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, January 28, 2009

Below are two photos of LM1 from December. You can see in the top photo that he has a bit of belly fat. This cougar is in great shape. We'll be working to have him recollared in the next couple of months.




Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Below are the first remote camera photos of LF1 that we have recorded since she was recollared in November. What is most interesting about these few photos is that she has been traveling throughout our camera grid for most of the last three months without detection. LM1 on the other hand, has been photographed at least 10 times over this same period. The bottom photo is an extreme closeup of LF1's neck and collar. It almost appears as if she rubbed her cheek against the camera.


First remote camera photos of LF1 taken since she was recollared in November.

Monday, January 19, 2009

The map above is color coded for elevation, with the lower elevations in blue towards the right side of the map and higher elevations in green and yellow. This is a path map of all 1,061 locations we have thus far collected for LF1. Of course, the yellow lines do not actually represent the path that LF1 took between points, but they do serve to illustrate the order in which she moved between points, and perhaps more importantly they show where her movements have been concentrated. She has been collared for 11 months as of today.