Summary ²

Mountain lions, Puma concolor, are the most widespread large mammal in the Americas, ranging from Alaska to Argentina, though they are most prevalent in the western United States (1)(2). They are present throughout the majority of California (3)(4). Mountain lions tend to live in mountainous regions and prefer woodland, chaparral, and desert habitats (1). Mountain lions are also called pumas or cougars (4). They have slender, muscular bodies with rounded heads and long tails (1). Their short fur is yellow or gray-brown on their backs and white on their undersides. Not including their tails, which are about one third of their total length, mountain lions range from 0.86 to 1.54 m (2.8–5 ft) long. Typically, the males are larger than the females, with male mountain lions weighing 68 kg (150 lb) on average and females weighing around 55 kg (120 lb) (1)(4).

Mountain Lions are carnivorous animals that hunt primarily for mammals, including deer, rabbits, sheep, and rodents (4)(5). They are considered both nocturnal and crepuscular, so hunting occurs at night and during dusk and dawn. Mountain lions may experience competition for prey from other large predators, like bears and wolves, but adult mountain lions have no natural predators (1).

Coal Oil Point Reserve Facts ²

At Coal Oil Point Reserve, there has only been one mountain lion sighting within the past decade near the trees surrounding the oil tanks at COPR. They are considered rare at the reserve. Mountain lions could occupy the grassland, coastal scrub, and woodland habitats.

References ²

1. Dewey, T. & Shivaraju, A. (2003). Puma concolor. Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Puma_concolor/
2. Fire Effects Information System. (1995). Puma concolor. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/puco/all.html
3. Lester, D. & Knight, T. (n.d.). Cougar or Mountain Lion (Felis concolor). California NatureMapping Program. http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/maps/ca/mammals/CA_cougar.html
4. Jameson, E. W., Jr., & Peeters, H. J. (2004). Mammals of California (Revised ed.). Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) pfaucher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by pfaucher
2. (c) copr, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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