Idaho Bear, Cougar Populations Down

Thu., Sept. 21, 2000

North Idaho’s bear population is down a little from that of last year, says Jim Hayden, Idaho Fish and Game Department regional wildlife manager in Coeur d’Alene.

The population peaked in the fall of 1998. Since that time, biologists have recorded a substantial drop in the bear population.

“There was a poor huckleberry crop in 1998, he said. “We had a record bear harvest that year because the bears were moving a lot to find food and they became more vulnerable to hunters.

A high percentage of the cubs died during the 1998-99 winter. In 1999, female bears were in poor condition and many failed to produce cubs.

Cougar numbers also appeared to be down, said Hayden, noting that hunters probably will kill only about 130 cougars in the Panhandle this year.

“The mountain lion population peaked in 1997, he said. “The population has declined since that time.

The mountain lion kill has ranged from 130 to 200 a year over the last several years, he said. Ten years ago, however, hunters killed only 30 to 40 lions a year.

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