Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers, are apex predators in their habitat. As ambush hunters, they have the element of surprise on their side to take down prey. But mountain lions have predators of their own to watch out for.
If you’re wondering what animals eat mountain lions, read on to learn the details.
Natural Predators of Mountain Lions
Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears, especially mature male bears weighing up to 800 pounds, are one of the few animals that can prey on mountain lions (also called cougars, pumas, panthers or catamounts). These powerful predators have massive paws and jaw strength that can easily kill a deer, elk or even a bull moose.
When confronting a mountain lion, grizzlies will use their size and strength advantage to overpower the big cat. There are a few reported cases of grizzlies killing mountain lions in conflicts over prey or territory.
One remarkable video from 2019 in British Columbia, Canada shows a massive grizzly bear pursuing a full-grown mountain lion up a tree. The unfortunate cougar scales a bare pine tree but cannot escape the determined bear below.
Grizzlies are adept climbers and can quickly chase down mountain lions that make a misstep.
Wolf Packs
While individual wolves pose little threat, coordinated wolf packs can occasionally take down solitary mountain lions. With strength in numbers, a wolf pack can exhaust and overpower a mountain lion. Wolves and mountain lions compete directly for prey like deer and elk and will sometimes fight over carcasses.
There are documented reports of wolf packs killing mountain lions, especially kittens and subadults.
A 2008 study in Yellowstone National Park found that over a decade, at least 3 mountain lions were likely killed by wolves and a few more were probably injured while defending kills. The interactions were likely tied to the seasonal availability of prey.
As the Yellowstone wolf population grew, conflicts with mountain lions increased as they competed for limited prey resources.
Other Mountain Lions
Mature male mountain lions are highly territorial of their large home ranges. They will aggressively defend their domain and kill intruding male mountain lions, especially younger animals. Killing fellow cougars eliminates competition for prey and mating opportunities within their terrain.
There are also a few accounts of female mountain lions preying on kittens. Whether for territorial reasons, prey or even to trigger a female back into estrous, big cats do on rare occasion kill young of their own species.
However, mountain lion attacks on their own kind make up a very small percentage of known killings.
Competition for Food Sources
Black Bears
Black bears occupy some of the same terrain as mountain lions and compete for similar food sources like deer, elk, and smaller mammals. Research in Yellowstone National Park found that the reintroduction of wolves benefited mountain lions by reducing competition from bears, who were less able to monopolize prime winter carcasses when wolves were present.
One study found that in areas of spatial overlap, mountain lions shifted their habitat use to avoid encounters with black bears. However, direct competition is mitigated by some key differences – black bears are more herbivorous, while mountain lions rely almost exclusively on meat.
Coyotes
As opportunistic hunters, coyotes may compete with mountain lions for prey like deer and elk calves. However, they are also potential prey themselves. Mountain lions are one of the main predators of coyotes where their ranges overlap.
In Texas, over 25% of analyzed mountain lion scat contained coyote fur and bones.
Coyotes also compete with bobcats, which are smaller felines that occupy similar ecological niches to mountain lions. Reducing competition from coyotes likely benefits bobcats and young mountain lions still establishing their territories.
Bobcats
Bobcats and mountain lions have highly overlapping habitats and prey on many of the same species, like rabbits, squirrels and birds. However, given the considerable size difference between these felines, direct competition is limited.
| Animal | Average Weight |
| Mountain lion | 115-220 lbs |
| Bobcat | 11-40 lbs |
Mountain lions may kill bobcats from time to time, but they do not actively hunt them. In Texas, analysis of over 200 mountain lion scat samples found no evidence of bobcats being eaten.
The niche differentiation caused by their huge size discrepancy likely explains how bobcats and mountain lions continue to coexist across much of North America.
Human Hunting of Mountain Lions
Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers, have been hunted by humans for centuries. Here is an overview of the history and current state of human hunting of these elusive big cats.
History of Hunting Mountain Lions
Indigenous peoples like the Apache and Navajo hunted mountain lions for food, hides, and to protect livestock. When European settlers arrived in North America in the 17th-19th centuries, they began hunting cougars for similar reasons.
Unregulated hunting nearly wiped out mountain lion populations in much of their range.
In the 1960s-1970s, some states like California banned sport hunting of mountain lions. But in other areas, the cats were still pursued relentlessly by hunters and government predator control agents. By the 1990s, attitudes began to shift, with more focus on conservation.
Regulated Hunting Today
These days, regulated hunting of mountain lions is permitted in many western states like Colorado, Montana, and Idaho. Annual harvest limits and hunting seasons aim to control populations while maintaining healthy numbers.
Hunters are required to obtain special licenses or tags. The use of dogs to tree lions is controversial but legal in some states. Killing female lions with kittens is often prohibited.
Supporters argue regulated hunting provides revenue for conservation and reduces conflicts with livestock. Critics counter that hunts are inhumane and unnecessary for management.
Controversies and Challenges
Several issues continue to surround the hunting of mountain lions today:
- Is recreational hunting of mountain lions ethical? Some see it as cruel sport hunting, while others argue it’s an important American tradition.
- Do hunting limits ensure sustainable populations? Disagreements persist over safe harvest quotas.
- Are hounds necessary for effective hunts? Use of dogs raises welfare concerns.
- Should protections be strengthened? Some advocate for more refuges and tighter control of female kills.
The debate over human hunting of mountain lions seems unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. But management policies are gradually becoming more conservation-oriented as we learn to coexist with these wild cats.
Disease and Parasites
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded animals, including mountain lions. It is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually through bites. Rabies attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
Rabid mountain lions may exhibit abnormal behavior such as daytime activity, lack of fear of humans, and unprovoked aggression. According to the CDC, rabies is not commonly reported in mountain lions, but cases do occur. From 2008-2017, only 3 rabid mountain lions were reported in the United States.
Prompt postexposure treatment is essential for any humans bitten by a mountain lion to prevent rabies.
Distemper
Distemper is a viral disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV). It affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of animals. The disease is spread through airborne exposure to the virus from sneezing, coughing, or shared items contaminated with nasal discharge.
Distemper is very contagious and poses a significant threat to mountain lion populations.
According to a study, over half of sampled mountain lions in California had been exposed to CDV. Kittens under 3 months old have the highest mortality rates from distemper. Surviving kittens may have permanent nervous system damage.
There is no cure for distemper, but vaccination can prevent infection in mountain lions.
Roundworms and Tapeworms
Roundworms and tapeworms are intestinal parasites that can infect mountain lions. Kittens are often infected by their mothers before birth or through nursing. Adult mountain lions pick up worms by ingesting parasite eggs from contaminated feces or by eating infected prey animals.
Heavy worm burdens can lead to malnutrition, anemia, bowel issues, and even death in severe cases.
A 2002 study found that 45% of mountain lions examined in California were infected with roundworms. Tapeworm infection rates were over 80%. Deworming drugs are effective for treatment, but reinfection is common.
Proper carcass disposal after hunting and consistent deworming help control parasites in mountain lion populations.
Vehicles
Mountain lions are apex predators that inhabit a wide range of habitats across North and South America. Despite their fearsome reputation, they face several threats from human activities and vehicles are a major cause of death and injury for these big cats.
As human populations expand and encroach on mountain lion territory, vehicle collisions become more frequent. Larger roads that bisect prime mountain lion habitat pose the greatest hazard. Cougars frequently use dirt roads and trails to hunt prey and mark their territories.
When crossing major highways, they risk getting hit by fast-moving cars and trucks.
According to research, vehicle strikes account for up to 27% of total mortalities for studied cougar populations in California. The actual number may be even higher since many animals crawl away after getting hit and eventually die from their injuries.
Roads are especially dangerous for dispersing juvenile mountain lions looking to establish new territories.
Wildlife crossing structures such as underpasses or overpasses can be highly effective at reducing vehicle collisions with mountain lions and other animals. However, they require proper fencing and habitat connectivity to funnel animals towards safe passageways.
Without concerted conservation efforts, roads will continue to have a detrimental impact on mountain lion numbers across their range.
In addition to direct mortality from collisions, vehicles have other negative impacts on cougars. Road density is linked to increased physiological stress, which can reduce immune function and reproductive health.
The noise and lights from heavy traffic may also displace mountain lions from preferred habitat or disrupt natural behaviors.
Managing this threat requires coordinated transportation planning between government agencies, conservation groups, and developers. Viability assessments can identify road expansion projects likely to jeopardize mountain lion populations so mitigation strategies can be implemented.
The costs of wildlife crossings and other measures should be factored into new road budgets.
With proactive policies, urban growth and mountain lion conservation can coexist. Strict speed limits, wildlife warning signs, and driver awareness campaigns can all help reduce vehicle collisions in the short term.
But preserving habitat connectivity across busy highways will be critical for the long-term survival of these wide-ranging carnivores.
Conclusion
In their natural habitat, mountain lions face threats from bears, wolves, and even members of their own species. They also compete for food sources with bears, coyotes, and bobcats. Humans pose a significant predatory threat through hunting, habitat loss, and vehicular collisions.
Disease and parasites like rabies, distemper, roundworms and tapeworms can also be problematic. Mountain lions are powerful predators, but they are not invincible to threats from nature and man.
