Conservation Biology
"This is a well-illustrated and very readable book that explores a range of different perspectives on the challenges of living with the cougar …. This book will be of interest to policy makers and conservation scientists, as well as nature enthusiasts and community members living in areas where cougars are present."
Sandra Ortiz
"Pumas are a felid species whose range connects the American continent. From Canada to Argentina, managers share similar challenges protecting this resilient cat and finding a path toward coexistence."
Canadian Field Naturalist
The book…is perfect for wildlife biologists, the general public, and nature enthusiasts, especially those who want to learn how to live successfully with a large carnivore that has been given an unduly bad rap for being dangerous around people…This is an important book.
Will Stolzenburg
"The mountain lion deserves more champions like Mark Elbroch. In The Cougar Conundrum, the biologist Elbroch debunks the pernicious myths fueling the persecution of North America’s iconic big cat. But the optimist Elbroch offers a more compelling vision of coexistence with one of nature’s most wondrous creations."
Donovan's Bookshelf
The Cougar Conundrum belongs in any nature collection strong in conservation and animal protection, discussing the rise of mountain lions in human areas and why they should be considered a positive force…. The result is a powerful survey especially recommended for those who live in areas where cougars are making a comeback.”
Paul Beier
"The Cougar Conundrum is a deep dive into the most widely distributed and successful large carnivore in the western hemisphere. This book will help you consider the place of big predators and people on the planet and how to create a new era of reasonable coexistence, including restoration of cougars into a substantial fraction of their former range."
Wildlife Activist
"This is an enlightening book that provides facts and hope for this animal’s future."
Jim Williams
"This thought-provoking book reflects Elbroch’s relentless pursuit to challenge state wildlife agencies to promote a new standard of inclusivity in wildlife decision making and manage cougars on peer-reviewed science."
Journal of Wildlife Management
"A refreshing take on the relationships between humans and cougars, written by one of the foremost cougar experts in North America…. The Cougar Conundrum is a must‐read for anyone in the carnivore or ungulate realm or anyone who has a sincere interest in human‐wildlife coexistence."
Library Journal
08/01/2020
Ecologist Elbroch, leader scientist of the Puma Program for Panthera and author of books including Mammal Tracks & Sign, contends that the mountain lion, a keystone species found throughout North America, can coexist alongside humans. Research on mountain lions is scarce, but we know that they are both reclusive and adaptable. While accounts of mountain lions attacking humans receive considerable media attention, these occurrences are rare and could possibly be avoided through hunter education programs, Elbroch maintains. Increased numbers of mountain lions coupled with habitat loss means that there are more interactions between mountain lions and humans. Elbroch contends that through strategic decision-making involving all interested parties (wildlife enthusiasts, hunters, biologists, state agencies, the general public), wise policy can be enacted to ensure these majestic creatures are conserved while maintaining human safety. A case study on successful collaboration between disparate entities in Montana details a possible way forward. VERDICT A concise account illustrating issues surrounding wildlife conservation efforts in the United States while providing an informative natural history of the mountain lion.—Diana Hartle, Univ. of Georgia Science Lib., Athens
Kirkus Reviews
2020-05-11
A mountain biologist explores the lives of cougars, which are becoming ever more present in the places that humans tread.
Attacks by cougars—variously called pumas, panthers, and mountain lions as well—seem to be on the upswing, though Elbroch observes that domesticated animals such as dogs and cows are far more dangerous, to say nothing of venomous arachnids and reptiles. An obvious reason for this spike, writes the author, is that there are simply more humans and, after a long campaign to eradicate them followed by an equally intense effort to restore them, more cougars, too. More and more humans are also spending more time outdoors, which increases the likelihood of encounters. Elbroch takes readers on a tour of cougar biology and ecology, emphasizing how important the big cats are to the ecosystem—e.g., they feed mostly on deer, which can easily become too abundant in the absence of predators. More pointedly, the author spends much of the book examining management practices, arguing against unrestricted hunting on several grounds, including the fact that “killing a mountain lion [has] more than ten times the impact in determining the likelihood that there will be conflicts in an area as compared to adding one more live mountain lion to that same area.” Elbroch is particularly critical of trophy hunters, who, in the case of bears, “cause social chaos that increases infanticide for up to two years following the death of their trophy bear.” The effects on mountain lion populations are less well known, but all the same, the author concludes that nonlethal conservation is preferable to but does not necessarily rule out hunting, making hunters and biologists natural allies: “We need bridges, not divisions, among stakeholders.”
Policymakers, conservationists, and hunters alike will find this a useful, if sometimes controversial, handbook. (photos)
