GIS Analysis of Potential Mountain Lion Habitats in MassachusettsCynthia Nelson | Framingham State University

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the areas in Massachusetts that could

serve as potential habitats for mountain lions in hopes of reintroducing the

species. Mountain lions, which have not maintained a major presence in

the state of Massachusetts since 1858 (Massachusetts Department of

Fish and Game, 2015) have been documented to be slowly repopulating

previously uninhabited states from the West to the East. (LaRue 2012)

With two confirmed cases of mountain lions in Massachusetts since 1997

both being found in the Quabbin Reservoir Reservation, (Massachusetts

Department of Fish and Game 2015) this study aims to complete a

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis of areas in

Massachusetts that have similar landscape characteristics as the Quabbin

Reservoir region and anthropogenic qualities already determined to be

suitable for mountain lions. Ultimately, if enough area is found to be

suitable to sustain a mountain lion population in Massachusetts, this study

proposes that efforts be made to reintroduce mountain lions to the state.

The analysis found that, using the most recent data, the total area of

suitable land for mountain lion habitats in Massachusetts was 298.90 sq.

miles and the largest continuous area of suitable land of suitable habitat

was 14.87 sq. miles. These results suggest a lack of suitable land to

support the reintroduction of mountain lions.

Selected ReferencesBrown, Karen. (2016, February 24) Rattlesnake Island: Mass. Officials Want To Create Protected

Habitat For Snakes. WBUR. Retrieved from http://wbur.org

Crooks, Kevin R. “Relative Sensitivities of Mammalian Carnivores to Habitat Fragmentation.”

Conversation Biology 16.2 (2002) 488–502. Web. 7 Apr. 2016.

Glick, Henry B. "Modeling cougar habitat in the Northeastern United States." Ecological Modelling 285

(2014): 78+. Environmental Studies and Policy. Web. 1 Feb. 2016

Knopff, Aliah Adams, et al. "Flexible habitat selection by cougars in response to anthropogenic

development." Biological Conservation 178 (2014): 136+. Environmental Studies and Policy.

Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

LaRue, Michelle A., et al. "Cougars are recolonizing the midwest: analysis of cougar confirmations

during 1990-2008." The Journal of Wildlife Management 76.7 (2012): 1364-1369. Environmental

Studies and Policy. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

N.a. (2015, June 2) “Are there Mountain Lions in Massachusetts?” Massachusetts Department of Fish

and Game. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

N.a. (n.d.) “Mountain Lions.” National Parks Service. Web. 1 Feb 2016.

Results

The results of the analysis reveal that, in total, there are 298.90 sq. miles of

suitable land for mountain lion habitats. The largest continuous section of land was

14.87 sq. miles. An adult male mountain lion needs 25 sq. miles of habitat in order

to live comfortably (National Parks Service n.d.) and mountain lions do not prefer

to live in fragmented habitats (Crooks 2002). Ultimately, the study suggests that

there is not enough land to support the reintroduction of mountain lions to the state

of Massachusetts.

Introduction

Mountain lions require specific landscape characteristics such as

close proximity to water, low road density, distance from human

habitats, and landscape that provides cover. This studies aims to see

which areas in Massachusetts fit all four of these criteria.

Analyzing mountain lion habitats is nothing new. Studies such as

Glick (2014) have modeled potential mountain lion habitats in areas

currently uninhabited by mountain lions. Other studies have analyzed

how mountain lions react to signs of human activity. In Van Dyke

(1984) study, and Knopff’s (2014) study.

While there is a large body of literature pertaining to mountain lion

habitats, none so far have specifically looked only at the areas in

Massachusetts. Massachusetts is an important state to consider

because of its high population density (according to the 2010 US

Census, Massachusetts had the 5th highest population density in the

nation). Given Massachusetts’ high population density, this geographic

area makes for a great investigation of Knopff’s analysis which

focuses on the coexistence of mountain lions and humans.

This study comes at the appropriate time because in February of

2016, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game officials

announced that they were be making efforts to reintroduce the timber

rattlesnake to the Quabbin Reservoir Reservation (Brown 2016).

This study suggests promotes the idea that habitats should be

preserved for wildlife and that efforts should be made to reintroduce

endangered animals to Massachusetts.

Data & Methods

This model is the visual representation of the methods taken to

complete the analysis. The data layers utilized included: the US

Census Tracts and Tiger Roads for 2010, the USGS National

Hydrography Datasets for 2010, and the NOAA Coastal Change

Analysis Program data for 2010. Data from the surrounding states of

Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

were also used to analyze landscape characters within 25 miles of the

Massachusetts border.

Cartographic Results

Acknowledgements: George Bentley, Faculty Advisor, FSU Geography Dept.