Threats to the SpeciesThough three of its subspecies that do no live in California are federally listed as endangered, the mountain lion as a species is only listed as a “special protected mammal” in California. Threats to mountain lions include loss and degradation of habitat, poaching, and hunting in response to loss of livestock.
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Range and HabitatRange: Mountain lions have a huge range throughout the Americas: they span from Canada to Argentina. In the United States, they are most commonly found in the west all the way to Texas.
Habitat: Mountain lions can live in a variety of habitats: from deserts to humid coastlines to forests. They tend to live wherever deer are abundant. Mountain lions inhabit high and low elevations throughout California, from sea level to 10,000 feet in elevation. |
Behavior and Species InteractionsTerritories: Mountain lions are largely solitary creatures, usually hunting and living alone. The male range is often more than one hundred square miles while the female range is much smaller – between twenty and sixty square miles.
Prey: Mountain lions prey on large animals like deer, big horned sheep, and elk but can also rely on smaller prey like rabbits and raccoons. They rely on stalking and ambushing tactics to take down their prey which is often much larger in size than the mountain lion itself. |
Life CycleDecember - March
Mating season Late Spring Kittens are born, usually in litters of two to four. Their mother raises them until they are about one and a half years old. |
Resources
- "Basic Facts About Mountain Lions." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 12 Apr. 2012. Web.
- "Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Lions." Mountain Lion Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
- "Keep Me Wild: Mountain Lion." California Department of Fish and Wildlife, n.d. Web.
- "Mountain Lions." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 03 Dec. 2015. Web.