Mountain lions are the second largest cats found in North & South America!
They are solitary animals, only coming together for mating and will otherwise hunt and live alone. Mountain lions are skilful predators capable of taking down large prey. They are mostly active at night and will use the cover provided by their territory to stalk and ambush prey.
Mountain lions have a light brown fur coat covering their slender body and a long tail which assists balance. When hunting they will sprint and powerfully leap on prey, delivering a fatal bite.
Size: Males are much larger than the females. Males will reach sizes up to 120kg while females will weigh considerably less, from 29-64kg.
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Mountain lion
Puma concolor
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Animal ClassMammal, Felid -
HabitatForest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Desert. Mountain lions are adaptable cats found in every major habitat type of the Americas. -
DietCarnivore – Mountain lions will hunt a wide variety of prey such as moose, elk and caribou, as well as smaller animals including raccoons or coyotes. -
Conservation StatusLeast concern-Mountain lion subspieces populations are declining throughout their habitat range. -
PopulationN/A
They are solitary animals
Only coming together for mating and will otherwise hunt and live alone. Mountain lions are skilful predators capable of taking down large prey.
They are solitary animals
Only coming together for mating and will otherwise hunt and live alone. Mountain lions are skilful predators capable of taking down large prey.
Only coming together for mating and will otherwise hunt and live alone. Mountain lions are skilful predators capable of taking down large prey.
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Introduction
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Threats/ Conservation
Least concern.
Mountain lions are threatened by habitat loss and poaching of their wild prey base. They are also persecuted and legally hunted throughout parts of their habitat range.
Mountain lion subspecies populations are declining throughout their habitat range.
Populations in Canada and western USA are considered least concern; however, the east coast subspecies are considered endangered, with numbers as low as 100-180* individuals in the wild.
Conservationists have helped to restore genetic variability by relocating 8 Texas cougars to South Florida.
*2002 estimates
Emerald Park conservation contribution:
In 2014, Emerald Park committed to the protection of habitat in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Central Mexico.
The fund-raising initiative “BUY AN ACRE CHALLENGE” was launched with the World Land Trust and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Funds from Emerald Park went towards purchasing ~100 acres of protected habitat.
In 2019, it was reported that Mountain lions have been detected in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. -
Habitat
Mountain lions are found from Canada through the United States to Central and South America. They have adapted to thrive in a wide variety of habitats including Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Desert.
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Fun Facts
Female Mountain lions usually, give birth to offspring every two years. Females signal to the male, to indicate when she is ready to breed, by calling out and scent marking. Females have 1 to 6 young, new-borns have spots to help them blend into their environment.
Mountain lions are not the only apex predators in their habitats! As these cats are found over such a large habitat range their territories will overlap with other predatory mammals in North and south America such as grey wolves and grizzly bears.
