California's Mountain Lion Population

Category

Size, Characteristics, Habit, & More For The Mountain Lion

Size

Males measuring up to 8 feet in length and weighing up to 220 pounds.  Females are slightly smaller. Grow up to 6 feet long and weighing up to 140 pounds. 

Social characteristics

Solitary animals that hunt alone. Hunting at night, when their keen sight and hearing make them even more effective predators.

Adaptions for hunting

Their retractable claws are razor-sharp and are essential for catching and holding onto prey.

Adaptions for hunting

Powerful hind legs adapted to provide incredible bursts of speed when necessary, allowing them to catch prey in short, sudden sprints.

Adaptions for hunting

Excellent eyesight and hearing, which help them locate and track prey in all terrain.

Adaptations for hunting

Incredibly stealthy and can move silently through their environment, making them even more challenging to detect.

Habitat Prey availability, water sources, and adequate cover influence their geographic location.

Arrow

Habitat

habitats with a mix of vegetation, including woodlands, coniferous forests, and chaparral.

Preferred habitat

regions with a large prey base, such as deer, a primary food source.

Preferred habitat

Sierra Nevada mountain range to the coastal regions and even in urban areas.

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