Mountain Lion
The mountain lion, puma concolor, in the cat family felidae, is also called a cougar or puma. The range of the mountain lion extends from British Columbia through South America, primarily in the western part of North America. However, like many other predators, they seem to be expanding their range and sightings have been reported in the mid-west and eastern United States as well as central and eastern portions of Canada. These animals prefer forested areas and jungles, but will adapt to various climates. A male mountain lion may grow to be as long as six feet in length, not including the tail which typically extends another 2-3 feet and may weigh up to 200 pounds, however, most males average 140 to 160 pounds and females between 90 and 110 pounds. The coat ranges in color from reddish to brownish yellow or gray. Black stripes reach from the mouth to the eyes and the tip of the tail is also black. The head is small and round with a black spot over the eyes. The mountain lion usually hunts at night, it climbs well, is an excellent jumper and often drops from limbs onto its prey. The mountain lion is largely nocturnal and like the bobcat, most humans will never see a lion in the wild.
In the western states, the role of the cougar has changed, at one time they were considered harmful to the deer population, which makes up the major source of the cougars' food and were shot in large numbers. Now, however, some states consider them a large game animal and control the number that are harvested each year by licensed hunters. Cougar are polygamous and have no set breeding season although most of the kittens are born in the spring. Three months after mating, from one to six spotted kittens are born, with the average litter being two or three. The kittens stay with the female for at least a year or until they can fend for themselves.
The state of California currently has a moratorium on the hunting of mountain lions, despite the growing problem with mountain lions coming in ever increasing contact with humans. Several people have been attacked by mountain lions in California, one woman in Northern California was even killed and partially eaten by a female lion. Even with these continual encroachments, animal right groups insist that lions are not the problem.
The Arizona Game & Fish Department recognizes the cougar as a big game animal, and while the season runs thoughout the entire year, the limit is one cougar per year. Even with these generous seasons, most predator hunters never see a lion in the field. Because of the cougars' secretive and elusive behavior, it is without a doubt the most difficult predator to call and harvest.
