Diet: Deer, small mammals Habitat: Forests, mountainous deserts, urban wildland interfaces CaliforniaStatus: Specially Protected Species
Space to Thrive Male mountain lions require large areas of connected habitat to find food and survive. Their territories are around 100 square miles, and become threatened as human developments expand.
How Did the Museum get its specimen? Our male lion was shot under a California Department of Fish and Game depredation permit in the foothills near Carmel, California in December 1981. These permits are only issued if an animal is repeatedly killing livestock. This lion proved to be old and had an injured foot, probably taking livestock because it was unable to hunt wild prey successfully.
