Face the lion and stand upright.ĭo not approach a lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Stay calm: Hold your ground or back away slowly. Here’s what to do if YOU find yourself face-to-face with a mountain lion. Mountain Lion DietĪll throughout the United States, mountain lion habitats are encroached on by us – human beings! So it’s not crazy to think maybe one day you’ll encounter a mountain lion in the wild. Small mammals are on the table for hungry mountain lions. Mountain lions will hunt and feed on prey that is of a lower mass, which means they aren’t picky. The mountain lion can save the carcass by hiding it and coming to feed on it over a few days. Ouch!Ī single adult mountain lion can survive on one large prey for around two weeks. Mountain lion jaws are incredibly powerful so they can easily crush the prey’s windpipe or even snap the neck. With its strong limbs, the mountain lion usually waits until the prey comes near before jumping on to it and killing it via a powerful neck bite. Sneak attack! Mountain lions typically hunt their prey by ambushing them rather than sprinting or chasing after. For example, closer to the equator, mountain lions will hunt and feed on prey that is of a lower mass. The body mass of mountain lion prey varies by region.
Those are animals much bigger in size and strength! Mountain lions hunt large species of deer, elk, and moose. It is a predator and a carnivore so it can eat any animal it catches, whether it is an insect or a large ungulate! Mountain Lion DietĪ mountain lion diet is varied. The eyes of mountain lion cubs appear blue due to lack of pigmentation, similar to human babies!Īt approximately 5 months of age, the cub’s eyes turn brown and remain brown throughout the cougar’s life. When the eyes open between 5 and 19 days after birth. Mountain lion kittens are fully weaned – which means they eat only meat and not mother’s milk – at approximately 4 to 6 months of age.Ĭat cubs are born with their eyes closed. Like all mammals, a newborn cub’s diet consists of its mother’s milk for the first seven weeks.Īs the mountain lion cub matures to 7-9 weeks of age, the mother begins taking the cubs to eat the meat of her kill. Mountain lion babies are called kittens or cubs. Litter mates will travel together for several months. Most litters consist of 2-4 kittens that are born in warmer months. Mountain lion gestation is 92 days and they give birth every two years to mountain lion cubs. Mountain Lion Fun Facts – Baby Cubs!įemale mountain lions breed at two years old, after they establish their territory. The infants are normally spotted with rings on the tail. Standing up to 90 cm tall and having a length of around 8 ft.ĭespite their size, they are incredibly agile and slender creatures. They are the fourth largest wild cat species in the world. Interesting Facts About the Mountain Lion Facts About Mountain Lions for KidsĪ mountain lion has a round head with erect ears, powerful jaws, and retractable claws. Male mountain lions will often compete with each other for territory. Mountain lions can be territorial animals and will protect their habitat. Mountain lions can and will share their kills with other adult mountain lions. Mothers will live with the mountain lion cubs until they grow up while other adults will be met with on rare occasions. They live and hunt alone, only meeting to mate. Like most species of the cat family, the mountain lion is mostly solitary. Mountain lions can survive in areas with very little vegetation as well. These cats show a preference towards canyon areas, mountainous regions, and dense bushes. Mountain lions can be found from forests to deserts. This distribution of mountain lions is due to its high versatility and adaptability towards any habitat type! They can survive and thrive in many types of climates and terrain! You can find Colorado mountain lions and California mountain lions, too. The mountain lion’s habitat spans from the Northernmost areas of Canada to the Southern tips of the Andes mountains. The mountain lion is one of the largest distributions of wild animals in the Americas! You can find them all over North, Central and South America. These facts about the mountain lion include facts about their habitat, the mountain lion diet, gnarly bite strength and even what to do if you come across in mountain lion in real life! Facts About The Mountain Lion Mountain lions are the more common wild cats found in the United States, so there is so much to learn! Come explore these cool mountain lion facts for kids with us.