WildFutures is an organization dedicated to advancing the protection of large carnivores, particularly mountain lions, through various approaches.
One of their fundamental approaches is working with scientists and wildlife agencies to understand and convey the critical role that top predators play in the landscape.
By doing so, they aim to address negative perceptions of carnivores and find cost-effective ways to conserve and protect them.
WildFutures collaborates with other organizations to promote safe co-existence between people and wildlife through the power of education, media, and the best available science.
They believe that by developing a greater understanding and appreciation of mountain lions, the protection of these animals will be advanced, and safe co-existence between humans and wildlife will be promoted.
WildFutures was founded in 1994 and is a project of Earth Island Institute.
They bridge the gap between science and conservation and offer capacity-building programs to environmental and conservation groups to help build strong leaders and thriving organizations.
Through their trainings, tools, and resources, WildFutures aims to have a ripple effect that reaches far beyond their immediate projects.
Given the dire projections in the 2019 UN Report about the extinction crisis, WildFutures expanded their efforts to partner with funders, thought leaders, policymakers, organizations, and scientists to accelerate collective understanding of the growing crisis and move additional resources to mitigate the erosion of critical ecosystems on which animals, plants, and all life depends.
WildFutures also conducts research to identify unmet needs, helps increase funding to timely and underfunded efforts to protect wildlife and animals, and provides coaching to support individuals and organizations in reaching their personal and professional goals.
In addition, they partner with funders, NGOs, and others in the field to share best practices and, through collaboration, expand their collective impact.
Overall, WildFutures seeks to protect and support human and wildlife resilience and slow the climate crisis. They believe that working together can make a difference in conserving our planet’s biodiversity and securing a healthy future for all.
Threats To Mountain Lions
Mountain lions, also known as pumas or cougars, face various threats to their survival. One of the most significant threats to their populations is habitat loss.
As human populations continue to expand, their habitat is reduced, fragmented, and degraded, forcing them to compete for resources and often leading to conflicts with humans.
Overhunting, which was once a major threat to mountain lion populations, has been largely eliminated in the United States.
However, sport hunting is still allowed in 14 western states, which can lead to a reduction in populations, particularly of females and their dependent kittens.
Poaching, declines in prey populations, trapping, cougar-vehicle collisions, and environmental poisons are other threats to mountain lions.
Disease is also a significant concern, as it can spread rapidly through dense populations and can be devastating to mountain lion populations.
In Latin America, where mountain lions are known as pumas, they face similar threats, including habitat loss due to urban expansion and agriculture, hunting, and livestock depredation.
Despite laws protecting them in many countries, enforcement is often lacking, and little attention is given to their conservation.
Female mountain lions, in particular, face unique threats to their survival. They spend most of their adult lives pregnant or raising kittens, and hunting females with dependent kittens can result in the death of both the mother and her offspring.
Furthermore, male cougars disperse over great distances, sometimes crossing highways and other dangerous areas, which can lead to their mortality.
Overall, the threats facing mountain lions and pumas are complex and multifaceted. Addressing these threats will require a comprehensive approach that considers habitat preservation, hunting regulations, and measures to reduce conflicts with humans, as well as efforts to enforce existing laws and protect females and their kittens.