Mountain lions

Many names…. The "Cat of One Color," is called by many names: cougar, puma, mountain lion, catamount, and even panther. It’s scientific name is Felis concolor. The puma is the second largest cat in the Americas. It has spots only while young, with the adult coloration almost completely a single color. The are a solitary animals, spending the majority of their lives alone in the wilderness. It can live up to 20 years.

Physical characteristics Male pumas can reach up to 8 feet in total length and weigh in excess of 220 lbs. Females are smaller, averaging slightly over 6 feet in length and up to 140 lbs. As with many other animals, the size of the mountain lion varies depending on a number of environmental conditions including climate, elevation, vegetation and food supply. The smallest pumas are found in equatorial regions with the average size increasing progressively towards the north and south, with the largest found at the extremes of its range.

More characteristics Has excellent eyesight and hearing. They are strong and powerful. They can leap up to 20 to 40 feet horizontally and 8 to 18 feet vertically according to some sources. It has a small head, big ears, powerful jaws, and sharp retractable claws on each foot. The are primarily nocturnal.

Range The mountain lion has the largest range of any cat species in the New World, with at least 30 subspecies described, extending from the southern tip of South America to the southern part of Canada.

Range Map Current distribution: However they have recently been sighted in many eastern states where they were hunted to extinction in the early part of the century. Hunting, eradication and habitat destruction led to the demise of the eastern panther. Only a small viable population exists in the Everglades in Florida. Habitat fragmentation especially in certain heavily populated states (California) threatens the population stability of the species.

Map of Virginia

Virginia cougars Since 1970, 121 sightings have been identified as possible mountain lions, but have not been officially confirmed. There have been sightings in Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Bland, Brunswick, Craig, Fauquier, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Highland, Louisa, Nelson, Orange, Page, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Suffolk, Madison, and Warren counties.

Cougar Habitat Mountain lions use a wide variety of habitats including coniferous forests, lowland tropical forests, grassland, dry brush country, swamps, and any areas with adequate cover and prey. Dense vegetation, caves, and rocky crevices provide shelter. Instead of occupying a permanent den, mountain lions rest and find shelter in caves, among rocky outcrops, and in dense vegetation. They generally migrate from the mountains in winter to follow deer and other prey.

Breeding habits The territories of male mountain lions may overlap those of females, enabling the males to detect when the females are ready to mate. During a 14-day period of mating, a male and female will break their normally solitary habits to hunt together and sleep next to each other. The female later gives birth to two to six kittens in a carefully hidden den, located between rocks or in a cave.

Breeding characteristics Sexual maturity: Males, at least 3 years; Females, 2 years. Mating: Year-round. Females usually breed once every 2 years.  Gestation: 60-96 days. Litter size – 2 to 6 with an average of 3 or 4.  On average on one to two will make it through the first year.

The young Blind at birth the kittens have spotted coats until they are six months old. They begin to take meat provided by their mother at six weeks, while they are still suckling. Although they can hunt for themselves after nine months. When they leave their mother they may stay together several months before wandering off to establish territories of their own.

Hunting Mountain lions are carnivores and generally hunt at dawn and dusk. Still, they are active by day in areas undisturbed by man. Like other cats, the mountain lion stalks its prey, sprinting after it if it attempts to flee. Then, pouncing on the animal's back with powerful leap that knocks it to the ground, the mountain lion kills it’s prey with a single bite to the nape of the neck. Mountain lions have large hunting territories, and they eat most kinds of animals. Throughout their range, deer is their favorite meal.

Hunting They eat about one deer every two to three weeks. They will cache their kills covering them with pine needles and sticks. If you see this there is a mountain lion near by LEAVE!!!!

Covered Mountain Lion Kill

Kill above the town of Jackson, WY

Territorial Males are territorial and will not cross into each others range. They mark their territory by scraping up leaves and sticks and spraying it with urine.

Mountain lion tracks

Weird occurrences…

The story behind the pics… Several versions of this story exist on the internet and different blogs. Most of the stories suggest the dogs were being stalked by the mountain lion when the mule attacked the lion. THIS STORY IS FALSE. The hunters treed and mountain lion with their dogs. After shooting it out of the tree the mule attacked. The mountain lion is dead in all photos and was dead before the mule attacked.