Wild African lions are not found in California. However, the state is home to its own powerful native big cat. This formidable predator plays a significant role in California’s diverse ecosystems. Understanding this unique feline is key to appreciating California’s natural heritage and learning how to share its expansive wild spaces.
California’s Native Big Cats
California’s native big cat is commonly known as the mountain lion, but also goes by cougar or puma. Scientifically, this animal is classified as Puma concolor, distinguishing it from the African lion, Panthera leo. Unlike African lions, which roar, mountain lions purr, similar to domestic cats.
Mountain lions are slender, muscular felines with a uniformly brownish coat. Their fur can range from yellowish-brown to grayish-brown on their upper bodies, with a paler, almost buffy, color on their undersides. Distinctive features include a pinkish nose with a black border, black markings behind their ears, and a black tip on their long, cylindrical tail. Adult males typically weigh between 80 and 180 pounds, while females are smaller, usually weighing 65 to 90 pounds. Their total length, including their substantial tail, can range from six to eight feet.
These adaptable predators inhabit a wide variety of environments across California, including forests, brushlands, chaparral, mountainous regions, and valleys, essentially wherever their primary prey, deer, are present. While they are found throughout most of the state, suitable habitat covers approximately 40 to 50 percent of California’s land area. Their extensive range makes them the most widely distributed wild, terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere.
Mountain lions serve as apex predators within their ecosystems, playing an important role in maintaining the health of prey populations, particularly deer. By preying on sick, weak, or older individuals, they help control disease and prevent overgrazing, which benefits the overall health of plant and animal communities. The carcasses left behind by mountain lion kills also provide an important food source for a variety of scavengers, including other mammals, birds, and insects, enriching the soil with nutrients. Their presence strengthens the connections within diverse ecological communities, making them a keystone species.
Coexisting with Mountain Lions
Encounters between mountain lions and humans are uncommon, as these animals are reclusive. The risk of a mountain lion attack is extremely low; a person is statistically more likely to be struck by lightning than to be attacked by one. However, living or recreating in mountain lion country means understanding how to safely share the environment with these powerful animals. Taking preventative measures and knowing how to react during an encounter can minimize potential risks.
To prevent encounters, it is important to avoid attracting a mountain lion’s natural prey to your property. This includes securing pets and livestock in sturdy, covered shelters, especially at night, as they can be easy prey. Refraining from feeding any wildlife, including deer, helps prevent mountain lions from associating human-populated areas with food sources. Landscaping around homes by removing dense vegetation and installing outdoor lighting can also reduce hiding spots for these cautious predators.
When hiking or spending time outdoors in mountain lion habitat, taking precautions can further enhance safety. It is advisable to hike in groups and avoid venturing out alone, particularly during dawn, dusk, or at night when mountain lions are most active. Keeping children close and within sight at all times is also important, as mountain lions may be drawn to smaller individuals. Being aware of your surroundings, avoiding the use of headphones, and making noise while moving through trails can signal your presence to wildlife.
If you encounter a mountain lion, remaining calm is paramount. Do not run, as this can trigger a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, face the animal, stand tall, and make yourself appear as large as possible by waving your arms or opening your jacket. Make loud, firm noises to intimidate the animal and maintain eye contact.
If you have small children, pick them up without bending over, keeping them close to your body. Avoid crouching or bending down, as this can make you resemble prey. If an attack occurs, fight back aggressively with any available means, as playing dead is not an effective strategy against a mountain lion.