The mountain lion (Puma concolor), also known as the cougar or puma, is California’s largest native cat and a powerful apex predator found across the state’s mountains, forests, and foothills. With a sleek, muscular body, tawny coat, and long tail, adult mountain lions can weigh over 100 pounds and are solitary by nature, typically avoiding humans. They primarily hunt deer, including mule deer, but will also prey on smaller animals when necessary. Despite increasing encounters due to expanding human development, mountain lions remain elusive and are essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems by regulating prey populations. In California, they are a specially protected species, symbolizing the wild and untamed spirit of the state’s natural landscapes.
More information:
