Mountain lions are one of the biggest animals in the Sierra Nevada region – reaching a length of 6 to 8 ft. and a weight of 80 to 200 lbs. However, because of their tendency to stay hidden and their secretive nature, they are rarely seen by humans.
They can be found in almost all habitats in the area including conifer forests, oak woodlands, brushy hillsides, or grasslands. The mountain lion does require a lot of room to roam, however, with males generally claiming larger territories than females. Normally a male needs 15 square miles and a female can need anywhere from 3 to 12 square miles. Mountain lions typically avoid one another, and travel through their range following the herds of deer.
In California, mountain lion populations are estimated to be between 2500 and 5000 individuals, with their population growing.
What do mountain lions eat?
Mountain lions are carnivores and although they eat a variety of animals, their main source of food is mule deer. Usually, they are most active during dawn and evening hours, during which they engage in ambush hunting. Mountain lions hunt alone and prefer to live solitarily, although there is no documentation to suggest they are defensive of their territory.
Mountain lion reproduction
Females can give birth to two or three cubs at any time of the year, and are pregnant for 2 – 3 months. The cubs generally stay with their mother for one year, during which time she teaches them skills they will need to survive, such as hunting for prey. Males are not involved in raising young, and the resident male can father young with multiple females.