Learning Center » Predators » Mountain Lion

Mountain Lion (Felis concolor)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Mountain lions are the largest native North American cat except for the slightly larger jaguar. Mountain lions are known by a number of different names - cougar, panther, painter, catamount, and puma. Mountain lions are mainly nocturnal, preferring to hunt at night. There are no predators for the mountain lion however they feed on coyotes, deer, fox, frogs and toads, insects, lizards, rodents, opossums, rabbits, livestock/poultry, raccoons , voles, beaver, porcupines, skunks and other small mammals, birds, and even fish. They are very fast animals over a short distance, but because of relatively small lung capacity, cannot run great distances. They are agile tree climbers.

DESCRIPTION
An adult mountain lion may be either a gray color or a reddish or yellowish color called tawny. The adult has no spots, and the tip of its tail is black. A full grown animal may reach 4 to 5 feet in length, not counting the heavy tail, which is 2 to 3 feet long. Males are generally larger tan females averaging 130 to 150 pounds in weight Females average 65 to 90 pounds. Pads on the forefeet are larger than those on the hind feet. Heel pads on both the fore and hind feet have a distinctive three-lobe appearance. Claw marks seldom show in the tracks of this species.

RANGE
The mountain lion had one of the most extensive distribution of all American terrestrial mammals. It ranged from coast to coast in North America, and from southern Argentina to northern British Columbia. Hunting pressure and other environmental changes have restricted their range to relatively mountainous, unpopulated areas throughout much of their range. However, in recent years populations have begun to expand into suburban areas, especially in the western United States.

METHOD OF KILL
Larger animals are usually killed by a bite to the back of the neck. Lions usually remove the viscera and eat the heart, liver, and lungs first. Uneaten portions of prey items are often cached (covered with vegetation, dirt, snow, or other debris). These food sources are generally fed upon until consumed or they spoil. Lions generally move the carcass and re-cover it after each feeding.