- Our Solution
Adaptive Management Plan – Source/Sink Approach
An Adaptive Management Plan is an approach implemented successfully by several states with similar land, wildlife and terrain to those of Texas. If used as a solution, this approach will be implemented with or without the involvement of TPWD.
This approach identifies:
- Sink areas, such as sheep and goat areas, are areas that require predator control. The objective (the need) is to reduce the number of Mountain Lions in those particular areas.
- Source areas involve minimum human interference, allowing Mountain Lions to reproduce naturally.
- Stable areas are those where hunting/removal is allowed while maintaining a stable population of Mountain Lions. These areas will also allow natural dispersal of Mountain Lions.
An Example (does not represent Texas Mountain Lion Habitat):
Adapted from Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Mountain Lion Management Plan
Considerations:
- An area identified as a sink area will not benefit from having a source area adjacent to it because dispersing animals will enter those (sink area) lands looking to establish a territory.
- Therefore, a sink area should be located adjacent (as much as possible) to stable areas.
- Dispersing Mountain Lions from a source area should have secure dispersal routes, and therefore will benefit by having stable areas adjacent to them.
- Landowners vary in their attitudes toward Mountain Lions, and the actions of one landowner can contradict the objectives of another landowner.
- By identifying the specific needs of the different areas, we can address the basis for predator control, minimize human - predator interaction and decrease livestock predation. This will also ensure a healthy and viable population of Mountain Lions in the state.
Predator species such as Mountain Lions cannot be managed by individual landowners. There should be a statewide plan, whether through a state government agency or through other means, to ensure a stable and viable population of Mountain Lions in Texas. |
