Mountain lions, also known as cougars and pumas, are amongst the top predatory animals in the U.S. and face an array of challenges that threaten their populations across the country.
Driven to near extinction in many regions due to hunting and habitat destruction, estimates of the mountain lion population in the U.S. vary widely, with state game agencies suggesting that the numbers range between 20,000 and 40,000 lions. However, conservation groups like the Mountain Lion Foundation believe the actual population is closer to 30,000, many of which are living in fragmented and degraded habitats.
Mountain lions are primarily found in the western states, occupying a range of habitats from the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest to the arid deserts of the Southwest.
Notable populations exist in states like California, Colorado, and Arizona, where conservation efforts are in place to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and preserve habitats. The map below details where mountain lion populations have been recorded, and the top level estimate of how many cats can be found in those places.
The following states have active, breeding populations of mountain lions, according to an a-z-animal.com analysis of state data:
Habitat adaptability
Newsweek spoke with Beth Pratt, a conservation leader, author and wildlife advocate for the National Wildlife Federation. Pratt explained that "Mountain lions inhabit a wide range of ecosystems, making their home anywhere there is shelter and prey, including mountains forests, deserts and wetlands."
Despite their adaptability, their populations suffered dramatically in the past due to human activities. Pratt said, "Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, 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."
What risks do mountain lions pose to humans?
Mountain lions pose very little risk to humans. Pratt explained to Newsweek, "most encounters between wildlife end without incident."
"Mountain lion attacks are extremely rare," she added. "If public safety is a concern, wild animals should be far down on the list of what we should fear."
Deaths due to interactions with mountain lions are extremely rare, with only 29 reported cases in the entirety of North America since 1868, according to the Mountain Lion Foundation.
Official guidance from the National Park Service recommends that you should hold your ground if you see a mountain lion, facing it upright, while backing away slowly. Do not attempt to approach it or run, as these actions could stimulate a lion's predator instincts.
The National Park Service suggests that if a mountain lion does attempt to move closer to you, you should do all you can to be intimidating, such as raising your arms and speaking loudly.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Have you or anyone you know had an encounter with a mountain lion? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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