The Mountain Lion

Just hearing the name of this animal brings fear to many people. The mountain lion has many names. You may recognize some of them, such as cougar, puma, and panther. The mountain lion is a magnificent hunter with grace and speed. Deer is the main prey of the mountain lion, as it eats about one deer a week. The mountain lion eats the deer and then goes to rest while the food digests. The mother mountain lion teaches her babies to hunt by practicing on rodents and rabbits.

The mountain lion makes its home in foothills, canyons, or mesa country. They live in brushy areas and woodlands where they can go unseen. Because people are starting to build homes up in these areas, there are more and more contacts with the mountain lion.

What should you do if you see a mountain lion in the wild? Experts say that you should not run. They say that if you run, you will look weak and like an animal worth chasing. You should remain calm and slowly back away.

What does a mountain lion look like? The mountain lion is usually light tan or light cinnamon-colored with black-tipped ears. It also has a very long tail. The larger lions weigh about 150 pounds and can get as long as 8 feet. This is not an animal to approach in the wild.