CAPTURING PUMAS WITH FOOT-HOLD SNARES

Abstract

We evaluated using foot-hold snares to capture desert-dwelling pumas (Puma concolor) to inform other researchers of the efficacy of this method. During 1985-1995, we snared 107 individual pumas 209 times. Overall capture success was 1 puma/193 snare days. Initially, males and females were equally susceptible to capture. However, females in particular became snare-shy as they gained experience with snares. Snares were most efficient when set at, in descending order, puma kills, scavenged carcasses, puma scrapes, lures, and on puma travel ways. Snaring was a relatively safe method to capture pumas. Life-threatening injuries occurred in 2.4% of total puma captures. Capture by snares affected the movements of males <2 days post-capture, and had relatively little effect on movements of females. We also caught 89 non-target animals in snares; 16.9% died. Modifications of snares and snare-setting protocols reduced injuries to pumas and capture of non-target animals. Our use of foot-hold snares produced fewer deaths to pumas than occurred during most other intensive studies that used trained dogs.