When do mountain lions come out

Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Your chances of encountering a mountain lion are small. If at any time you spot a mountain lion, report the sighting or encounter to your local forest ranger station or visitor center as soon as possible. Remember: You are responsible for your safety and for the safety of those around you.

Mountain Lions. Mountain lion facts The mountain lion is also known as cougar, panther, or puma. Body coloration can range from tan to gray and cubs are usually covered with blackish brown spots. Mountain lions inhabit a wide range of ecosystems, making their home anywhere there is shelter and prey, including mountains, forests, deserts, and wetlands.

They are territorial and have naturally low population densities, which means the species requires large swaths of wilderness habitat to thrive. Mountain lions are stealthy predators, hunting at night and often lying in wait for prey or silently stalking it before pouncing from behind and delivering a lethal bite to the spinal cord. Typically they prey on deer, but also feed on smaller animals, even insects, when necessary.

Like all cats, mountain lions are strict carnivores, and they only rarely consume vegetation. Mountain lions can breed year-round. Female mountain lions usually give birth every two years. Litters can range in size from one to six cubs. The young may stay with their mother for as long as 26 months, but usually separate after about 15 months. In the wild, a mountain lion can live up to 10 years. In captivity, they can live up to 21 years. The historic range of the mountain lion included almost all of North and South America.

The species was so wide-reaching and populous that it had multiple subspecies that varied based on location. Throughout the s and early s, people feared the mountain lion because it posed a risk to their livestock. The species was maliciously hunted and almost eradicated from the eastern United States. The mountain lion, commonly known as cougar, panther, or puma, exists only in the Western Hemisphere and is one of North America's biggest cats.

In Colorado, population estimates range from 3, to 7, mountain lions. A lion's natural life span is probably about 12 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. Lions are very powerful and usually kill large animals, such as deer and elk. Natural enemies include other large predators such as bears, lions, and wolves. They also fall victim to accidents, disease, road hazards, and people. The change in legal status reflected growing public appreciation and concern for sound mountain lion management.

For the most part, people and wildlife can coexist. Coexisting with wildlife is an enjoyable part of living in Colorado. The key is to respect the wildness of wildlife. You can learn more about lions by reading any of the following books. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Things To Do Boating.

Lion Country: Part 2. Maps Publications. As for fatal attacks, the few that have occurred over the decades have often involved old, sick, or starving animals desperate enough for a meal that they were willing to go after something much larger and more aggressive than their usual prey. There are ways to avoid these occurrences. Leave the headphones at home—they keep you from hearing any wildlife that might be nearby. As for what to do next, Boyle and Riley say to make yourself look less like prey.

Raise your hands, yell, swing your pack over your head, use the flaps of a jacket to appear larger. If hiking with children, pick them up or pull them close as their small size and quick movements make them more of a target.