Presented by Justin Dellinger, Carnivore Biologist , UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine | Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center.

Increasing human populations and expanding development across the globe necessitate progress in monitoring populations and understanding factors limiting population persistence. California has the largest human population of any state and yet half of the state is considered suitable mountain lion habitat. The juxtaposition or intertwining of a large human population, with extensive development, and areas that support large carnivores creates many unique conservation and management challenges. Ensuring viable mountain lion populations exist in such a situation requires an in-depth understanding of multiple aspects of mountain lion ecology as well as mountain lion-human interactions. Aspects of mountain lion genetics, demographics, habitat use and connectivity, and conflict and coexistence will be discussed as well as how these issues relate with one another. This overview will help provide material for thoughtful consideration of topics such as what metrics are sufficient for determining the conservation status of a wildlife population.

Bio Sketch
I’m originally from western North Carolina and grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. I’ve done research on red wolf ecology and gray wolf-prey interactions as part of MS and PhD. I have also worked as a biologist for different tribes doing large carnivore work. More recently, I worked for CDFW for 6 years, where I was the large carnivore researcher for the state. Now, I work for UC Davis as a large carnivore biologist. On a personal side, my wife Nikki and I have been married 14 years and we have 3 pretty cool kids (Jude – 11; Sadie – 8; and Adah – 5). We’re all still adjusting to California!