Species · GBIF taxon 2435099
Mountain Lion
Puma concolorAlso known as Cougar, Puma, Catamount, Panther
Mountain lions are masterfully stealthy predators capable of leaping up to forty feet horizontally and scaling steep cliffs with effortless grace. These solitary cats maintain vast home ranges, communicating through scent scrapes and high-pitched, scream-like vocalizations rather than roars. As keystone predators, they shape entire ecosystems by regulating deer and elk populations, which in turn prevents overgrazing and benefits countless other species.
SolitaryApex PredatorCrepuscular
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mule Deer
- Elk
- White-tailed Deer
Predators
- Grizzly Bear
- Gray Wolf
- Human
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and retaliatory killing
HabitatsConiferous forests, grasslands, deserts, swamps, and rocky mountainous terrain
Life span8 to 13 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyFelidae
- SpeciesPuma concolor
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- A powerful apex predator; never hike alone at dusk, keep children close, and never run if encountered.
- Why it is dangerous
- Capable of launching ambush attacks on humans, though such encounters are extremely rare.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a large, slender, tawny cat with a long, black-tipped tail and small rounded ears.
- What to do
- Never run or turn your back; stand tall, throw objects, and fight back aggressively if attacked.
Responsible observation
- Make Noise: Talk loudly or wear bells when hiking in cougar country to avoid surprising a cat.
- Stand Tall: If you encounter one, make yourself look as large as possible and back away slowly.
- Secure Attractants: Keep pet food indoors and secure livestock to avoid drawing them to homes.
Competitor (c) Charles J. Sharp , some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Primary Prey "ten point mule deer buck" by woodleywonderworks is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Competitor User:Mas3cf / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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