December 2022 - 36

Bedoian records information at a mountain lion cache in the Casper Region. At cache sites, like this one with an elk calf, she collects biological samples and documents observations.
(Photo by Tracie Binkerd/WGFD)
The hike to these areas can be
challenging, but the work doesn't
end with the walk. If the biologist
or technician, like Bedoian, finds a
carcass in good enough condition,
they collect biological samples
- and it isn't an easy task.
When Bedoian locates a cached kill, it
can take effort to maneuver the animal into
a position so she can get the samples she
needs. It can be a challenge to move an adult
deer or an elk calf by yourself. Then she uses
tools to collect tissues that can be tested for
CWD, including lymph nodes, tonsils and
obex - tissue near the spinal cord where it
enters the brain.
Technicians don't limit themselves to
tissues known to have CWD prions. They
gather as much evidence as possible, never
knowing what will apply to this study or perhaps
have implications for other researchers.
Technicians collect bone marrow, muscle
tissue, scat, ears and other biological samples.
These items can be used to evaluate the
animal's overall health and genes and could
even be used to develop or assess other CWD
detection methods.
They also gather evidence of how the prey
died, evaluating whether it was killed by a
mountain lion or perhaps died of another
cause and was scavenged by the cat. This
could demonstrate if mountain lions kill
more animals with CWD or perhaps feed
on them after they've already died.
" We can collect a lot of information in
one go, " said Clapp. " The data we can provide
for other research has been massive. It's
nice to focus on our own research while still
36 | December 2022
optimizing our data and answering questions
while tracking a mountain lion. "
CHALLENGE OF COEXISTENCE
Collaring cats and tracking down cached
prey is only part of the struggle researchers
have to overcome. As a large carnivore,
mountain lions can induce strong feelings
in people.
" Mountain lions are an animal that people
seem to love or hate, " Binfet said. " It is a
sensitive issue. Then when you consider they
prey on mule deer, some people really want
any cause of deer mortality to be eliminated. "
These strong feelings about mountain
lions can complicate a project that often
relies on landowners to allow access to kill
sites. The project would never have gotten off
the ground without landowners who allow
researchers to collar mountain lions on their
property and provide access when a potential
kill site is identified.
" We really want to thank landowners
who have made this possible, " Clapp said.
" It takes a lot of sacrifice from them to allow
continuous access from our employees who
go into the field to collect data daily. "
Binfet echoed those thoughts.
" We really couldn't do this without the
landowners who are participating in this
study and allowing researchers on their land.

December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2022