Mountain Lion Research

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, working in cooperation with South Dakota State University, have been intensively studying mountain lions in the Black Hills since 1999.

The objectives of the studies have been to:

1. Determine home range sizes of Black Hills lions.
2. Identify preferred lion habitat.
3. Determine the lion population in the Black Hills.
4. Determine the carrying capacity for mountain lions.
5. Determine reproductive rates
6. Determine survival rates (esp. of young)
7. Examine dispersal patterns of young lions

Picture of mountain lion