Mapping Cougar Habitat to Prevent Human-Wildlife conflict
- Arpit Shah
- Sep 6, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
In this post, I analyze a series of geospatial datasets to map the potential habitat of cougars in a National Park in Oregon, USA. The approach demonstrated is known as Suitability Analysis, which involves factoring in multiple spatial parameters to qualify, compare, and rank locations in order to identify areas that best match a desired set of criteria.
This is the second article on Site Selection using GIS that I’ve published on this website (as of September 2020). My first article—Use GIS to shortlist suitable Locations—showed how location datasets can be queried using specialized geospatial tools to identify suitable markets for launching a new mobile phone for women, as well as potential locations for new bank branches overseas.
2023 update: I have since published a third article on this topic—a comprehensive manual on Modelling Supply Chain Network Design using Excel and GIS. You can explore it here.
Context
Wildlife officials wish to map the habitat of cougars within a National Forest in Oregon. Adjacent to this protected territory lies a popular State Park frequented by hikers, where sightings of cougars have recently increased—raising understandable concern.
The purpose of the study is twofold:
Determine the range of the growing cougar population—i.e., where it resides and how it traverses the landscape.
Use the Habitat Model to build a Tourist Early Warning System, enabling authorities to identify where hiking routes intersect with potential cougar zones and thereby reduce the risk of human–wildlife conflict.
The video below demonstrates the geospatial workflow behind performing a Suitability Analysis to derive wildlife habitat in a clear, intuitive manner. You’ll appreciate how similar analyses can meaningfully inform real-world decision-making on issues that affect us daily.
This short 3-minute video is best viewed in YouTube’s HD mode, either on a PC or in landscape mode on a mobile device. You may also adjust the playback speed to suit your preference-
I hope the demonstration helped you understand the basics of Suitability Analysis and its relevance to wildlife management. There is ample scope to further analyze the output. For instance, if the parameters used in the two Habitat Models differ, important questions emerge:
What areas are consistently shortlisted by both models?
Which regions have a higher likelihood of being cougar habitat zones based on historical sighting records?
You can view and compare the outputs of both models in this StoryMap.
(2024 Update: The portal appears to have expired. An alternative report is available here)
You’ll likely agree that the authenticity and quality of the underlying datasets are crucial for any siting study. Without reliable spatial data, the output loses value and can even be dangerously misleading—especially in a workflow like this involving public safety. GIS, powerful as it is, remains a means to an end: authoritative geospatial datasets are the fuel that produce meaningful Location Intelligence.
October 2020 Update: You will appreciate the importance of such analytical studies even more after watching what happened just days ago on a hiking route in Utah, USA.
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Credits: Esri ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS StoryMap, LearnArcGIS
