This proposed contract expands upon work conducted under contracts #5004037 and #5004593 between SANDAG and the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center to study mountain lions and their habitat use and movement patterns in San Diego County for conservation purposes. Work under this contract will help to address connectivity and survival threats for mountain lions, other wildlife, livestock, and humans by creating guidance for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, improving wildlife connectivity, and reducing mortality of livestock, mountain lions, and other wildlife. Task 1: Conduct highway crossing assessments; Task 2: Test Lion hazing and deterrent devices; Task 3: Write final report.
SDMMP13 Mountain Lion Research, Monitoring, and Management
Mountain lion
Winston Vickers
University of California, Davis
Emily Perkins
Winston Vickers
Goal: Enhance and expand areas occupied by mountain lion in San Diego County in large interconnected blocks (>1,000 acres) of suitable natural vegetation surrounded by a limited number of high use roads, and increase connectivity (and reduce potential road mortality) between occupied and suitable habitat areas to allow expansion and movement of mountain lion occurrences within San Diego County and adjacent counties to increase effective population size to sustainable levels and work to reduce depredation on livestock to ensure persistence in the MSPA over the long-term (>100 years).
Management units: 5, 8, 9, 10
Beginning in 2017, support efforts by UC Davis Wildlife Health Center and others to test the effectiveness of various methods to deter mountain lions and other native predators from preying on livestock/domestic animals in locations where depredation permits have been issued in recent past, with the goal of reducing depredation permits by 50%.
| Action | Statement | Action status | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEV-1 | Research existing predator deterrent systems for their applicability to southern California wildlife communities. | in progress | Mountain Lion Road Crossing and Deterrent Methods Evaluations |
| DEV-2 | Implement quantitative pilot study to evaluate effectiveness of various methods in deterring native predators from taking livestock. | in progress | Mountain Lion Road Crossing and Deterrent Methods Evaluations |
| DEV-3 | From these studies, establish a set of "Best Practices" for protecting livestock from native predators. | in progress | Mountain Lion Road Crossing and Deterrent Methods Evaluations |
| DEV-4 | Support efforts in the development of outreach materials to livestock owners on proper husbandry and native predator deterrence techniques to protect livestock from native predators. | in progress | Mountain Lion Road Crossing and Deterrent Methods Evaluations |
| DEV-5 | Submit project metadata, data, and BMPs to MSP web portal. | in progress | Mountain Lion Road Crossing and Deterrent Methods Evaluations |
| Criteria | Deadline year |
|---|---|
| Best Practices for Reducing native predator take of domestic livestock developed and disseminated to landowners. | 2021 |
| Threat Name | Threat Code |
|---|---|
| Human uses of the Preserves | HUMUSE |
| Urban development | URBDEV |
Goal: Enhance and expand areas occupied by mountain lion in San Diego County in large interconnected blocks (>1,000 acres) of suitable natural vegetation surrounded by a limited number of high use roads, and increase connectivity (and reduce potential road mortality) between occupied and suitable habitat areas to allow expansion and movement of mountain lion occurrences within San Diego County and adjacent counties to increase effective population size to sustainable levels and work to reduce depredation on livestock to ensure persistence in the MSPA over the long-term (>100 years).
Management units: 5, 8, 9, 10
In 2017-2018, guided by information from telemetry studies and mountain lion movement modelling, prioritize potential mountain lion crossing locations for SR 78, SR 76, SR 79, I-15, and other priority roads. For each priority crossing location, conduct detailed linkage assessments to identify existing impediments to successful crossings and recommendations for wildlife crossing infrastructure improvement (culvert maintenance, undercrossing construction, fencing, etc.) and habitat/land protection needs.
| Action | Statement | Action status | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVAL-1 | Use telemetry and modelling data to inform important wildlife crossing locations along SR 78, SR 76 and SR 79 where follow up surveys will be conducted to identify specific locations and recommendations for wildlife crossing infrastructure improvements. | in progress | Mountain Lion Connectivity and Genetics Study- North San Diego County |
| EVAL-2 | At each location, detailed field assessments will be performed to identify existing impediments to successful crossings, specific recommendations for wildlife crossing infrastructure improvements, and land protection needs in the area defined in order to provide for long term successful connectivity between protected lands for mountain lions and other wildlife. | in progress | Mountain Lion Road Crossing and Deterrent Methods Evaluations |
| EVAL-3 | Project metadata, data, and reports submitted to MSP web portal. | in progress | Mountain Lion Connectivity and Genetics Study- North San Diego County |
| Criteria | Deadline year |
|---|---|
| By 2019, linkage evaluations completed for mountain lion crossing locations for SR 76, SR 79, SR 78 and other priority roads | 2021 |
| Threat Name | Threat Code |
|---|---|
| Human uses of the Preserves | HUMUSE |
| Loss of connectivity | LOSCON |
| Urban development | URBDEV |