# Could a population of Siberian tigers thrive in the Northwest US or Canada? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 23, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274 "2004-12-23T03:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/1 "2004-12-23T03:21:23Z")
If there was a population of Siberian tigers left to their own devices in a good chunk of Northwest American or Canada could they thrive in that environment if not hunted by man? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/2 "2004-12-23T03:25:05Z")
Sure. The mountain lions in southern California have made a comeback, I don’t see why tigers couldn’t survive in the northwest. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/3 "2004-12-23T03:26:51Z")
The real question here is after they eat some Seattleites, would they be up all night? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/4 "2004-12-23T04:17:23Z")
OK, so I have decided to open TigerLand in Washington State (or maybe BC), how much acreage do you think I would need for say 100 tigers? (Oddly I have long wanted to know this, although never to the point of wanting to look it up.) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/5 "2004-12-23T04:56:14Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > OK, so I have decided to open TigerLand in Washington State (or maybe BC), how much acreage do you think I would need for say 100 tigers? Unless you’re willing to crowd the beasties, a lot: > [@](#): > > The authors tested their model by sampling tiger and prey populations in 11 ecologically distinct sites in India – from grasslands to dry forests – over an eight-year period, with teams of biologists walking more than 4,200 miles to count prey animals, and setting hundreds of camera traps over 8,600 days of effort. Densities of ungulate prey such as deer, antelopes, wild cattle and wild pigs ranged from a low of 5.3 animals per square kilometer in Meghat Reserve, to more than 63 per square kilometer in Pench Reserve. The model predictions matched the **measured tiger densities ranging between 3.2 to 16.8 tigers per 100 square kilometers.** [here](http://www.naturalworldtours.co.uk/articles2004/march/march2704l.htm) At the highest measured density, you’d need 595 square kilometers, 230 square miles, for your 100 tigers. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/6 "2004-12-23T05:08:42Z")
Note also that there are already top predators in the areas. Wolves and grizzlies. Ought to make for some interesting territorial competitions. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/7 "2004-12-23T05:58:26Z")
Siberian tigers could unquestionably live in northern Canada; it’s pretty much the same terrain as Siberia. There’s about fifty gazillion deer running around that would make excellent meals; Canada’s population of game is more than enough to satisfy tigers, who individually eat a hell of a lot, but spread themselves out thinly. There’s a lot of room in northern B.C. In fact, the thought occurred to me just the other day that you could save the Siberian’s existence in the wild by doing exactly this. Canada would probably do a much better job protecting them than Russia would. However, you’d run the risk of screwing up the existing balance. What if you push wolves out of the balance? Or grizzlies? And frankly, **tigers are dangerous** ; they’ll eat people given half a chance. Sooner or later, someone will end up as Tony’s lunch, and you’re facing a zillion dollar lawsuit the first time someone gets eaten. So it would be a problematic experiment on several levels. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/8 "2004-12-23T17:38:26Z")
As long as I continue taking my homeopathic remedy that keeps tigers away we are all safe.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/9 "2004-12-23T18:02:21Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > As long as I continue taking my homeopathic remedy that keeps tigers away we are all safe.😉 I take that, too. And it works! No tigers ever come near my house. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Stan\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/10 "2004-12-23T23:27:11Z")
> [@](#): > > At the highest measured density, you’d need 595 square kilometers, 230 square miles, for your 100 tigers. All well and good if the prey density NW North America was the same as that of the study area in India, Since it is a much colder climate, I think your estimate is way off. No cite, but In their native habitat, male Siberian tigers probably have huge home ranges due to the lower prey densities. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/11 "2004-12-24T00:04:58Z")
i have thought that seeding some islands off the east and west coast that are uninhabited with sibs would be an interesting expierment. 2 tigers per island boy and girl. put a herd or two of white tails deer on the island as well. as the tigers reproduce you put the cubs on an empty island and so on. save the tiger and have a place to export the huge population of deer as well. then i remembered tigers like to swim… ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/12 "2004-12-24T00:10:43Z")
If I spot a news report that tigers have gone missing from Canadian zoos,you will be the first suspect 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/13 "2004-12-24T00:58:32Z")
Tyger, tyger, swimming strong through the grey Canadian dawn. What fearful northern wolf or bear Would dare to muss your striped hair? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/14 "2004-12-24T03:01:03Z")
very good, squink, i like that a lot. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/15 "2004-12-24T03:11:57Z")
Remembering a cartoon from Calvin and Hobbes- Calvin to Dad: So Dad, what do I do when I catch a tiger? Dad: Bring it home and stuff it, Calvin! Can’t you see I’m busy? Hobbes in kitchen: No, really, I couldn’t eat another bite! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/16 "2004-12-24T14:50:32Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > OK, so I have decided to open TigerLand in Washington State (or maybe BC), how much acreage do you think I would need for say 100 tigers? > > (Oddly I have long wanted to know this, although never to the point of wanting to look it up.) Siberian tigers (as mentioned) have larger ranges than tigers in India; ([125-250 square miles for females; 500-620 square miles for males](http://www.tigersincrisis.com/problems_4.htm)). If you have 25 males, each of whose range overlaps with that of 3 females, then you’re talking twelve to fifteen thousand square miles. (And ranges of up to several thousand square miles have been reported for some individuals.) ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/17 "2004-12-24T18:48:17Z")
They’d do OK in Las Vegas, provided they were OK with sequined jumpsuits and the “sit” and “stay” commands… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-population-of-siberian-tigers-thrive-in-the-northwest-us-or-canada/281274/18 "2004-12-25T02:30:25Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Tyger, tyger, swimming strong > through the grey Canadian dawn. > What fearful northern wolf or bear > Would dare to muss your striped hair? And a [LINK](http://www.tyger.org/) to the full poem. 🙂