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Mountain Lion
(Puma concolor)

Puma, Long Tail, Lion, catamount, among others are just a few of the many titles given to a beautiful and graceful predator, the mountain lion.  More commonly known as puma, cougar, or panther, the animal truly is the 'cat of many names.  The size of the mountain lion depends upon several environmental factors.  Climate, elevation, and food supply all affect the end outcome of the cat's size, as it does with other creatures of the wild.  Adult males can be quite large, possibly more over 8 feet in length from nose to tail tip and weigh in between 130 and 280 pounds. Females, fully grown, can be 7 feet long and weigh somewhere from 90 to 120 pounds.  It is interesting to note that the tail of the mountain lion may make up 1/3 of its total body length.  In the family Felidae, the mountain lion is only exceeded in size by the jaguar.  Of course there is some variance of coloration from cat to cat.  The general coloration ranges from yellowish brown to grayish brown on the upper parts and a paler, almost buff color on the belly.  The eyes of a fully grown mountain lion are sometimes grayish brown, but often are a remarkable golden color.  Local climatic and environmental conditions dictate the coat hair length and coloration for mountain lions.  Mountain lions are most active at dusk and dawn. They do, however, roam and hunt at all times of the day and in all seasons. Deer & Elk are the main food source in areas where they are available.  Other prey for the mountain lion are:  wild sheep, raccoons, beaver, rabbits and other wild animals, and unfortunately, livestock.  An adult mountain lion is capable of bringing down and subduing a 600 pound moose.  The mountain lion is a solitary animal, and because of this, must utilize a customized manner for hunting.  It sneaks to within about 5 yards of its prey and jumps the animal (including human - although confrontations are rare) and breaks its neck with a powerful bite below the base of the skull.  The cat is a stealthy climber and often drops from limbs to sneak-attack the victim.  They utilize their keen sense of eyesight for the hunt.  Their extraordinary vision is due to the size of the eyeball.  It is proportionately larger (including pupil and lens size) as compared to other carnivores. If more than one set of tracks are spotted together, it usually means a mother is traveling with cubs.  Cougars have four toes with three distinct lobes present at the base of the pad.  The claws usually do not leave prints because, like the housecat, they have retractable claws.

The mountain lion's solitary nature is interrupted during breeding season.  Courtship and mating occur from December to March, but a female can come into season any time of the year.  The mating call is a harsh scream which has earned the mountain lion several of its various other names.  Females give birth usually every other year.  The male of the species remains reproductively active for about 20 years, while the female continues reproduction for about 12 years.       Litters vary in size from 1 to 6 cubs, but usually, there will be 3 or 4 born.  The cubs open their eyes at 10 days and are fully weaned by day 40.  Their coats are spotted at birth and will not become a solid color until they are about 6 months of age.  The cubs will stay with their mothers until they are about a year old, but some have been known to remain with their mothers until the age of two. After leaving their mothers, young mountain lions go out in search of a territory of their own.   .

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