Mountain Lion

Puma concolor

Just like your cat quietly walking in your home, the mountain lion is just as quiet and secretive, but on a much larger scale. These apex predators feed mainly on mule deer and elk. They also will prey on smaller animals including rabbits, jackrabbits, javelinas, and rodents.

Fun Facts

Unlike other large cats, they cannot roar! Instead, they growl, shriek, hiss and purr.
They are often referred to as “the cat of many names” – mountain lion, cougar, panther, puma, painter, el leon, and catamount are all used to identify them.
Mountain lions don’t leave a nail mark and their pads are shaped like an “M”.
They can jump 15 feet high and 40 feet in distance.

Classification

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Puma

Species: concolor

Habitat

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.