We are conducting surveys, monitoring, and research on cougars (puma, mountain lion) on the Ladder Ranch in south-central New Mexico. Here, cougars are of particular interest given their effects on state-endangered desert bighorn sheep and other valuable big game. These projects are also resources for training and education, most notably through the Cougar Field Workshop.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007


We have, or had, another cougar on the mountain. A new camera was set at Summer Spring in the north central part of the range on the 4th of March. While checking this camera on the 12th I discovered the photo above. The photo was taken on the 9th of March at 10:41 pm. I was able to find one track that was clear enough for an accurate heel width measurement (a common bit of information used to determine the sex of the cougar that made the track). The width was 58mm. Unfortunately, due to the paucity of tracks on this rocky substrate is was not possible to determine whether the measurement came from a front or hind paw. In either case the track, given its width, was mostly likely made by a male.

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