In this paper we examine practical and theoretical aspects of the study design and data analysis of a mountain lion track survey. A survey route should consist of 64-96 km of dusty dirt roads or snow, resurveyed periodically. Roads closed to traffic, or roads with logging traffic or other frequent vehicle traffic are not acceptable. Of the three choices of vehicles for the survey, pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles or motorcycles, the latter offers advantages of economy, maneuverability and superior visibility of tracking surfaces. Train personnel in motorcycle operation, track identification and track tracing techniques prior to the survey. Schedule surveys when dust conditions or roads are optimum, but prior to hunting or hound training seasons, starting shortly after sunrise. Two trackers ride motorcycles at 4.8-8.0 km per hour, each surveying half of the route. Document any mountain lion tracks found by photographs and by tracings using plate glass and transparent film. At the track site record heel pad width and length for all tracks, odometer reading, road condition rating, soil surface type, depth of surface layer and habitat name. Optimize finding tracks by surveying during periods of optimum light condition (early to mid-morning), riding the motorcycle so as to keep tracks between the observer and sun, being alert for visual cues such as flattening or color change of tracking surfaces and paying particular attention to potential mountain lion travel routes. Distinguish tracks of individual mountain lions by size, shape, angle patterns, on-site evidence and gaits. Use a decision matrix when assigning track sets to individual mountain lions. Different amounts of judgement may be accepted for different purposes. The number of track sets may be more useful than the number of lions for statistical comparisons. Different route and home range patterns provide different sampling probabilities, making comparison of different areas invalid. Research is needed to quantify the variation in the tracks of individual mountain lions in different soil and surface conditions and the variation in the tracking and survey sampling techniques.
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