 Research currently is being conducted in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) to gain a better understanding of the carnivore complex in the southern Rocky Mountains, about which surprisingly little is known. One of the goals of this study is to generate baseline information on the carnivore complex and determine how various perturbations, includingcompetition and dominance within the carnivore guild,will impact the existing ecosystem.
Researchers are collecting information about the existing ecosystem using sign surveys, camera-trapping, and non-tissue genetic samples of scat and hair. Radio and satellite telemetry through collaborative projects is also being used on mountain lions, black bears, and medium-sized carnivores. Analyses will enablebetter understanding of the carnivore-prey-vegetation dynamic in this ecosystemand will help improvemanagement and conservations
plans, educate the public, and facilitate the evolution
of healthy populations of native species in the RMNP ecosystem.
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