Colorado’s diverse landscapes are home to mountain lions, a significant part of the state’s ecosystem. A common question concerns the number of these predators roaming the state. While an exact census of mountain lions is challenging, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) provides population estimates based on extensive research and data.
Why Counting is Difficult
Counting mountain lions is difficult due to their solitary and elusive behavior. These large carnivores are typically active during dusk and dawn, preferring to avoid human contact. They occupy vast territories, with individual home ranges varying from 10 to 370 square miles. Their effective camouflage helps them remain unseen.
Wildlife agencies employ various methods to estimate populations, as direct counting is impractical. Techniques include tracking, analysis of scat, camera trapping, and genetic sampling. More advanced methods include GPS collaring and ear tagging, combined with mark-resight models, where researchers identify individual animals from camera captures to estimate density. These approaches help overcome challenges posed by their low population density and wide-ranging habits.
Current Population Estimates
Colorado Parks and Wildlife estimates the statewide population of independent mountain lions, excluding kittens, at 3,800 to 4,400. These figures are derived from various research efforts and data collected over time. CPW continues to refine these numbers through ongoing studies, such as the 10-year Western Slope Mountain Lion Density Study, which began in 2020.
Recent findings from this Western Slope study, using GPS collaring and camera-based mark-resight, confirm robust mountain lion populations in specific areas. For example, the Middle Park study area showed an average of 2.5 independent lions per 60 square miles, while the Gunnison Basin averaged 4.2 independent lions per 60 square miles. These studies indicate that Colorado’s mountain lion populations are stable, and in some regions, densities have even exceeded previous projections. Overall, evidence suggests that lion populations in Colorado have grown since 1965, when they were classified as a big game species.
Managing Mountain Lion Populations
Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages mountain lion populations with the goal of maintaining healthy numbers, minimizing human-wildlife conflicts, and ensuring ecological balance. This management involves using population estimates to inform decisions about regulated hunting and other conservation strategies. Mountain lions are classified as big game animals under Colorado law.
CPW’s management tools include regulated hunting, which operates under specific harvest limits. These limits include caps on overall human-caused mortality and restrictions on the percentage of adult female lions that can be harvested annually, which helps maintain breeding populations. Habitat preservation also plays a role, as lions are most abundant in areas with plentiful deer, their primary food source. CPW also addresses situations where lions attack livestock or pose a threat to public safety, allowing for their removal under specific regulations.
Sharing the Landscape
Given mountain lions’ presence across much of Colorado, understanding how to coexist is beneficial for both people and wildlife. Mountain lions primarily inhabit foothills, canyons, and mesa country, preferring areas with abundant deer and adequate cover for stalking prey. Their territories can overlap with human activity, especially in expanding residential areas near natural habitats.
For residents and outdoor enthusiasts, practical advice can help minimize encounters. Making noise while hiking, walking in groups, and keeping children and pets close can help avoid surprising a lion. If an encounter occurs, it is advisable to speak calmly, move slowly, and avoid running, as this might trigger a chase response. Making oneself appear larger by raising arms or opening a jacket, and fighting back if attacked, are also recommended. Additionally, securing outdoor pet food, eliminating dense vegetation around homes, and installing motion-sensor lighting can deter lions from approaching residential areas.