KALISPELL — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists and experienced houndsmen will be conducting field work this winter south of Libby throughout the Cabinet Mountains to help estimate the number and density of mountain lions in the area. The work is part of a statewide research strategy to monitor and manage Montana’s lion populations.
The research is scheduled to run from Dec. 1 through mid-April 2026. FWP’s mountain lion monitoring and management strategy, adopted in 2019, uses genetic samples to make periodic population estimates of lions in different management ecoregions of the state. FWP is in its seventh year of this new population monitoring strategy, and this year’s work will start the second round of estimates conducted in the northwest lion ecoregion, focused on FWP Region 1.
To collect data, FWP biologists and local houndsmen use trained dogs to track, tree, and biopsy dart mountain lions to take DNA samples that will be combined with other information to help biologists estimate lion numbers. In effort to improve our population models we will be collaring 10 individuals this winter injunction with our genetic-based monitoring project.
Hunter harvest data, including DNA from lion management units 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 120, 121, 122, 123, and 124, will also be collected this winter. Hunter-harvested lions taken from one of these areas will have genetic samples taken when the lion is checked-in by FWP.
Over time, FWP will be able to use these population estimates, along with more than 25 years of field research data and annual harvest information to guide lion management decisions. This monitoring program will improve Montana’s ability to understand the effects of lion harvest and help biologists to manage lion numbers at levels that maintain viable populations that remain in balance with other wildlife species and various public interests.
For more information, contact FWP field research lead Ashley Hodge at Ashley.hodge@mt.gov
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Photo credit: seread from Getty Images
