sport hunters, since the use of dogs is considered the most efficient way to hunt cougars. Initially, the history of the cougar in Oregon followed a similar storyline as the eastern cougar. There's never been a fatal cougar attack in the wild in Oregon, Broman said. Sleek and graceful, cougars ( Puma concolor ) are solitary and secretive animals rarely seen in the wild. Most active at dawn and dusk, cougars are lone hunters. In July 2023, there will be the opportunity to submit public comments to the Commission regarding cougar hunting in the state. However, ODFW includes kittens in their estimates, many of whom never reach adulthood. (2002). Cougars have many common names, owing to their wide distribution across the Americas; several well known names are mountain lion, puma, catamount, ghost cat, and panther. There has been an increase in the cougar population in the state in recent years, and a corresponding increase in sightings by people. Cougars typically hunt between dusk and dawn. The numbers below are as of 03 March 2023 . Tennessee: Confirmed sightings Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? The footage shows the stocky animal scurrying down a snowy slope and crossing Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass. Immediately, hunting-related cougar mortalities declined dramatically statewide (22 in 1995). All rights reserved. These cats do not chase their prey, but stealthily stalk and ambush it, commonly leaping onto their prey's back and lethally biting it in the neck. The first year mortality records were available was 1918 and between that year and 1961, a total of 6,762 cougars were killed and turned in for bounty. Cougar tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks by paying attention to detail. By 1961, cougars were nearly eliminated, with only approximately 200 left in the state. Leave the animal a way to escape. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, this was among several. However, the Oregon Constitution also allows the legislature to extend regular sessions by five days with the approval of two-thirds of the members of each chamber and does not limit the number of times a session may be extended. We're no strangers to development here in Oregon, so it's natural to wonderhow that affects wildlife. In northeastern Oregon, male cougars can have a home range of 78 miles. Most years these spaces remain empty, but state wildlife managers say cougar populations appear to be increasing elsewhere along the Oregon Coast, raising questions about what is and what could become cougar country. Walk pets during the day and keep them on a leash. Great Basin Naturalist, 45(1), 7784. where a cougar ran in front of a deputy's car, no strangers to development here in Oregon, a summer 2014 Oregonian/OregonLive report. Report any cougar sighting or encounter to a local ODFW office or Oregon State Police office. They begin to breed at 2-3 years old and continue to breed every 2-3 years throughout their lifespan, which lasts an average of eight years. Studies in Washington, California, and Colorado have documented that cougars can be quite successful at utilizing urban (which is a broad term) habitats. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Lately, more cougars are being seen in northwest Oregon including the suburbs of Portland. A screen grab of the city cougar, bear and deer carcass map. Below are the most recent numbers on cougar harvest by zone. Make noise to alert wildlife of your presence. Habitat: Cougars are throughout Oregon, with concentrations in the Cascade Rangeand Blue Mountains. 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