The mountain lion, Puma concolor, is the largest of the “small cats” and one of North America’s solitary predators. Known by many regional names including cougar, puma, and catamount, this highly adaptable carnivore boasts the most extensive geographic range of any terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, thriving in diverse environments from forests to deserts. The mountain lion is an obligate carnivore, meaning its survival relies entirely on meat, driving its constant pursuit of prey.
The Specific Interaction Between Mountain Lions and Badgers
A mountain lion can, on occasion, prey upon an American badger (Taxidea taxus), but this event is highly opportunistic and rare in the wild. The badger is not a preferred food source for the mountain lion, and instances of badger remains found in cougar digestive tracts are isolated findings in diet studies. Predation on a badger is a high-risk, low-reward proposition for a large cat. A mountain lion may only consider a badger when preferred prey is scarce, or if it encounters a young or injured individual, as the energy expenditure and potential for injury often outweigh the relatively small caloric return.
The Primary Components of a Mountain Lion’s Diet
The majority of a mountain lion’s diet consists of large, hoofed mammals, which are their specialized and preferred prey. Deer species, such as mule deer and white-tailed deer, form the bulk of their meals across much of North America. Studies show that ungulates often account for over two-thirds of the prey items consumed by mountain lions. The mountain lion is built to ambush and take down animals significantly larger than itself, often making a major kill every seven to ten days. When large prey is less abundant, they act as generalist hunters, opportunistically taking medium-sized mammals like elk, moose calves, bighorn sheep, coyotes, raccoons, and rabbits.
Badger Adaptations for Predator Avoidance
The American badger possesses several traits that serve as effective deterrents to large predators. One effective physical defense is its coat of thick, loose skin, which is difficult for a predator to puncture or get a solid grip on. This loose skin allows the badger to twist around and counter-attack, even when pinned down. Their short, powerful legs are tipped with long, heavy claws, which serve as weapons and can inflict serious injury on an attacker.
Defensive Behaviors
Badgers also exhibit an aggressive temperament, often choosing to confront a threat rather than flee. If a confrontation becomes too dangerous, the badger’s superior digging ability allows it to rapidly excavate a burrow and retreat underground in a matter of seconds. The potential for debilitating injury from a badger’s claws, combined with the low volume of meat, ensures that mountain lions focus their hunt on larger quarry.