The Sunrise Coffee Co. is hosting a chat with cougar biologist Dr. Mark Elbroch, author of “The Cougar Conundrum” and director of the Puma Program for the Panthera wild cat preservation group.

“The Cougar Conundrum” describes the dilemma that humanity faces “after we spent so long trying to eradicate cougars, pumas and mountain lions from the country, and failing miserably,” according to Elbroch.

He noted efforts to protect deer have also been seen as further fostering the wild cats “beyond what a lot of people might have liked, so now we’re faced with the question of how to live alongside a large, adaptable carnivore.”

Elbroch plans to recount some field anecdotes that relate to recurring questions from the public, such as concerns about how many cougars are too many, whether cougars pose a threat to deer, and how to keep children and pets safe from predatory big cats.

“This even raises questions of how we might live differently,” said Elbroch, who acknowledged that this subject overlaps with state and federal management, while pertaining directly to “our own backyards.”

He added, “Cougars are here, and they’re here to stay. That choice has been made for us.”

Elbroch said the enthusiasm that has sustained his work as a cougar biologist over the past 25 years is derived from the ever-escalating relevance of cougars as a subject.

“This is a species that everyone feels deeply about, whether positively or negatively,” Elbroch said. “The emotional responses that people have to this species reflects how much our work with these animals pertains to the broader world. People have real, pressing concerns about the presence of cougars in our environment. They care about what we learn about these cats, and that fuels me as a researcher.”

Elbroch also considers himself fortunate “with perfect timing” for entering the field given the development of advanced scientific research technology over the most recent decades, from satellite tracking to motion-capture cameras and digital imagery.

“All of this has allowed us to see these animals to a degree that we never have before,” Elbroch said. “In effect, we’ve been able to record their secret lives.

What to know:

Elbroch will present his work, including some images and video, at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at the Sunrise Coffee Company, at 308 10th St. in Port Townsend.