Mountain lions are large, muscular cats. Who would think that they fright in human presence?
Mountain lions can range in size depending on location, but are generally larger closer to the poles. Adult males can be over 8 feet long and weigh between 130 and 150 pounds, while adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds.
Mountain lions have short, coarse fur that is pale brown to tawny above and a blend of white and buff below. They have black markings on the tip of their tail, ears, and around their snout.
Mountain lions have a small head, long tail, broad skull, and highly arched forehead. They have large canine teeth and sharp, specialized molars for stabbing and tearing. Their feet are broad, with four digits on hind feet and five on forefeet.
Mountain lions can be found in a wide range of ecosystems, including mountains, forests, deserts, and wetlands. They are generally found wherever deer are present.
Mountain lions are territorial and have naturally low population densities. They are obligate carnivores and play an important role in Western Hemisphere ecosystems.
These cats are the largest of the small cats. Their powerful hind legs enable them to jump as far as 40 to 45 feet in distance and can jump as high as 15 feet. They can sprint up to 50 miles per hour.
Mountain lions are the largest cats that purr.
Consider such facts. They're majestic. How is it that they can coexist in an ecosystem together with humans?
• Mountain lions are shifting their activity to avoid interactions with humans, such as cyclists, hikers, and joggers.
• Studies also found that mountain lions living in areas with higher levels of human recreation were more nocturnal than those in more remote regions.
Mountain lions are found in urban environments, too. Mountain lions in the Los Angeles area, as an example, deal with many challenges -- busy roadways where they're often killed, wildfires, rodenticide exposure, low genetic diversity and fragmented habitat.
Mountain lions aren't fans of humans. They voluntarily avoid humans.
They're big versions of the house cats that we know. Humans are a perceived threat. Mountain lions instinctively perceive humans as a potential danger due to our larger size and ability to defend ourselves.
Similar to others animals, mountain lions scare at the mere sound of humans. Studies have shown that even just the sound of human voices can cause mountain lions to flee.
Hungry priorities don't have room for human game. There's no nutritional value in the two legged species. Humans are not a typical prey species for mountain lions, so they have no evolutionary reason to hunt us.
Building things constantly rattles the big cat habitat. Human presence often disrupts a mountain lion's natural hunting grounds, causing them to avoid areas with high human activity.
Mountain lions in urban areas lean towards the night life. Mountain lions en la vida loca.
Mountain lions are beautiful, and dangerous at the same point. They're here; we're here. The big cats are adjusting.
