Mountain lion count extended

WENATCHEE— Scientists need one more year of study to accurately estimate the number of mountain lions in north-central Washington, a state specialist said.

Managers with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife think the cougar population is declining, while some north-central Washington residents insist otherwise. Residents blame a 1996 citizens initiative that bans hunting mountain lions with hounds.

Last winter, the state paid experienced houndsmen to chase and tree mountains lions north of the Colville Indian Reservation to gather a skin sample for DNA analysis. The sample is collected by shooting the cougars with a dart gun.

Rich Beausoleil, state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, said the study will continue in the same areas next winter.

“There’s a real good chance that next year, we’ll have a good population estimate,” he said.

When enough data is gathered, researchers will use a computer program to estimate the number of mountain lions in the area, Beausoleil said. The program calculates population by identifying how many of the same cats keep getting caught.