Mountain lion sightings are a rare treat

The mountain lion is one of Idaho’s most spectacular wild animals. In the Idaho Panhandle, we are living in prime lion habitat, yet most of us will never experience the thrill of seeing one. At the time of the rare sighting, a person often feels more “alarm” than “thrill.” The difference lies in the setting and the circumstances.

With large tracts of wilderness and unoccupied public land, Idaho has lots of habitat for mountain lions. In fact, nearly the entire state is considered occupied lion habitat. I spent three years as a fishing guide in Yellowstone National Park. Despite backpacking the most remote parts of Yellowstone, I never saw a lion there.

The first two lions I saw in the wild were observed from helicopters during aerial deer counts in southern Idaho. I also saw one bounding across the interstate late at night near Pocatello.

The most exciting lion sighting for me took place while spring turkey and bear hunting the rugged ridge between the Salmon and Snake rivers near Whitebird. I was with a co-worker and we were walking single file on a game trail. A lion was crouched down less than 40 yards away and right in our path. We stood motionless for several minutes and watched as the lion stared at us, slowly moving its ears around as it tried to pick up any sounds. As we stepped into the open, the lion silently leaped sideways and ran up the mountain into thick brush. It was an experience like no other and one I will always remember.

Attitudes about mountain lions and other large predators have changed significantly over the past century. Lions were considered threats to civilization in the late 1800s and early 1900s and were systematically killed by government and private interests. Bounties were paid by the state for dead lions until 1958.

Following decades of uncontrolled harvest, mountain lion numbers declined in many of the more accessible areas. Mountain lions became classified as a big game species in 1972, thereby giving the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Department the opportunity to regulate seasons and harvest.

A short season was established in some parts of Idaho. Lion hunters were allowed to take only one lion each year. A mountain lion tag has been required since 1975.

These controls, along with an increasing prey base of deer and elk, enabled lion populations to grow and hunting seasons to be expanded.

To manage mountain lions, biologists must maintain suitable habitat and balance the number of animals taken by hunters with the size and productivity of the lion population. Estimating population size is difficult because of the secretive nature of the species. Studies in which lions are radio collared and tracked provide the best information, but are expensive and impractical on a large scale.

Hunting activity is monitored by officers in the field. Telephone surveys of a percentage of lion tag holders are conducted after each hunting season. Also, all hunters harvesting a lion are required to bring the lion in to be checked. This enables a harvest report including age and sex to be recorded.

To improve data gathering efforts, Fish and Game has increased the number of hunters surveyed after each hunting season. Research projects are being conducted in several western states to gather information on lion productivity, survival rates and vulnerability to hunting methods.

With scientific management, the mountain lion will continue to thrive in Idaho and provide continued opportunity for sport hunting and wildlife watching for those fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to see one.

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Phil Cooper is a wildlife conservation educator with Idaho Fish and Game in the Panhandle Region.