Predator Species
|
Mountain Lion |
 Habitat |
The mountain lion occurs only in the western hemisphere
and has one of the most extensive ranges of any land mammal, from the Straights
of Magellan in South America to the Canadian Yukon. The major reduction in
mountain lion distribution has come as a result of its extirpation from areas of
historic range in the eastern United States and Canada. In Arizona mountain
lions are absent only from the extremely arid southwestern portions of the state
and those areas heavily impacted by human development. In general, the
distribution of mountain lions in Arizona corresponds with the distribution of
its major prey species, deer.
Life History
Mountain lions may breed at any time of the year and consequently litters may be
born in any month. Summer is the peak period of kitten births, with litter sizes
of two, three, or four being the most common. Young remain with the mother for
15 to 22 months learning the skills necessary for survival. Juvenile males tend
to disperse long distances compared to relatively short dispersals for juvenile
females. Mountain lions are essentially solitary animals. Adult females may be
accompanied by kittens, but are normally not associated with other adult animals
except for mating purposes.
Deer, both whitetail and mule, are the principal mountain lion prey species in
Arizona. In some areas javelina and/or livestock can be major components of
mountain lion diet. Mountain lions will almost always attempt to cover the
uneaten portion of a kill with leaves or other debris. An entire deer can be
consumed in two nights. A conscientious observer is usually able to detect the
presence of mountain lion in an area through the presence of tracks, scrapes,
kills, or other sign.
Hunt History
Lions were classified as a “predatory animal” by the territorial legislature and
were subject to a statewide bounty of $50 dollars in 1919. This status continued
until 1970 when the mountain lion was classified as a big-game animal and a tag
was required to take one, even though ranchers and their agents could still take
a depredating lion. A mandatory checkout procedure and other reporting
requirements were instituted in 1982. Reporting information indicates that lion
harvests have gradually increased over time. Recently, the annual kill has
ranged between 250 and 350 animals, of which approximately 15 percent were taken
by predator control agents.
Behavior
Mountain lions are very specialized top predators and consequently do not
normally exist in high concentrations. Mountain lions maintain spatial
separation between each other, thereby assuring that each individual has the
resources necessary to survive. If these separations are not maintained,
mountain lions will kill each other, which is the normal method of population
regulation in undisturbed mountain lion populations. The cryptic system of
boundary marking employed by resident mountain lions serves to provide for
mutual avoidance and survival. Mountain lions kill large prey species with
regularity, usually one deer-sized animal is killed every six to 12 days.
Considerable skill executing stalks and more importantly consummating the kill
is required to avoid debilitating injury.
| Summary |
- Breeding Period:
Year Round
- Young Appear:
Year Round
- Average Number
of Young: 2-4
- Distribution:
Found statewide except extreme southwest portions of the state
- Habitat:
Desert mountains with broken terrain and steep slopes
- Food Preference:
Deer, Elk, Javelina, and livestock
- Range:
M-20-150 miles; F-10-50 miles
- Live Weight:
M-80-150lbs.; F-70-100lbs.
- Predators:
Practically none
|
|
|
