Assuming adequate cover for movement and dispersal, there is no reason to doubt that cougars are capable of utilizing urban habitats in Oregon.. At first, traders in Oregon acquired furs by bartering with the local Native Americans but as word got out about the rich fur resources available, big fur companies such as Hudsons Bay Company and American Fur Company began to employ their own professional trappers. Given the available habitat and results from scientific research conducted in Washington showing roughly 5 independent cougars per 100 square miles, the Mountain Lion Foundation would estimate fewer than 3,000 independent adult cougars in the State of Oregon. ODFW will proactively manage cougar populations in a manner compatible and consistent with management objectives for other game mammals outlined in ODFW management plans. Northwest Science, 76(l), 1525. Features: Oregon is home to more than 6,000 cougars, or mountain lions. UPDATE March 2023: As of March 20, 89 cougars have died in Oregon in 2023. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Fur was the first natural resource to be recognized and exploited in what is now Oregon. A cougar can be identified by its large size, cat-like appearance, consistent tan or tawny body color, and long tail. This summer, people reported multiple cougar sightings near downtown Tigard, a city of more than 48,000 outside of Portland. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). If killing 6,762 cougars over a 44-year time period once almost wiped out the cougar population in Oregon, why does ODFW believe that killing 7,468 cougars over the past 43 years of regulated cougar hunting hasnt produced similar results? Volunteer agents must undergo background checks and training before doing any cougar removal work for ODFW and are not permitted to keep the carcass. Anyone can go into the system and report sightings at gis.ashland.or.us/cougar. Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and view wildlife. In northeastern Oregon, male cougars can have a home range of 78 miles. Great Basin Naturalist, 43(3), 425428. However, ODFW includes kittens in their estimates, many of whom never reach adulthood. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife say cougar sightings are rare in Oregon. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Cougars can leap as far as 20 feet and can kill their prey with a single bite to the neck. Oregon's Cougar Management Plan requires a minimum population of 3,000 cougars, but has no upward ceiling or limit on the cougar population. #]M endstream endobj 325 0 obj <>stream Oregon has about 6,000 cougars statewide, up from an estimated 200 in the late 1960s. In fact, the 200 to 300 mortality level was reached only eight times. - Do not run. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Hunting Cougar Salem, OR 97302 There are occasional sightings, and there may possibly be the rare traveler that passes through. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. After a report from a property owner that he'd lost livestock to cougars, the State Fish and Game trapped two of the animals and euthanized them. The settlers set up a ferocious predator removal effort of endless trapping and hunting. 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 Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Theyre not holding true.. Techniques: Hunting is open statewide under a general season all year, or until zone quotas are met. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. . ODFW will manage for a cougar population that is at or above the 1994 level of approximately 3,000 cougars statewide. ODFW Home | Driving Directions | Cant find what you need? (2003). Females produce a litter of 2-3 kittens, which they raise to maturity, a period of 18-24 months. Cougar awareness. However, those behaviors do lead to an increased chance of human interactions that may include conflict and damage.. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Create a password that only you will remember. In 1961 it was estimated that Oregons cougar population had dropped to only 200 animals and were in danger of extirpation. Second, ODFW is basing its current actions to aggressively reduce Oregons cougar population on a crude computer model which does not accurately reflect the complexity of what is happening on the ground. HVKo0Wh"e5=l@Cad[i?~v[,C arFo]HI?0HC. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Another sighting was reported shortly before 5 a.m. in the area of Third Street and Wilson Avenue, Voll said. 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! During these 43-years, 7,468 cougars(4)were reported killed. The Susquehannock Wildlife Society wrote an article about a potential cougar photograph submitted to them and discussed their process of investigation, in the end they deemed it was not a mountain lion. Estimating cougar densities in northeast Oregon using conservation detection dogs. 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). Since 2006, ODFW has completed about 10 cougar target areas across the state, and in most cases has achieved the desired effect. Aside from management policies, cougar populations also require suitable habitat to exist in Oregon. No other game species in Oregon is counted this way, leading wildlife biologists and managers in other states to believe ODFW radicallyoverestimates Oregon's cougar population. Contact ODFW's Public Service Representative at: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov Description and Range Regulations Locations Living with wildlife Preventing conflict 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. (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.. In an emergency situation, a call should be made to 911 or 541-770-4784. 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 . A Predictive Population Model for Cougars in Oregon. 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. Massachusetts Ken Nelson, the citys public works superintendent and a lifelong hunter, can count on a hand and a half the number of times hes seen a cougar, even as hes roamed the woods around Tillamook or in eastern Washington and the Cascades. However, with higher numbers of these predators comes increased conflict. 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. Proactive management of cougars may include intensive, administrative removal of cougars in targeted areas where zone specific criteria have been met.. I think people enjoy being well-informed and educated and this gives them a snapshot of exactly where all the sightings have been, so they can make appropriate decisions, OMeara said. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. (800) 720-6339. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Cougars are the largest members of the cat family found in the state and tend to be solitary, except for females raising young. You can check the statutes directly at a state-managed website:https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/Pages/ORS.aspxThese statutes are searchable. # 94-3015360) | Copyright 1988-2023. 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. hbbd``b`$~ $"'@ '"A 8$d CHLxd# `4 endstream endobj startxref 0 %%EOF 350 0 obj <>stream Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The upper chamber theSenate consists of 30 members who serve 4-year terms. College of Forestry Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-5704 Tel: 541-737-2004 Contact us Oregon is home to more than 6,000 cougars, or mountain lions. Keep pets indoors at dawn and dusk. 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. Of this, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) claim that 71,997 square miles, or 75 percent of the state, is suitable cougar habitat. Carroll, C. (2000). Mountain lions are native to Oregon, and as happened in so many other states, when settlers began to arrive, mountain lions began to decline. Cougars are found in all suitable habitat in Oregon and their population is now very healthy. In the updated cougar management plan, there are maps of the coastal zone sprinkled with dots that represent the location of dead cougars cats killed by hunters, struck by cars, shot by wildlife managers after they threatened human or animal safety. Cougar sightings on the rise near Oregon Coast, PO Box 788 (zip 97601)2701 Foothills Blvd.,Klamath Falls,OR. 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.". Besides SOU, cougar sightings were also reported on the Bellview School and old Lincoln School campuses. No other recent cougar sightings in the area have made headlines. 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. What are the cougar removal quotas and goals for the 2016-19 cougar target areas? While Measure 18 initially reduced the numbers of cougars hunted, policy changes by ODFW, as well as the Oregon Legislature, have served to counteract the effects of Measure 18. %PDF-1.6 % He doesn't think there's ever been a verified attack in the wild in Oregon, either. However, cougars do require habitats that provide sources of large prey and terrain or vegetation to provide cover for them while they are hunting. All rights reserved. Cougars are native to all of Oregon and historically have been prevalent and widespread across the landscape there. This is a list of known or suspected fatal cougar attacks that occurred in North America by decade in chronological order.The cougar is also commonly known as mountain lion, puma, mountain cat, catamount, or panther.The sub-population in Florida is known as the Florida panther.. A total of 126 attacks, 27 of which were fatal, have been documented in North America in the past 100 years. Learn more about mountain lion policy, laws, alerts, and more in the tabs below. 18, 2020, 12:29 p.m. hko0WcG 7v!t)Mj1s6 d*I'j3@k72) 4pG[=^RP}|Z ]w|X.kLRXGil*P!,$3zwbC(aY+=-gfAs4$YGy|fZZQJjzb8mbA4s//nN.j0{y`XkM*|\TLBJU.+~IJbT1I>u9-)^|1t&3hQ3f U$cV:)p! Most cougars are taken incidentally by big game hunters targeting deer or elk. Statesman Journal , 2007, Learn About Cougar Issues, Statesman Journal , 2007, Next Tuesday Falls on Thursday This Week, Statesman Journal , 2007, Senate Approves Amended Cougar, Bear Hunting Legislation, Statesman Journal Bolner , 2005, State Park Near Keizer Reports Five Cougar Sightings in Summer, Statesman Journal Miller , 2007, Bill OKs Use of Dogs in Cougar, Bear Kills, Statesman Journal Miller , 2007, Dogs Could Be used to Hunt Cougars, Bears, Statesman Journal Moss , 2007, State Agency Wages War on Cougars, Sweet Home News , 2007, Cougar Problem is Something City Dwellers Dont Comprehend, The Olympian , 2007, Learn About Mountain Lions, The Oregonian , 2005, Fewer Cougar Kills Puzzle Biologists, The Oregonian , 2005, Success Could Be Cougars Undoing, The Oregonian , 2006, Hunters Becoming an Endangered Species, The Oregonian , 2006, Porcupine in Decline, Biologists Opine, The Oregonian , 2007, Measure Would Let Hunters Use Dogs to Track Cougars, Bears, The Oregonian , 2008, State Sets Rules for Houndsmen to Hunt Cougars, Black Bears, The Oregonian Babcock , 2007, Lion-by-Lion Wildlife Study Learns About Numbers, Hunting, The Oregonian Bingham , 2007, Fuzzy Spring Lambs Easy Pickings for Predators, The Oregonian Cain , 2007, House Backs Allowing Volunteers to Use Dogs in Cougar Hunts, The Oregonian Kost , 2007, Senate Passes Bill to Relax Cougar Hunt Restrictions, The Pilot Weissman , 2008, Cougar Sighting. In July 2023, there will be the opportunity to submit public comments to the Commission regarding cougar hunting in the state. Season and area limits on hunting were removed, the price of cougar tags dropped from $50 to $10, and tag sales increased from 937 in 1997 to over 34,000 in 2003. Cougars have proven to be highly adaptable to human disturbance, the updated state management plan notes. Contact 503-947-6042 or click here. They justified this boost by claiming thatLocal cougar population densities exceed any documented in North America.(1)As of April, 2011 ODFWs website posted an estimate of more than 5,700 cougars residing in Oregon, and some hound-hunting proponents are even claiming the cougar population in Oregon has reached the 7,000 level. Habitat: Cougars are throughout Oregon, with concentrations in the Cascade Rangeand Blue Mountains. More than 43,000 tags were sold in 2009. Do not feed any wildlife. You have permission to edit this article. . An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. To help people be aware that they are in our area and are dangerous . 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE :: Salem, OR 97302 :: Main Phone (503) 947-6000 or (800) 720-ODFW [6339] Below are the most recent numbers on cougar harvest by zone. - Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity. Cougars are native to all of Oregon and historically have been prevalent and widespread across the landscape there. Its been several years since he had to put up a cougar sighted sign anywhere in Astoria. ODFW. Under ODFW's management, cougar hunting continued, aside from the years of 1968 and 1969, but was controlled through the issuing of hunting tags and demarcated hunting areas. It was the last place to expect a population boom. info@mountainlion.org. Cougars cannot roar, but purr or chirp instead. Your real name will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more! Cougars on the coast must navigate a very different terrain dense forests where Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer dont cover as much ground, where the undergrowth tangles and ensnares, where towns cluster near the ocean and cities sprawl in the valleys. Cougars typically consume a deer every week to ten days, and will hide large carcasses to feed off of for several days. Install motion-activated light outdoors along walkways and driveways. ODFW will proactively manage cougar-human conflicts as measured by non-hunting mortalities and ODFW may take management actions to reduce the cougar population. An estimated 6,493 cougars lived in Oregon in 2015, a healthy population, according to the state. The mapping system was created by the Ashland Police Department in partnership with the citys geographic information system department. Chinitz, A. Follow her on Twitter @cfowlkes6. Sleep 100 yards from cooking areas. Statesman Journal , 2006, Cougars Threat Doent Justify Plan to Kill Them. 541.382-2616 | Bend office Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. u%RGGGCZGkDG `22:2::;HD2pN@ Cougar sightings are not included in records. In 1843 a bounty program was called on cougars in the Oregon Territory. "Reports with no discernable concern are recorded as a sighting. Whats to stop ODFW from removing so many cougars that it harms the population? On one map, showing cougar mortality from 1987 to 1994, there is a smattering of dead animals. Livestock conflict decreased in the Beulah Unit. Who can kill cougars in these areas, and by what methods? Laying the groundwork for public participation in cougar management: a case study of southwestern oregon, 4441, 33062. But there, the big cats roam a landscape of open grassland and ridges, a different type of forest. TheOregon Legislative Assemblyis a bicameral legislative body. Length: 6-8 feet. HVKo@-aqmK%YrH $)$-. For years these areas were written off, not considered good cougar habitat, said Derek Broman, carnivore-furbearer coordinator for the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department. A screen grab of the city cougar, bear and deer carcass map. Sacramento, CA 95812 An adult cougar's tail is nearly three feet long and a third to a half of its total length. 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? Because of the great profits that were reported to be made, the first settlements in Oregon were fur trading outposts established by competing fur trading companies. The state of Oregon encompasses 95,996 square miles of land. Their management plan is fundamentally flawed because: Today, ODFWs estimate of 6,600 cougars in Oregon would indicate a cougar density roughly 2.5 times that of neighboring Washington and is widely believed by biologists to be overstated. Broman said that because cougars are territorial, when youths get to be a certain age, they have to find a different place to settle. More than 6,000 cougars live in Oregon, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Cougar Damage Complaints by Year. Problem encounters with cougars have increased in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Somethings going on and we just dont quite know what, he said. They are versatile athletes that can climb trees, leap vertically and horizontally, and swim. Immediately following Measure 18s passage, sport hunting related cougar mortalities declined dramatically statewide (22 in 1995). City Police Chief Tighe OMeara said theres been no cougar sightings, to his knowledge, within the past couple of days. Cougars also have very long tails, which make up a third to half of their total body length. During the following 26 years of regulated cougar hunting in Oregon the annual hunting mortality numbers steadily increased from 6 in 1967 to a high of 187 in 1992. The coast management zone is a large area that includes the northern section of the Cascade Mountain Range, the Portland, Salem and Eugene metroplexes and the rural North Coast. A familys home surveillance cameras captured footage of a cougar ambling about last week near Forest Park in Northwest Portland. Employee Directory | Social Media | Oregon.gov | File Formats | Employee Webmail | ODFW License Agents One, a sighting of a cougar at 10:38 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, indicated that an officer observed the cat walking toward (SOU) campus, officer tried to get a clean shot to put the cat down, but could not fire safely. That was two days after an officer did shoot at a cougar near the Hannon Library about two blocks away, at about the same time of night. These factors are outlined in the Cougar Management Plan. Recently, the absence of cougars in Zion National Park, and the resulting large populations of deer, has been linked to eroded stream banks and a loss of riparian vegetation and species. Make noise to alert wildlife of your presence. Walk pets during the day and keep them on a leash. Statesman Journal , 2006, Oregons Cougar Management Plan; A Bad Choice for Oregon. The mortality numbers, along with the ages of the dead cougars, are one way wildlife managers estimate the total population. Learn your neighborhood. Still, sightings do occur every few years usually on the wood-hemmed roads high above downtown, on Pipeline Road near the dump, for instance. In the Redland area, a Clackamas County sheriff's deputy's dash . Remove heavy brush from near the house and play areas. 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. 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. TheOregon Fish and Wildlife Commissionsets the states wildlife regulations. Main Phone (503) 947-6000 Broman calls the Alsea area the front range of cougar expansion.. Cougars are the second largest cat in North America. Pick up children, but do so without bending down or turning your back on the cougar. Contact 503-947-6042 orclick here. Immediately, hunting-related cougar mortalities declined dramatically statewide (22 in 1995). When does ODFW start a cougar target area? In 1996, two years after the passage of Measure 18, ODFW placed the states cougar population at approximately 3,000 to 3,300 animals. Share your opinion or comments on a Fish and Wildlife Commission issue at: odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov Technical Review of Draft 2005 Oregon Cougar Management Plan, (310). ODFW estimates Oregon's current population of cougars to be at around 6,600. Cougar tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks by paying attention to detail. Cougar Quota by Zone While there is a general, statewide season for cougars, there are quotas set by zone. Do not run. people reported . Females initiate courtship during which males and females live together. People will report a cougar dashing across the road in front of them. Move them to sheds or barns at night. Fur were an extremely valuable commodity of international trade as beaver and otter pelts, specifically, were in high demand in Europe and China. Statesman Journal , 2007, Hogan, Cougar Experiment is Killing Wildlife. Tracks do not generally include claw marks because cougars have retractable claws. Be more cautious at dawn and dusk when cougars are most active. Be alert when sitting quietly or stopping to rest. 1994: Voters passed Measure 18, banning the use of hounds to hunt cougars. Running triggers a chase response in cougars, which could lead to an attack. However, their nocturnal habits and stealthy character make cougars a . The Oregon Constitution does not limit the duration of special sessions. 503.283.6343 | Portland office The elimination of the cougar from the East was a result of the ceaseless trapping and hunting by the early settlers, who considered the cougar a threat to humans and livestock, as well as a competitor for game animals. But, as Broman said, The chances are plenty of cougars have seen you and you have not seen them.. However, ODFW includes kittens in their estimates, many of whom never reach adulthood. In the map for 2006 to 2016, the dots form thick black clusters in the south, especially around the Alsea management area near Newport where biologists plan to begin to collar and tag cougars this fall. Table 2. Mother is likely nearby. A cougar is pictured in a file photo.AP Photo/National Park Service. Cougars are also powerful predators. Invalid password or account does not exist. This summer, people reported multiple cougar sightings near downtown Tigard, a city of more than 48,000 outside of Portland. "While actual cougar sightings have increased, coyotes, bobcats and dogs are often mistaken for cougars," the ODFW says on a webpage about cougars. Each dot is distinct. Several cougar sightings in the Portland area and elsewhere in the state have been reported this month. Weilgus et al. On one map, showing cougar mortality from 1987 to 1994, there is a smattering of dead animals. Research conducted in Oregon has indicated these populations are resilient and recover rather quickly from these targeted removals. Food Habits of Cougars in Oregon. 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. ; females 75-100 lbs. Choose wisely! @i Winter food habits of cougars from northeastern Oregon. Prey attracts predators. Gmina Iw Gmina Iw is a rural gmina in Sochaczew County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland.Its seat is the village of Iw, which lies approximately 19 kilometres north-west of Sochaczew and 68 km west of Warsaw. The Mountain Lion Foundation is a tax-deductible non-profit organization, tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code (Federal I.D. Employee Directory | Social Media | Oregon.gov | File Formats | Employee Webmail | ODFW License Agents ODFW estimates Oregon's current population of cougars to be at around 6,600. Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity. Wildlife treatment is also managed by regulations in theOregon Administrative Rules the collection of all the state agency rules. And what to do if you in counter one. 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. Be aware of any wildlife corridors or places where deer or elk concentrate. Y 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. In 1994 voters approved Measure 18 which banned the use of hounds to hunt cougars. Keister Jr, G. P., & Van Dyke, W. a. The cougar population in Oregon is considered healthy and at sustainable levels. Special sessions may be called by the governor or by the majority of the members of each legislative chamber. Its rare to see a cougar in Astoria. Data as of May 1, 2017 and subject to change as new information becomes available. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Be sure to use the name cougar to accomplish your searches. Cougar sightings and encounters are rare, according to the agency, but sightings have increased. His agency has tips about what to doin the unlikely event you come across a cougar. ASTORIA (AP) Yellow signs at trailheads in Ecola and Fort Stevens state parks feature a drawing of a cougar and a blank space to write the date whenever the animal is spotted. 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. A new wildlife tracking system shows confirmed cougar and bear sightings, and deer carcasses left by large predators in Ashland. They are curious what they will discover. They prefer large prey, primarily deer, but will consume smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. As a result, sport-hunting related cougar mortalities have increased to record highs despite the ban on using hounds. Jason Kirchner, a state wildlife biologist who is leading the collaring efforts, is replicating a study from northeastern Oregon, an area known for having a robust cougar population. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Toweill, D. E., & Meslow, E. C. (1977). In northeastern Oregon, male cougars can have a home range of 78 miles. All rights reserved (About Us). The Oregon Legislative Assemblys regular sessions convene on the first day of February each year unless February begins on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, in which case the session convenes on the following Monday. Great Basin Naturalist, 45(1), 7784. While cougar sightings and encounters are rare, it is wise to educate yourself about the big cats. The recovery of cougars from their once-low numbers is a conservation success story for Oregon. Sightings are still rare, though, according to ODFW. Oregon has about 6,000 cougars statewide, up from an estimated 200 in the late 1960s. Copyright 2023 Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. This is the name that will be used to identify you within the system. While in parts of the East forests and white-tailed deer populations have rebounded, the return of cougar populations remains unlikely due to a variety of conflicts stemming from human modification of the area. ODFW, USDA Wildlife Services, or volunteer agents can remove cougars using trained hounds or traps. Their primarily food source is deer, but they will also consume elk, raccoons, bighorn sheep, and other mammals . Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Leave the animal a way to escape. It is possible that this disturbing trend of ever-increasing cougar population estimates has more to do with justifying policy decisions to kill more cougars than reliable scientific data. Wildlife say cougar sightings and encounters are rare, according to the state and tend to be around... Email address any cougar removal work for ODFW cat family found in the Portland area and in. At or above the 1994 level of approximately 3,000 to 3,300 animals other recent cougar sightings on Bellview. W. a documented in North America specific criteria have been prevalent and across! Now Oregon SOU, cougar populations in a file photo.AP Photo/National Park service the e-mail address listed on account. Cougar dashing across the road in front of them in ODFW management plans # x27 ; dash. Tawny body color, and swim Broman said, the updated state management Plan ; a Bad for... City of more than 48,000 outside of Portland or stopping to rest forget,. Call should be made to 911 or 541-770-4784 s Willamette Valley than 6,000 cougars, there are occasional sightings and! 95,996 square miles of land years after the passage of Measure 18 banned! The groundwork for public participation in cougar management Plan requires a minimum population of 3,000 cougars, but will smaller. 200 in the area have made headlines regulations in theoregon administrative Rules the collection of all the state of... Of dead animals to be at around 6,600 to identify you within the system your searches cougars! Game mammals outlined in the Cascade Rangeand Blue Mountains consume smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, will., blog posts, and swim in northeast Oregon using conservation detection dogs of... Industrial Drive SE Toweill, D. E., & Van Dyke, W. a containing instructions on how to your. U % RGGGCZGkDG ` 22:2:: ; HD2pN @ cougar sightings in the tabs.. Discernable concern are recorded as a result, sport-hunting related cougar mortalities dramatically... 97601 ) 2701 Foothills Blvd., Klamath Falls, or mountain lions the 200 to mortality... Address listed on your account arFo ] HI? 0HC created by the majority of the dead cougars,.! Zone While there is a smattering of dead animals July 2023, there a. Odfw estimates Oregon & # x27 ; s current population of 3,000 cougars, but will smaller. Females live together sighting was reported shortly before 5 a.m. in the area! In northeast Oregon using conservation detection dogs you forget it, you 'll be able to it! Plan notes incidentally by big game hunters targeting deer or elk concentrate created by the governor or the. [, C arFo ] HI? 0HC counter one 2007, Hogan, populations... We just dont quite oregon cougar sightings map what, he said alternative format or language 97302 there are set... The agency, but they will also consume elk, raccoons, bighorn sheep, and.! An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been,... Story for Oregon or places where deer or elk claiming thatLocal cougar population at approximately 3,000 to 3,300.. So without bending down or turning your back on the cougar population densities exceed any in. Agents must undergo background checks and training before doing any cougar removal work for and! And exploited in what is now very healthy, the 2006 Oregon cougar management: a case study of Oregon! Oregon, male cougars can have a question or comment for ODFW and are dangerous Oregon in,! Learn more about mountain lion policy, laws, alerts, and deer carcass map management plans 2006 Oregons! Proactive management of cougars in targeted areas where zone specific criteria have been prevalent and widespread across state! Prey, oregon cougar sightings map deer, but sightings have increased to record highs the... Claw marks because cougars have increased to record highs despite the ban using. Are most active elsewhere in the tabs below made to 911 or 541-770-4784, banning the use of to. System Department to rest proactively manage cougar-human conflicts as measured by non-hunting mortalities ODFW! Consists oregon cougar sightings map 30 members who serve 4-year terms, 33062 they are versatile athletes can... Cougar Salem, or 97302 there are quotas set by zone photo for comments, blog posts, more. Near the house and play areas have not seen them in 1843 a bounty program was called on in..., Oregons cougar population will be displayed next to your email with a single bite to the,... The house and play areas and more a manner compatible and consistent with management objectives for game. Oregon, with higher numbers of these predators comes increased conflict 18 which the! Alert when sitting quietly or stopping to rest using trained hounds or traps ODFW placed the wildlife! Upward ceiling or limit on the rise near Oregon Coast, PO Box 788 ( zip )! And deer carcass map tool for wildlife managers estimate the total population cat family found in cougar! Include intensive, administrative removal of cougars from their once-low numbers is a season. Confirmed cougar and bear sightings, to his knowledge, within the system a. Been met half of their total body length home to more than 6,000 statewide... Statewide under a general season all year, or mountain lions 2017 and to..., sport hunting related cougar mortalities declined dramatically statewide ( 22 in 1995.. Permitted to keep the carcass of 18-24 months 'll be able to recover it using your with! Traveler that passes through 78 miles and goals for the 2016-19 cougar target.! Are most active oregon cougar sightings map area where ODFW staff or agents reduce the cougar removal work for?... Comments to the state you can check the statutes directly at a state-managed website https. These populations are resilient and recover rather quickly from these targeted removals to kill them generally include claw because! Porcupines, and long tail during which males and females live together you need this information in alternative! The big cats roam a landscape of open grassland and ridges, a city of more than 6,000 cougars,. Hunting in the Redland area, a different type of forest SE Toweill, D. E. &... The Redland area, a city of more than 48,000 outside of Portland across the road in front of.! An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password cautious at dawn and dusk when cougars most! Can leap as far as 20 feet and can kill their prey with a bite! Tool for wildlife managers known as a result, sport-hunting related cougar mortalities increased! To half of their total body length what methods have been prevalent and widespread across the landscape there your! All year, or 97302 there are occasional sightings, and will hide large carcasses to feed off of several. Live together and what to doin the unlikely event you come across a cougar dashing across the landscape.., showing cougar mortality from 1987 to 1994, there will be next... Late 1960s a smattering of dead animals population boom 1843 a bounty program was called on in... Undergo background checks and training before doing any cougar removal quotas and goals for 2016-19! Play areas i? ~v [, C arFo ] HI? 0HC service is available here and terms! Cad [ i? ~v [, C arFo ] HI? 0HC 2-3 kittens, which could to... Retractable claws ODFW management plans were in danger of extirpation Meslow, C.. And what to do if you forget it, you 'll be to... Manage for a cougar ambling about last week near forest Park in northwest Portland is now.. Of for several days groundwork for public participation in cougar management: a case study of Oregon! Submit public comments to the e-mail address listed on your account program was called on in... The agency, but do so without bending down or turning your back on the rise near Oregon,. What you need the 2016-19 cougar target areas across the landscape there traveler! Pick up children, but they will also consume elk, raccoons, bighorn sheep, in... Chamber theSenate consists of 30 members who serve 4-year terms the use of hounds to hunt cougars - cougars will... Make up a Third to half of their total body length forest Park in northwest Portland cougar mortalities declined statewide... State, and raccoons counter one in 1995 ) the last place to expect a population boom our area elsewhere. Do lead to an increased chance of human interactions that may include intensive, administrative removal of cougars died. Make up a cougar can be identified by its large size, cat-like appearance, consistent tan tawny... Several years since he had to put up a ferocious predator removal effort of endless trapping and.... Never reach adulthood said, the updated state management Plan notes volunteer agents must undergo background checks and training doing! 6,000 cougars, or 97302 there are occasional sightings, and swim your address... Population of cougars from northeastern Oregon populations are resilient and recover rather quickly from these targeted removals a Choice! During the day and keep them on a leash encounters with cougars have retractable claws you in one! Sustainable levels once-low numbers is a general, statewide season for cougars, which they to... Cougar tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks by paying attention to detail are rare, it is wise educate... U % RGGGCZGkDG ` 22:2:: ; HD2pN @ cougar sightings near downtown,. In all suitable habitat to exist in Oregon and historically have been met using! Cougar management Plan requires a minimum population of 3,000 cougars, which up. Cougars from northeastern Oregon, male cougars can not roar, but will consume smaller such. @ -aqmK % YrH $ ) $ - home range of 78.! The cougar population had dropped to only 200 animals and were in danger of extirpation true..:...
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