Mountain lions once lived throughout Texas. Today, they are believed to primarily inhabit the Trans-Pecos region in Far West Texas and parts of South Texas and the Hill Country. Currently, Texas is the only state that does not manage its mountain lion population and has no regulations on hunting and trapping. Stock image
The Highland Lakes’ biggest cat is not that fat tabby you’ve been feeding in your backyard; it’s actually the mountain lion. But don’t expect to see one. Mountain lion sightings are rare. The big cat avoids people, is superbly stealthy, and each has a territorial range of 50-250 square-miles with little overlap.
To put it in perspective, the range of one female would cover the entire Highland Lakes area, while a male cat’s range would cover the size of Austin.
Tell-tale signs of a mountain lion’s presence include 3- to 5-inch paw prints, a food cache, scat containing fur and bone bits, and deep scratch marks on trees or logs.
Mountain lions have the widest global distribution of any New World mammal, covering much of North and South America. They are fairly imposing cats at 75-200 pounds, 24-30 inches at the shoulder, and about 7 feet from nose to tail tip.
Despite their size, these fierce predators are not considered true big cats as they are not members of the Panthera family and cannot roar. It might be hard to believe, but mountain lions are more closely related to domestic cats than they are lions and tigers.
Like house cats, mountain lions:
- stalk their prey;
- cover their poop;
- have five front toes (only four of which show on a track);
- scratch to mark their territory;
- have retractible claws;
- can independently rotate their ears;
- have sandpaper-like tongues;
- and are expert climbers.
They are naturally curious and will play with things that catch their eye, including siblings. They also purr, hiss, growl, scream, meow, squeak, and spit.
Unlike house cats, mountain lions are apex predators. They are at the top of the food chain in their environment. They prey mainly on deer but will also eat feral pigs, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, rabbits, porcupines, livestock, rodents, and even birds.
Mountain lions are expert stalkers that swiftly ambush prey from the rear. They eat until full and will cache or cover leftovers with leaf debris and soil to devour later.
A single mountain lion usually consumes one deer every seven to 10 days. They are constantly on the prowl and are crepuscular, meaning most active at dusk and dawn. If prey is scarce, a mountain lion will extend its already large range.
FEATURES
Legendary in Native American folklore, the mountain lion is well known for its stealth, size, and strength. As the fourth-largest cat species in the world, the mountain lion doesn’t hold the title for world’s biggest cat but it does hold the Guinness world record for the mammal with the most names — more than 40 — including cougar, puma, catamount, panther, and deer tiger.
The biggest of the small cats, a mountain lion is easily distinguishable by a handful of key characteristics. Its scientific name is Puma concolor. Concolor is Latin for “of uniform color” as its body is one solid color with no stripes or spots. Its body ranges from a tawny tan to gray, the belly is buff colored, and the tail tip and muzzle have a bit of black.
This cat has a small, round head with rounded ears, a slender body, and a long, heavy tail. Its hind legs are larger than its front legs, making it a powerful jumper.
FAMILY LIFE
Breeding season is whenever, but most births happen in late winter or early spring. Females make their “availability” known to nearby males via vocalizations and leaving scents by rubbing on the objects around them.
A female mountain lion typically has a litter every two years. After a three-month gestation period, she births one to six cubs, which are usually born with black-brown spots and blue eyes. After a few months, the spots fade and the eyes turn yellow-brown.
Mountain lions are known to be solitary animals, but the cubs stick around for a year or two to live with and learn from the mother. Young mountain lions will not breed until they are on their own. The lifespan of a mountain lion in the wild is about 10 years.
FUN FELINE FACTS
The average mountain lion can:
- run about 45 mph for short distances;
- jump 30-45 feet horizontally and 18 feet vertically;
- bite with a force of about 400 pounds per square-inch;
- and live in every type of ecosystem in North and South America.
