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Location
Jackson, Mississippi
Start Date
5-11-1995 12:00 AM
Description
Prey selection by mountain lions (Felis concolor) in the Aravaipa-Klondyke area (2,000 km2) in southeastern Arizona was studied from February 1991 through September 1993. Overall diet from frequency of occurrence as determined from 370 scats was: 48% deer (white-tailed and mule deer combined), 34% cattle, 17% javelina, 6% rabbit (cottontail and jackrabbit), 4% rodent, and 2% desert bighorn. Using a correction factor developed by Ackerman et al. (1984), we also estimated percent biomass and proportion of individuals killed. With respect to biomass consumed, cattle was 44%, deer 40%, javelina 10.9%, rabbits 2.9%, and rodents 0.02%. Based on weights of prey consumed, proportion of individuals eaten changed to rabbits 52.7%, deer 16.3%, rodents 12%, javelinas 10% cattle 8%, and desert bighorn 0.5%. Comparisons with availability as determined from four separate four-day double-count helicopter surveys found that lions selected calves (ate more than expected based on availability alone), killed and ate less deer than expected, and javelina as would be expected.
Recommended Citation
Cunningham, S. C. (1995). Prey availability and selection by mountain lions in the Aravaipa-Klondyke area of Arizona. In Armstrong, J. B. (Ed.), The Seventh Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (p. 130). Jackson, MS: Mississippi State University.
Included in
Prey Availability and Selection by Mountain Lions in the Aravaipa-Klondyke Area of Arizona
Jackson, Mississippi
Prey selection by mountain lions (Felis concolor) in the Aravaipa-Klondyke area (2,000 km2) in southeastern Arizona was studied from February 1991 through September 1993. Overall diet from frequency of occurrence as determined from 370 scats was: 48% deer (white-tailed and mule deer combined), 34% cattle, 17% javelina, 6% rabbit (cottontail and jackrabbit), 4% rodent, and 2% desert bighorn. Using a correction factor developed by Ackerman et al. (1984), we also estimated percent biomass and proportion of individuals killed. With respect to biomass consumed, cattle was 44%, deer 40%, javelina 10.9%, rabbits 2.9%, and rodents 0.02%. Based on weights of prey consumed, proportion of individuals eaten changed to rabbits 52.7%, deer 16.3%, rodents 12%, javelinas 10% cattle 8%, and desert bighorn 0.5%. Comparisons with availability as determined from four separate four-day double-count helicopter surveys found that lions selected calves (ate more than expected based on availability alone), killed and ate less deer than expected, and javelina as would be expected.