Collecting Evidence.
We’ve compiled a list of kit that you may want to include when looking for evidence of big cats. However, you don’t need to have everything on this list—the most important tool in any investigation is your awareness of your surroundings. Pay attention to the details: are the birds giving an alarm call, signaling the presence of a predator? Can you identify the wildlife trails that big cats might also be using? Look for subtle clues, such as hair snagged on wire or branches, and pugmarks in soft ground.
Above all, the ability to observe, record, and measure what you find is the most crucial part of an investigation. Noting where and how you discovered potential evidence can provide valuable insights and help build a clearer picture of these elusive animals.
Once you have found evidence, you need to collect samples, for analysis. Were are very grateful to Professor Robin Allaby, of Warwickshire University, for putting together instructions for us, on how to collect big cat samples.
Sampling instructions for big cat samples.
Instructions provided by Professor Robin Allaby.
The types of sample that might be taken include a) a swab from a predated carcass, b) a hair (or preferably hairs plural) snagged on an object such as a fence post or c) scat.
Tooth Pits
Tooth pits, or tooth marks, are a forensic technique used to identify the presence of big cats in an area by analysing the remains of their prey animals. Tooth pit analysis involves examining the bones of prey animals for characteristics such as tooth pits, scores, punctures, or furrowing. The process includes using dental putty to create casts of the bones, which are then measured with digital callipers to determine the length and spacing of the tooth pits. These measurements are compared to the scale and pattern of known carnivores to identify the predator.
Look out for a traingular pattern.
This is the triangle pattern to look for on bones of suspected prey, especially on mandibles and pelvic bones. The result is notches or 'pits' made by the sharp cusps of the carnassial, and is a distinctive dimension to cats.
Fig. 1:
The cusps of an upper carnassial tooth of a puma.
Fig 2:
An example of the triangle pattern on a young elk pelvic bone in Colorado.
