South Dakota to stop collaring cougars; will now use only DNA for research

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks has stopped collaring cougars for research and will now rely solely on DNA for their “mark-recapture” population studies. SDGFP says the new method is cheaper and more efficient, but it is also worth noting that it is far less invasive for the animal.

In recent years, collared cats from South Dakota have been tracked dispersing into Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, Canada, Oklahoma, and even as far as Connecticut. South Dakota’s cougar population remains a very significant source for recolonization of the midwest and eastern states.

Full story: http://www.bhpioneer.com/article_03ac6b94-abc3-11e4-91bb-1772f872cc4d.html