La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Suitable habitat for recolonizing large carnivores in the midwestern USA
Auteurs :	Julia B. Smith, Auteur ; Clayton K. Nielsen, Auteur ; Eric C. Hellgren, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Oryx (50(3) JUL 2016)
Article en page(s) :	555-564
Résumé :	Large carnivores are recolonizing parts of North America and Europe as a result of modern management and conservation policy. In the midwestern USA, black bears Ursus americanus, cougars Puma concolor and grey wolves Canis lupus have the potential to recolonize provided there is suitable habitat. Understanding where large carnivores may become re-established will prepare resource professionals for the inevitable ecosystem effects and potential human-carnivore conflicts associated with these species. We developed individual and combined models of suitable habitat for black bears, cougars and wolves in.. midwestern states, using geospatial data, expert-opinion surveys, and multi-criteria evaluation. Large, contiguous areas of suitable habitat comprised 35, 21 and 13% of the study region for wolves, bears and cougars, respectively. Approximately 12% of the region was considered suitable for all three species. Arkansas, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin had the highest proportions (> 40%) of suitable habitat for black bears; Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin had the highest proportions (>= 20%) of suitable habitat for cougars; and only in four states in the study region was

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