Lion populations may have declined in the 1970’s but by the late 1980’s populations were near record highs. Their numbers apparently increased with the growing deer herds in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Mountain Lions are native to Nevada but records indicate that they were rare in the state before 1920. If tracks suggest two or more lions traveling together, it is probably a female with kittens. This human encroachment has also caused more human interactions with these otherwise secretive animals. The increasing human population in Nevada has caused Mountain Lions to retreat to more isolated and rugged terrain. Lions may overlap home ranges, but some lions may defend their territory against other mountain lions. Female ranges are much smaller and average about 25 square miles. In Nevada, male home ranges can be as large as 115 square miles.
Size of the home range depends on the terrain and how much food is available. Females with young kittens use the smallest areas adult males occupy the largest areas. Individual lions range in areas varying in size from 10 to 370 square miles. Lions generally are most abundant in areas where deer are plentiful. In Nevada lions are found in areas of pinion pine, juniper, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine and mountain brush. The Mountain Lion's habitat ranges from desert, chaparral and badlands to sub alpine mountain and tropical rain forests. The Mountain Lion, also known as a Cougar, Panther or Puma, exists only in the western hemisphere and is North America's second biggest cat. Two of the most important components of lion habitat are a source of meat and cover for hunting. In Nevada, lion habitat is commonly associated with pinyon pine, juniper, and mountain mahogany. They prefer dense cover or rocky, rugged terrain, but also occur in desert areas. Mountain Lions are adapted to a wide variety of habitats and environmental conditions found Nevada. Males up 180 pounds have been documented but are rare. Mountain lion weighs 137 pounds and the average adult female weighs 98 The tail makes upĪbout one third of the body length. Inches shorter in height and a foot shorter in length. Measure up to eight feet in length from nose to tail. Size:Īn adult male can stand 30 inches at the shoulder and Lions are much larger than Bobcats and have a long tail, which may measure one-third of their total length. They are easily distinguished from other wild cat species in Nevada. Generally claw marks are not visible since their claws are retractable. They have 4 toes with 3 distinct lobes present at the base of the pad. The paws are well padded with the back paws smaller than the front. Their claws are constructed so that the harder a victim struggles the tighter they grip. Mountain Lions have very muscular and powerful shoulders and hindquarters and are exceptionally strong in relation to their weights. The young are a similar light brown color, but have brownish-black spots. The back of the rounded ears and the sides of the nose are also colored black. The underside of the body is white and the tail is tipped in black. The short dense fur of Nevada Mountain Lions varies from yellow, to tawny to rusty brown or gray.
Life Span: A lion's natural life span is about 12-15 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity.
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