Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty. Or Who Put That Barbed Wire Fence There!?

[flytyer57]

Or maybe they are the queer cats from California coming to visit relatives.

Yep, all them queer hillbilly cats in Missouri.

[Smalliebigs]

So the scientific theory was all the male cats were out looking for something other than other pussy. I am sticking with Ducky's Elk theory. Or maybe they are the queer cats from California coming to visit relatives.

Dude, that's hilarious not that there's anything wrong with queer cougars from CA

[Chief Grey Bear]

Yep, all them queer hillbilly cats in Missouri.

And yer planning on coming up here after saying that??? I can understand JD, he doesn't know any better. But you???

[drew03cmc]

I hope there are breeding pairs in Missouri. It would kick butt to be fishing for wild trout, seeing a cougar in a tree on a bluff watching the stream. That would be awe inspiring.

[Stoneroller]

so if we use your 'logic' chief, of those 15 confirmed sightings 25% must have been female (that we know of). and although some species of animals are polygamist, it's actually quite rare for it to work out that way. The most numerous and largest biomass of creatures on earth actually produce a million to one ratio of females to males. social insects are tricky that way. but for most mammals, sex ratios at birth are closer to 1:1, which has nothing to do with the mating system of the species.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Stoneroller if you look into the life of a mtn lion kitten you'll find that young males do indeed have to travel. The older male forces that on them and it has nothing to do with any ratio. If there are two male kittens then two will become wanderers. I'm sure they don't stop moving as soon as they find a hunting area clear of an older tom, but continue looking for females. The problem is they have no experience and nothing but a nose to help them find a mate. They aren't going to have a lot of luck because the older toms don't run the female kittens off, so the young males wander as their populations expand in an environment that has very little management.

I wouldn't put any faith in gender sightings when many sightings aren't even cats.

[Chief Grey Bear]

so if we use your 'logic' chief, of those 15 confirmed sightings 25% must have been female (that we know of).

On paper maybe but, as we both know that doesn't hold true in the real world. You do know that right?

and although some species of animals are polygamist, it's actually quite rare for it to work out that way. The most numerous and largest biomass of creatures on earth actually produce a million to one ratio of females to males. social insects are tricky that way. but for most mammals, sex ratios at birth are closer to 1:1, which has nothing to do with the mating system of the species.

I thought we were speaking of mamals, reptiles and such on this ratio thing. But since you threw incects in to help with your claim, can you provide a link to your source of information on this 1 million to one ratio?

[flytyer57]

And yer planning on coming up here after saying that??? I can understand JD, he doesn't know any better. But you???

I ain't afraid of no mountain lion. Even if it is a queer one from California or anywhere else.

[Tim Smith]

General information about sex ratios doesn't help you with mountain lion patterns. Citations are pasted below that have info on sex ratios.

The females are more dense in resident mountain lion populations. Males have much larger territories and their mortality rates are higher.

In the studies below female to male sex ratios were 2/1, 5/1, 1.2/1....

There's no basis to criticize anyone for saying there is no evidence of a breeding population when one known female shows up and the only sex ratio you know with accuracy is 1/4. Males range widely, females stay put. Find a female with a territory and then it's time to talk about breeding populations.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUNTED MOUNTAIN LION POPULATION IN WYOMING USA

Author(s): LOGAN K A; IRWIN L L; SKINNER R

Source: Journal of Wildlife Management Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Pages: 648-654 Published: 1986

Abstract: Population characteristics were estimated from June 1981 to July 1983 for a hunted mountain lion (Felis concolor) population occupying a 741-km2 study area in the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming. Based on the capture-recapture of 46 lions and radio-telemetry, snow-tracking, and harvest data, winter population densities were estimated at 29 km2/lion (1981-82) and 22 km2/lion (1982-83). Sex ratios of 28 kittens and 22 adults did not differ (P < 0.05) from equality. Kittens, born primarily in autumn, comprised about 50% of the population each winter, and 11 postnatal litters averaged 2.7 kittens. Some juveniles dispersed at about 12-15 months of age; 5 were recovered 9-274 km for their natal areas. Two resident females bred at 13- and 19-month intervals. The age structure of both sexes was young, the oldest adult being about 7 years old. Observed mortality the 1st year was 27% of the total population and 0% the 2nd year; immigration apparently compensated for mortalities. Home areas of 4 resident females averaged 67 km2 and overlapped almost completely. Those of the 2 resident males overlapped slightly and averaged 320 km2. Male home areas overlapped several female home areas.

Survival and Mortality of Cougars in the Trans-Pecos Region

John H. Younga,*, Michael E. Tewesb, Aaron M. Hainesc, Gilbert Guzmand, and Stephen J. DeMasoe

aTexas Parks and Wildlife Department, 3000 IH 35 South, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78612 (JHY)

bFeline Research Center, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 218, 700 University Boulevard, Kingsville, TX 78363 (MET)

cDivision of Science and Mathematics, Upper Iowa University, Baker-Hebron Room 105, Fayette, IA 52142 (AMH)

dTexas Parks and Wildlife Department, 1205 College Street, Junction, TX 76849 (GG)

eCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 218, Kingsville, TX 78363 (SJD)

*Correspondent: john.young@tpwd.state.tx.us

Associate Editor was Earl G. Zimmerman

Abstract

We analyzed data from studies of cougars (Puma concolor) completed during 1982–1997 in Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains national parks, and Big Bend Ranch State Park. We estimated annual and seasonal (hunting and non-hunting periods) rates of survival and rates of cause-specific mortality for 31 males and 29 females. In the three studies, annual rates of survival for females were higher than those for males. Seasonal rates of survival were variable between sexes and among studies; however, pooling males and females revealed that rates of survival at Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains national parks and Big Bend Ranch State Park were lower during hunting periods (1 September–31 March) compared to non-hunting periods (1 April–31 August). However, pooled rates of survival for males and females at Big Bend National Park were equal during hunting and non-hunting periods. Trapping was the greatest annual source of cause-specific mortality in all study areas. Shooting and unknown sources were the next greatest sources of mortality. Mortalities from intraspecific strife and natural causes were documented only in Big Bend National Park. Rates of survival for cougars in Texas and the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico are among the lowest in the United States. Low rate of survival should be considered when developing management plans; however, we caution against extrapolating results from limited study areas to the entire region.

Cooley, Hilary S., Robert B. Wielgus, Gary M. Koehler, Hugh S. Robinson, and Benjamin T. Maletzke. 2009. Does hunting regulate cougar populations? A test of the compensatory mortality hypothesis. Ecology 90:2913–2921. [doi:10.1890/08-1805.1]

Articles

Does hunting regulate cougar populations? A test of the compensatory mortality hypothesis

Hilary S. Cooley1,3, Robert B. Wielgus1, Gary M. Koehler2, Hugh S. Robinson1,4, and Benjamin T. Maletzke1

[Stoneroller]

so chief, are you saying you weren't aware that a colony of ants, bees, wasps, hornets are made up of all females except during swarming times when males are produced?

and if your own logic doesn't hold up in the real world, then why do you keep trying to push it?