THE MOUNTAIN LION...FOR KSOFM

The Mountain Lion, also known as the Cougar, Panther or Puma, is the most widely distributed cat in the Americas. It is unspotted - tawny-colored above overlaid with buff below. It has a small head and small, rounded, black-tipped ears. Its long tail is also black-tipped.

Adult males may be more than 8 feet long from nose to end of tail and generally weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Adult females can be 7 feet long and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds.Mountain Lions are solitary, strongly territorial hunters who, unlike most cat species, may be active during the day. Normally, lions are very elusive, and people rarely get more than a brief glimpse of a Mountain Lion in the wild. They are, however, unpredictable and have been known to attack people.

The predatory behavior of a Mountain Lion is very similar to the domestic cat. The lion will attempt to conceal itself for a surprise attack while stalking its prey. A crouched position is assumed with the tail twitching and the ears upright. An agitated lion may snarl and lay its ears back.

I have only seen one mountain lion in the wild the whole 28 years I have been alive. That was about a year ago coming home from my parents house at night. The mountain lion was getting ready to cross the highway. When I got home I immediately called the farmers in the area so they could check their livestock, I called my father to contact the Fish and Wildlife office so they knew one was in the area, and then I checked on my horses and the dog. I know we have them here in North Dakota, but you never see them.