Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are a native presence across Montana. The state provides suitable habitat, characterized by rugged terrain and an abundance of primary prey, such as deer and elk. Coexistence requires an understanding of their distribution, how their populations are managed, and the necessary safety protocols for recreating in their territory.
Distribution and Habitat
Mountain lions are most commonly found throughout the western and central parts of Montana, where the landscape is dominated by the Rocky Mountains and foothills. Their preferred habitat consists of areas with dense forest cover, steep canyons, and rough terrain, which provides them with cover for stalking prey and establishing dens. These secretive cats often utilize major river drainages and areas with high concentrations of deer and elk, which are their main food source.
Their range extends across approximately half of the state, and they are increasingly being documented in the wooded river breaks and riparian areas of Eastern Montana. While they prefer wilderness settings, their pursuit of prey can occasionally lead them into areas near human settlements, especially where wild areas interface with residential development. They are less common in the open prairie and agricultural lands of the far eastern plains due to the lack of cover and consistent food supply.
Population Management Efforts
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is responsible for managing the mountain lion population to ensure sustainability and minimize conflicts with humans and livestock. The state classifies the mountain lion as a game animal, which allows for regulated public harvest as the primary tool for population control. This management is guided by an adaptive harvest framework, where hunting quotas are set for specific hunting districts and ecoregions across the state.
Establishing accurate population numbers is difficult due to the mountain lion’s elusive nature and solitary behavior, so FWP relies on a comprehensive monitoring strategy. Biologists utilize techniques like genetic sampling, often involving trained houndsmen, to estimate population density in different management ecoregions. This data, combined with harvest information and extensive field research, allows the agency to make informed decisions about quotas aimed at maintaining a healthy population while addressing local concerns about conflicts.
Safety Guidelines for Encounters
When recreating in mountain lion country, the most effective safety measure involves reducing the chances of an encounter in the first place. Hiking in groups and making noise, such as talking loudly, can alert a lion to your presence and give it time to move away. It is also important to keep children and pets close, especially during dawn and dusk hours when mountain lions are most active.
If a mountain lion is sighted, the most important rule is never to run, as this can trigger the cat’s instinct to chase. Instead, people should stand their ground and make themselves appear as large as possible by raising their arms, opening a jacket, or slowly waving their hands. Maintaining eye contact and speaking firmly in a loud voice helps to disrupt and discourage any predatory behavior the cat might be exhibiting.
If small children are present, they should be picked up immediately without bending over or turning your back, because crouching can make a person resemble a four-legged prey animal. In the rare event of an attack, one must fight back aggressively with whatever is available, as the goal is to convince the animal that you are a danger.