Mountain lion population monitoring planned for Gallatin Range this winter

BOZEMAN – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists and experienced houndsmen will be conducting field work this winter in the Gallatin Range south of Bozeman to help estimate the number and density of mountain lions in the area.

The research is scheduled to begin in early December and last through mid-April as part of a statewide effort to monitor and manage Montana’s lion populations.

To collect data, FWP biologists and local houndsmen will use trained dogs to track and tree mountain lions. They’ll use darts to capture small tissue samples to submit for genetic analysis. This will be combined with genetic samples from hunter-harvested lions to help biologists estimate lion numbers. Lions won’t be sedated, collared or tagged during this survey effort.

This research comes from FWP’s mountain lion monitoring and management strategy adopted in 2019, which prescribes using genetic samples to make periodic population estimates of lions in different management ecoregions of the state. FWP is in its fifth year of this population monitoring strategy.

Over time, FWP will be able to use these population estimates, along with more than 25 years of field research data and annual harvest information, to guide lion management decisions. This monitoring program is helping improve Montana’s ability to understand the effects of lion harvest. It is also helping biologists manage and maintain viable lion populations in balance with other wildlife species and various public interests.

For more information, contact FWP field research lead Alissa Anderson at Alissa.Anderson@mt.gov.