OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

The Cougar Project

A study by College of Forestry researchers found that cougars in Zion National Park—like wolves in Yellowstone National Park—profoundly impact other aspects of the ecosystem:
Ripple, W.J. and Beschta, R.L. (2006). Linking a cougar decline, trophic cascade, and catastrophic regime shift in Zion National Park. Biological Conservation 133:397-408.

Cougar Predation

Other Scientific Articles

Ripple, W.J., and Beschta, R.L. 2008. Trophic cascades involving cougar, mule deer, and black oaks in Yosemite National Park. Biological Conservation 141(5): 1249-1256.

News Articles