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A-Z-Animals
Mountain Lion (Cougar) Population by State in 2024
By Rebecca Bales,
4 hours ago
Mountain lions are beautiful, graceful predators who hunt by night. How many of them live in the United States ? We’ve done the research and gathered the facts.
The mountain lion ( Puma concolor) is also known as the cougar , panther, or puma. The cougar is one of the big cat species native to North America . Some people call it “America’s lion.”
The mountain lion is a large, slender cat whose coat ranges from tawny yellow to dark brown. It is a fierce, agile predator that has adapted well to many different environments. Mountain lions are found in mountains, coniferous forests, grasslands, swamps, and dry scrublands. In the wild, they live 8-13 years, but in captivity, they can live into their 20s.
Mountain lions are about half the size of lions, but they can run up to 50 mph while lions can run only 37 mph. Mountain lions are also great jumpers and swimmers. Mountain lions don’t have a bite force quite as strong as the lions, but they still have plenty of force – about 400 PSI.
That’s about two and a half times stronger than a human. They also have strong claws and teeth. Thus, despite their smaller size and weaker bite, mountain lions could still kill you. Cougars are stealthy night hunters who pounce on prey and kill with a bite to the spinal cord.
The mountain lion is also referred to as the cougar, panther, or puma.
Since the humans were crossing the land bridge from Asia some 40,000 years ago, mountain lions were roaming the Americas, throughout the various countries of North and South. The big cats originated from a common ancestor shared with the African cheetah and American jaguarundi .
Where Do Mountain Lions Live?
They have an extensive range and are the most widespread of any living mammal in the Americas. In the United States, however, their population was decimated by decades of extensive hunting. Hunting bans and conservation efforts helped mountain lions regain some of their former territories. There are no resident populations in the eastern U.S., but these states may see cats who are passing through.
What Do They Eat?
The mountain lion is a fierce, nocturnal predator who can run, climb, and even swim when chasing prey. They eat:
The total mountain lion population in the United States is estimated at 20,000 to 30,000.
It is difficult to count specific numbers of mountain lions because these cats are mobile and solitary. Some stay and breed in certain areas, but others travel long distances to find their prey. They’re also secretive, nocturnal, and excellent at avoiding humans.
A state can only be classified as having a particular species if it has an active, breeding, and self-sustaining wild population of cougars. That is only true of some states. Mountain lions may be spotted in other states, but they are just passing through on the hunt for prey.
For this article, we listed states that have active, breeding populations of mountain lions and those that occasionally see traveling cougars. For our information, we relied on official numbers from each state’s Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Natural Resources, or another source.
Some states have a resident population of mountain lions while other states see only those passing through.
Officials with Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game regularly hear about mountain lion sightings, but there have not yet been any confirmed sightings. In the most recent sighting, the cat in question turned out to be a lynx. At this point, there’s no proof of transient or resident mountain lions in Alaska.
Arizona has a stable population of mountain lions. They tend to live in mountainous areas and rocky hills. The state allows controlled hunting of them. Under the law, hunters can’t kill females with kittens. The Department of Game and Fish says, “The population is stable to increasing in many parts of the state.”
Mountain lions may be on their way back to Arkansas. There have been 20-30 sightings of mountain lions from 2010 to the end of 2023. There was also a recent sighting of a female cougar with 2 cubs, which leads experts to conclude there is a breeding population in the state.
California has one of the largest mountain lion populations in the country. The state classed mountain lions as endangered in 1972 and banned all hunting of them. The 2020 wildfires that ravaged California also affected mountain lion populations, killing an estimated 300 to 600 of them. Conservation groups and the state government have focused their efforts on ensuring the survival of mountain lions in California. While there were recently estimated numbers of 4,000-6,000 mountain lions in California, a recent report brought that number to 4,500.
Of all the states, Colorado can boast for having a population of up to 7,000 mountain lions, the most known to researchers.
The mountains of Colorado are the perfect habitat for these nimble hunters. The state’s dense forests, rocky terrain, and abundant wildlife offer many hiding places and lots of prey for food. As the state’s Parks and Wildlife Department notes, “Colorado is prime mountain lion country.”
Florida is home to an endemic subspecies of the mountain lion known as the Florida panther ( Puma concolor coryi ). It is the only mountain lion species with a breeding population in the eastern part of the U.S. It is the official state animal of Florida.
Florida panthers are a threatened species, but there is hope for their survival. According to the Nature Conservancy, there were only about 20 Florida panthers in 1973, and there are now more than 200. In 2017, the state enclosed more than 3,000 acres of Florida panther habitat that will remain permanently protected.
Mountain lions are widespread in the state. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game allows controlled hunting of mountain lions in specific situations. The law forbids killing cubs or females with young cubs. It is also illegal to trap, snare, or capture them. However, the Mountain Lion Foundation argues that Idaho has the most liberal mountain hunting laws of all the western states. It believes the annual hunting limits of 400 to 600 are too high given the population of only 2,000.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed 10 cougar sightings in the state in 2021. All were in the Upper Peninsula. This continues an increase in confirmed sightings over several years. However, biologists have not been able to confirm that there are any breeding populations.
Montana’s mountain lions are found all over the state. The state Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department estimates that more than half the state is suitable mountain lion habitat. This is mostly in the western and central regions. Montana, like other western states, allows controlled, restricted hunting of mountain lions. The Mountain Lion Foundation estimates a population of 2,409 in Montana, while the Montana Field Guide sites sitings of over 4,000.
Like other midwestern states, Nebraska has seen an uptick in confirmed cougar sightings, and in 2020 it was stated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) that cougars were permanently residing in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. The numbers have fluctuated, with a current estimate of 34.
As Nevada’s apex predator , the mountain lion enjoys a healthy, stable population in the state. These big cats are present in all of Nevada’s mountain areas and are protected by state law. They control rodent and deer populations and are considered keystones of their ecosystems.
New Mexico’s cougars live in the rugged, hilly areas of the state. They are protected by state law. Because the state also protects bighorn sheep , however, it allows controlled hunting. The hunting is designed to allow both these species to thrive in New Mexico’s hills.
Mountain lions are native to Oregon, and their population is thriving. Despite this, human encounters with these secretive, nocturnal animals are rare. The cougar population in Oregon is considered healthy and at sustainable levels. Oregon allows controlled hunting of cougars.
South Dakota successfully reintroduced mountain lions in recent years. Since then, it has seen its population grow to a small but steady 200 to 300 cougars.
Although there is a breeding population in the western part of the state, wildlife biologists are not certain how many mountain lions live in Texas. However, a recent estimate was released that there are around 5,600 animals in the state. They live in the western region, Trans-Pecos region, and southern Texas. Wildlife officials say they have evidence that the population is growing, but exact numbers are not known.
Utah’s mountainous areas and swamps are home to cougars. They have been spotted in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. Many visitors to the state’s parks are eager to see cougars or cougar tracks, but human encounters are rare. The state allows restricted hunting of cougars.
Washington’s mountain lions live all over the state except for a small area around the Columbia River Basin. They live in the Cascade Mountains and are an important predator in the state’s ecosystems. In 1996, Washington passed a law banning the use of hounds to hunt mountain lions. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife reports a population of 3,600.
There have been some confirmed sightings of cougars. State wildlife officials believe these mountain lions have crossed over from a population group living in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The population has been stable for decades, but in recent years, it has dropped. This is caused by many things, and it has led to some debate about Wyoming’s hunting policy. Wyoming citizens have urged the Fish and Game Commission to reduce hunting permits until the population is stable.
What are the Odds of Being Attacked by a Mountain Lion?
While mountain lions have been responsible for human fatalities, the odds of it happening to you are about 1 in 1 billion.
For humans, there is always a concern when it comes to encountering a wild animal in its natural habitat, or elsewhere if one happens to stray into urban areas. Unfortunately, cougars have been known to attack humans and are responsible for some fatalities. However, the number of documented attacks in the U.S. in the last 100 years is 126, of which only 27 were fatal. Those attacks break down by decade/period as follows:
1868-1953– 9 deaths
1970’s– 3 deaths (all children 12 & under)
1980’s– 3 deaths (all children 12 & under)
1990’s– 7 deaths
2000’s– 3 deaths
2010’s–2 deaths
Of these deaths, many occurred in remote areas where a person was hiking, biking, on a camping trip, or even riding horseback. Multiple deaths were young children, who would be more vulnerable to a mountain lion due to their smaller size. Many of the victims were eaten.
However, as horrifying as it sounds, if you look at the fact that in the last 25 years, there have been less than 20 deaths from mountain lions. When comparing the average population to the known occurrences, the odds of being killed by a mountain lion would be roughly 1 in 1 billion.
Summary of Mountain Lion Population in the U.S. in 2024
Here is a summary of the mountain lion population in the U.S. ranked by state:
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