Thesis
Effects of remedial sport hunting on cougar complaints and livestock depredations
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103429
Abstract
I assessed a set of variables that influenced cougar reports and livestock depredations as collected by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. I also assessed the effectiveness of remedial sport harvest in reducing cougar reports and depredations. The number of complaint reports, livestock depredations, cougars harvested, estimated cougar populations, human population and livestock populations were calculated from 2005- 2010 (5.5yrs) for all counties and GMUs in Washington. This data was then analyzed using GLMs negative binomial distribution to determine if there was a relationship between the number of reports or depredations in the current year with the number of cougars harvested, year, human population, and livestock populations the previous year. I found that verified reports were positively associated with human population (p=0.022), cougar population (p<0.001) cougars harvested (p<0.001) and negatively associated with year (p=0.005). I also determined that livestock depredations were positively related to human population (p=0.044), cougar population (p=0.005), large livestock (p<0.001), and cougars harvested the previous year (p=0.003). Contrary to the belief that remedial sport hunting will reduce cougar reports and depredations my study found that remedial hunting was associated with increased reports and livestock depredations.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of remedial sport hunting on cougar complaints and livestock depredations
- Creators
- Kaylie Anne Peebles
- Contributors
- Robert B. Wielgus (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, College of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525373301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis