Instead, stand and face the animal. Not necessarily, says a new study, which warns that standing still may up one's risk of becoming mountain lion chow. Richard Coss, a psychology professor and expert on the evolution of predator—prey relationships at the University of California, Davis, studied the behavior of people who were attacked by mountain lions aka pumas or cougars between and in the U. The study also found, however, that those who ran had a slightly higher chance of being killed in an attack—28 percent five of those who fled died as a result of injuries, compared with 23 percent eight of those who remained motionless during big cat attacks.
About 39 percent, or 28 people, who moved away slowly when approached by a mountain lion escaped without injury. On the other hand, people who froze were the least likely to escape injury when a mountain lion attacked.
Only 26 percent of them escaped. They also had the greatest frequency of severe injuries: 43 percent of those who stood still in the face of a lion were badly injured compared with 17 percent of those who fled, according to the study. Thus, running might be the smartest move, Coss concludes, particularly if you are in a situation that allows you to sprint in a sure-footed fashion. Click here for more information on mountain lion tracks, scat and other signs.
Mountain lions once ranged more extensively than any other mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Historically they could be found anywhere from the Canadian Yukon to the Straits of Magellan — over degrees in latitude — and from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. As a result, each native tribe and group of European explorers gave the cat a different name.
Today, mountain lions are listed in dictionaries under more names than any other animal in the world. Writer Claude T. Barnes listed 18 native South American, 25 native North American, and 40 English names for the same animal. Depending on the region and native language, common names for the American lion include: mountain lion, cougar, panther, puma, painter, el leon, and catamount. Although the mountain lion may have more names and nicknames than any other animal, the following are not names for lions and represent completely different species: bobcat, lynx, ocelot, jaguar, leopard, cheetah, Asiatic lion, African lion, and tiger.
To date there has never been a confirmed case of a melanistic black mountain lion. The solitary and elusive nature of mountain lions makes them difficult to research and practically impossible to count. Population estimation models are based on numerous long-term studies of lion populations, their prey, and habitat mapping.
Based on the best available data at this time, the Mountain Lion Foundation believes the mountain lion population in the United States is unlikely to exceed 30, And, many of those lions depend upon severely fragmented and degraded habitat, are in severe danger of over-hunting and road kill, are imperiled by intolerance of their presence on the landscape, and are so few and unconnected they are on the edge of genetic viability.
People are responsible for the death of more than 3, mountain lions in the U. Puma concolor means lion of one color. Adult mountain lions have a tan-colored coat — much like the African lion — but are slighter in build with a head that is smaller in proportion to its body.
The sexes look alike, though male lions are 30 to 40 percent larger than females. Exceptional individuals have exceeded pounds, but this is rare. Adult males will measure 6 to 8 feet from nose to tail tip and females 5 to 7 feet.
Mountain lion kittens or cubs either term is correct have camouflaging spots and rings around their tails that fade as they mature. Mountain lions used to occupy the entire United States coast-to-coast, but today they are primarily found in 14 western states with a small endangered population in Florida.
Due to conservation efforts, mountain lion populations in the western United States are stable, although far lower than they were historically. While there are still several thousand mountain lions in the wild, their population has significantly decreased from their historical population due to unsustainable hunting, habitat destruction , and conflicts with livestock. Mountain lions are an "umbrella species" for conservation because their conservation depends on the preservation of large amounts of habitat.
A mountain lion usually requires about 13 times as much area as a black bear or 40 times as much area as a bobcat to thrive.
By preserving enough wilderness to support a stable mountain lion population, countless other species of plants and animals that share mountain lion habitat benefit. The eastern cougar, a subspecies of mountain lion, was declared officially extinct by the U. Florida panthers , the other U. There are less than Florida panthers left in the wild. Learn more about our work through our Save LA Cougars campaign.
Unlike other large cats, they cannot roar. Instead they growl, shriek, hiss and purr, similar to house cats. Mountain lions are territorial and solitary.
They use pheromones and physical signs like claw markings or feces to define their territory. A groundbreaking bipartisan bill aims to address the looming wildlife crisis before it's too late, while creating sorely needed jobs.
More than one-third of U. The threat to public safety will be assessed and appropriate action will be taken. Back to Your Safety Top of Page. Please note that if you are calling between pm and 10 am, park staff may not be available to answer your call. Explore This Park. Point Reyes National Seashore California. Info Alerts Maps Calendar Reserve. Alerts In Effect Dismiss. Dismiss View all alerts. Your Safety in Mountain Lion Habitat.
We offer the following recommendations to increase your safety: Do not hike alone. Hike in groups, with adults supervising children. Keep children close to you. Keep children within your sight at all times. If you see a mountain lion: Stay calm.
Hold your ground or back away slowly. Face the lion and stand upright.
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