The Elusive Nature of Mountain Lions

I was walking downtown to meet some friends for dinner. People were gathered along the Knoll-Willows Open Space looking at something with spotting scopes and fancy cameras. “What’s going on?” I asked.

A man responded enthusiastically, “There’s a mountain lion resting on the snow just below the knoll.” I couldn’t see anything then but when I looked through his scope, I saw the beautiful animal. Without the scope I could see a tawny lump off in the distance.

At that moment, I saw my first mountain lion in the “wild.” I have seen mountain lions in zoos but never in an unconfined environment. A mountain lion came to the open space not more than 200 yards from my home. It apparently killed a deer and then hung around to devour the deer and rest between meals. Later that evening it left the area.

I love cats. Seeing the mountain lion was thrilling. On the other hand, I was also glad when it moved on as the “urban-wildlife” interface was not the best circumstance for either the lion or town residents.

These large cats have ranges including mountains, forests, and deserts. They have muscular bodies, powerful limbs, and long tails, which help them balance. I have always loved that my cat, Gitch, has similar physical characteristics. Mountain lions are carnivores and primarily prey on deer, although they may also attack elk, bighorn sheep, and small mammals like rabbits. They hunt alone by ambushing their prey.

Mountain lions are not a species of concern for extinction. However, they face threats such as habitat loss, fragmentation, and conflicts with humans. Currently an initiative is being petitioned for the Colorado general election ballot to ban the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx in the state. If the petition is successful, Colorado voters may get to determine the future fate of these cats.

I have never seen a mountain lion in the wild during my 50+ years of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park because these animals generally avoid humans. Attacks on humans are rare. Like many wild animals, however, humans can encroach and threaten their territories and they will retaliate to protect themselves and their young.

I feel privileged to have seen this cat. I worry, however, about what the future may hold for these predators as well as the wolves in our state. In the meantime, I will enjoy the knowledge that these big cats are part of my ecosystem.