Mountain Lion Ecology and Threats From Trespass Marijuana Cultivation Within Their Habitats

Integral Ecology Research Center is collaborating with the Hoopa Tribe to lead an investigation in mountain lion ecology and threats from trespass marijuana cultivation within their habitats. This project will assist in better understanding contaminant threats to mountain lions and other top carnivores from prey resources affected by the toxicants used at cultivation sites. We will be investigating not only the health of these elusive apex predators but also the health and condition of the prey species they are consuming. IERC is coupling this project with a regional mid-sized to large carnivore population study using scats surveys and exciting new genetic molecular methods to determine relative population densities in relation to cultivation site densities across northwestern California.

Principal Investigators: Dr. Greta Wengert, Dr. Mourad Gabriel and J. Mark Higley (Hoopa Tribe)

Collaborator: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Investigations Laboratory

 

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