Peggi:
>With regard to bear and cougar, the one thing I've seen no mention of so
>far is the fact that human encroachment is the main reason we're seeing an
>increase in the number of cougars (don't know about bear but I suspect
>it's the same).

I think you mean this is the main reason we're seeing an increase in
the number of reported interactions, not the population increase?

>That is, according to ODF&W, the cougar population is
>doing better than in previous years resulting in an increase in
>population.

The major cause behind the increase in the cougar population in Oregon
has been the reclassification of the critter as a "game" animal - subject
to a regulated hunt, with fixed seasons and limited tags and managed
to lead to a healthy population - from "vermin", in the 1970s.

As "vermin", you were free to shoot them whenever and wherever you
wished, and folks did so with enthusiasm, though I think (not certain)
that by the 1970s they did so without the added enthusiasm that
comes about when there's a bounty.

You are right, thought, that encroachment is a major, if not the
major, reason for the increase in interactions, particularly of
the "it ate FLUFFY sob sob!" type.

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, at http://www.xxxpdx.com/~dhogaza