Cougars (\(Puma concolor\)) are Oregon’s largest native cat species, a solitary predator that plays a significant role in the state’s forest and mountain ecosystems. Accurately monitoring the population size of this wide-ranging animal is complex, yet the data is paramount for effective wildlife management. Understanding the number and distribution of cougars helps state agencies balance the species’ ecological needs with concerns for public safety and livestock protection.
Oregon’s Current Cougar Population Estimate
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) estimates the statewide cougar population to be in the range of 6,000 to 6,600 animals. This figure is a population model output, not a precise field count, and includes both adults and juveniles.
This population level represents a significant recovery from the mid-1960s, when the cougar population was estimated to be as low as 200 animals after decades of bounty hunting. The current estimate is used as a benchmark for management decisions, although its accuracy is a subject of ongoing discussion. ODFW’s management strategy is designed to maintain a self-sustaining population.
Methods Used for Population Assessment
Because cougars are solitary, elusive, and occupy vast territories, a simple census is practically impossible and cost-prohibitive across the entire state. ODFW relies on a combination of scientific techniques and statistical modeling to generate its population estimates. The primary method uses a deterministic population model developed in the early 2000s that incorporates data on cougar densities, habitat suitability, and known mortality rates across different management zones.
To refine the density inputs for this model, ODFW utilizes non-invasive sampling methods, such as collecting cougar scat for DNA analysis. Trained conservation detection dogs are employed to locate scat samples, which are analyzed to genetically identify individual cougars. This genetic data allows researchers to use spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models to estimate the density of cougars in a specific area, which is then extrapolated to larger regions.
Researchers also use GPS and radio telemetry collars to gather information on cougar survival rates, kill rates, and movement patterns, which are necessary inputs for the predictive population models. Modeling also involves analyzing harvest data; the proportion of adult females in the total known cougar mortality is used as an indicator of whether the population is stable, increasing, or decreasing.
Geographic Concentration and Habitat
Cougars are distributed throughout Oregon, but their density is not uniform across the landscape. The highest concentrations of cougars are found in the rugged, forested regions that offer dense cover and abundant prey. Specifically, the Cascade Mountains, which run north to south through the state, and the Blue Mountains in the northeastern part of Oregon are recognized as areas with elevated cougar populations.
The preferred habitat includes canyons and mountainous terrain that offer a reliable food source, primarily deer, followed by elk. Cougar activity is also notably high in southwestern Oregon, where the habitat is similarly rugged and mountainous. Conversely, regions like the High Desert of southeastern Oregon contain lower cougar densities.
As both human and cougar populations have grown, cougars have begun to expand their range into areas once considered less optimal, including the urban-rural interface. This expansion has led to increased sightings in northwest Oregon, occasionally reaching the suburbs surrounding the Portland metropolitan area. This trend highlights the cougar’s adaptability and the increasing overlap between their territory and human development.
State Management and Oversight
The state’s cougar management strategy, overseen by ODFW, focuses on maintaining a sustainable population while addressing conflicts with humans and livestock. Cougar hunting is regulated statewide under a general season, with a quota system used to manage the harvest within specific zones. Since 1994, a state ballot measure has prohibited the public use of dogs for sport hunting cougars, a restriction that remains in effect.
While public hunters cannot use dogs, ODFW personnel, law enforcement, and certified agents retain the authority to use specialized methods, including hounds, for official management actions. These actions are typically triggered by specific conflicts, such as livestock depredation or public safety concerns. When a cougar poses a direct risk to public safety or exhibits repeated aggressive behavior, ODFW may authorize its humane removal or euthanasia.
Landowners experiencing livestock damage have the right to kill a cougar without a permit, provided the incident is reported to ODFW and the carcass is turned in for biological sampling. ODFW also focuses heavily on public education, providing guidelines for living safely in “cougar country,” which includes tips like securing pets and livestock at night and eliminating attractants like food and dense cover near homes.