Ever wondered what prowls through the wilderness, silently stalking its next meal? Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are North America’s most adaptable big cats – and their dinner menu might surprise you. From massive elk to tiny rodents, what do mountain lions eat depends on where they roam and what’s available in their territory.
These apex predators have one of the most varied diets in the animal kingdom, spanning across their enormous range from southern Canada to the tip of South America. Recent wildlife studies reveal fascinating insights about their hunting patterns, showing that mountain lions are far more opportunistic than previously thought. Let’s dive into the complete guide of what fuels these magnificent predators.
Understanding What Mountain Lions Eat: The Basics
Mountain lions are obligate carnivores, meaning they must obtain all their essential nutrients from animal sources. Unlike omnivores that can supplement their diet with plants, these cats rely entirely on meat for survival. Their powerful bodies require substantial fuel – up to 5,500 calories daily for adult males.
What makes mountain lions exceptional hunters is their incredible bite force. While not as powerful as their African lion cousins, mountain lions possess enough jaw strength to deliver fatal bites to prey much larger than themselves. They typically kill by biting the neck or back of the skull, severing the spinal cord for an instant death.
Recent GPS collar studies from Colorado Parks & Wildlife (2024) show that mountain lions have hunting success rates of only 10-20%, making each successful kill crucial for survival. When they do catch prey, they consume 8-10 pounds per feeding session and can eat up to 30 pounds in one sitting when extremely hungry.
Seasonal Dietary Changes
What mountain lions eat varies dramatically by season. During winter, prey becomes scarcer and harder to catch, forcing these cats to be more opportunistic. Summer brings abundance, with young animals providing easier targets. Spring spawning seasons even see some mountain lions catching salmon in certain regions!
Primary Prey: What Mountain Lions Hunt Most Often
Deer species make up 60-80% of a mountain lion’s diet across their range. These medium-sized ungulates provide the perfect balance of nutritional value and hunting effort. Here’s what they target most frequently:
Deer and Large Game (Primary Prey)
White-tailed deer – The most common prey in eastern regions
Mule deer – Primary target in western mountain ranges
Elk – Hunted by larger mountain lions, especially in northern territories
Caribou – Seasonal prey in northern ranges
Pronghorn antelope – Targeted in open grassland areas
Bighorn sheep – Challenging prey in rocky terrain
Mountain goats – Occasionally hunted in alpine environments
A single deer can feed an adult mountain lion for 7-10 days. They often “cache” their kills by covering them with debris, returning repeatedly to feed until the carcass is consumed or spoiled.
Secondary Prey Options
When primary prey is scarce, mountain lions adapt by hunting smaller animals that require less energy to catch:
Raccoons – Common in forested areas
Porcupines – Despite the quills, a regular food source
Beavers – Hunted near water sources
Badgers – Surprisingly frequent prey item
Foxes and coyotes – Fellow predators become prey
Wild turkeys – Large birds provide substantial meals
Rabbits and hares – Quick snacks between larger kills
The Surprising Brokenleg Case Study: Real Mountain Lion Diet Data
One of the most revealing studies about what mountain lions eat comes from tracking “Brokenleg,” a male mountain lion monitored by wildlife researchers for 21 months. His actual diet shattered many assumptions about mountain lion feeding habits:
35 badgers
19 elk
15 coyotes
10 beavers
6 raccoons
5 mule deer
4 porcupines
2 pronghorn
2 domestic dogs
1 rabbit
1 mountain sheep
This data reveals that mountain lions are incredibly opportunistic. Notice that Brokenleg ate more badgers than any other single prey type – completely contrary to the common belief that deer dominate their diet. This adaptability explains how mountain lions thrive across such diverse habitats.
Complete List: What Do Mountain Lions Eat by Category
Large Prey (Occasional/Challenging Kills)
Moose – Only young, old, or injured individuals
Black bears – Rare, usually cubs or smaller adults
Wild horses – Documented but uncommon
North American bison – Historical prey, now extremely rare
Spectacled bear cubs – In South American ranges
Medium Prey (Optimal Target Size)
All deer species – Primary food source
Sheep (wild and domestic) – Bighorn sheep and livestock
Goats – Mountain goats and domestic varieties
Guanaco and Vicuña – South American camelids
Young livestock – Calves, lambs, foals
Small Prey and Opportunistic Targets
Rodents – Mice, rats, marmots, groundhogs
Carnivores – Bobcats, lynx, skunks
Birds – Grouse, ducks, various species
Domestic animals – Cats, dogs, poultry
Fish – During salmon runs
Reptiles and amphibians – Lizards, frogs
Interestingly, while we often compare mountain lions to other big cats in discussions about the true king of the jungle, mountain lions show remarkable dietary flexibility that sets them apart from their more specialized relatives.
Mountain Lion Cubs: Learning to Hunt and Eat
Mountain lion cubs follow a specific dietary progression from birth to independence:
Birth to 7 Weeks
Cubs survive entirely on their mother’s milk, which provides all necessary nutrients for rapid growth.
7 Weeks to 6 Months
Cubs begin eating solid food brought by their mother while still nursing. They start with small pieces of whatever prey the mother catches.
6 Months to 2 Years
Cubs learn to hunt by accompanying their mother and practicing on small prey like rabbits, skunks, and rodents. They gradually work up to larger targets as their skills improve.
Mother mountain lions teach their cubs not just what to eat, but how to cache kills and when to abandon a carcass to avoid dangerous scavengers.
Do Mountain Lions Eat Humans? Understanding the Risk
One of the most common questions about what mountain lions eat concerns human safety. The short answer: humans are not natural prey for mountain lions, and attacks remain extremely rare.
According to the National Park Service, only 20-25 fatal mountain lion attacks have occurred in North America over the past 100 years. With approximately 30,000 mountain lions across their range and millions of people living in mountain lion habitat, the statistical risk remains minimal.
However, encounters do happen, especially as human development encroaches on mountain lion territory. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that mountain lions may view small children and pets as potential prey, making awareness crucial for families in mountain lion country.
The risk factors mirror those discussed in understanding lion aggression more broadly – most incidents involve animals that are young, elderly, injured, or protecting cubs.
Protecting Pets and Livestock
Mountain lions do occasionally prey on domestic animals, particularly in suburban areas bordering wilderness. Recent studies show a 15% increase in documented cases of mountain lions hunting domestic animals in suburban areas since 2020.
To protect your animals:
Keep pets indoors from dusk to dawn
Install motion-activated lighting
Build secure enclosures for livestock
Remove attractants like pet food and garbage
Consider livestock guardian dogs for farms
Regional Variations: How Location Affects Mountain Lion Diet
What mountain lions eat varies significantly across their massive range:
North American Regions
Pacific Northwest – Heavy reliance on deer, occasional salmon fishing
Southwest Deserts – Smaller prey, more reptiles and birds
Eastern Forests – Primarily white-tailed deer
South American Adaptations
In South America, mountain lions adapt to completely different ecosystems:
Patagonia – Guanacos and vicuñas replace deer
Amazon Basin – Smaller prey, more arboreal hunting
Andes Mountains – High-altitude specialists hunting mountain-adapted prey
Conservation Implications of Mountain Lion Diet
Understanding what mountain lions eat has crucial conservation implications. These apex predators play vital roles in ecosystem balance by:
Controlling deer populations that might otherwise overgraze
Removing sick and weak animals from prey populations
Creating carcasses that feed scavengers like bears and eagles
Maintaining biodiversity through predation pressure
Climate change is already affecting mountain lion diet patterns. Shifting prey migration routes and changing seasonal availability force these adaptable cats to modify their hunting strategies continually.
Some mountain lions even compete with smaller wild cats like the bobcat and lynx for prey in overlapping territories, though they typically target different sized animals to reduce competition.
Cover carcasses with debris to hide them from scavengers
Return to cached kills for up to two weeks
Will scavenge carrion they didn’t kill when prey is scarce
Hunting Strategies
Unlike pack hunters, mountain lions are solitary ambush predators. They:
Stalk prey for hours or even days
Use terrain and vegetation for concealment
Deliver powerful leaps of up to 15 feet to catch prey
Kill with precise bites to the neck or skull
Their stealth and patience make them incredibly effective hunters, even with relatively low success rates per attempt.
What This Means for You
Understanding what mountain lions eat helps us coexist more safely with these magnificent predators. Whether you’re hiking in mountain lion country, living in suburban areas bordering wilderness, or simply fascinated by wildlife, this knowledge serves practical purposes.
Key takeaways for outdoor enthusiasts:
Make noise while hiking to avoid surprising mountain lions
Keep children and pets close in mountain lion habitat
Carry bear spray in areas with known mountain lion populations
Report mountain lion sightings to local wildlife authorities
For those living in mountain lion territory, remember that these cats are incredibly adaptable hunters. Securing pets, livestock, and removing attractants remains the best strategy for preventing conflicts.
The dietary flexibility that allows mountain lions to thrive from Canada to Chile also means they’ll continue adapting to our changing world. By understanding what mountain lions eat and why, we can better appreciate these apex predators and work toward sustainable coexistence.
From the surprising variety in Brokenleg’s diet to the regional adaptations across the Americas, mountain lions prove that successful predators aren’t picky eaters – they’re smart ones. The next time you’re in mountain lion country, you’ll know exactly what might be on their menu, and more importantly, how to stay safe while sharing their remarkable wilderness home.
Hi, my name is Joe Edwards and I am fascinated by the world of big cats. It all started when my family and I visited a safari park when I was six years old. I begged my parents to get me a stuffed lion as a memento, and later a book about big cats for Christmas.
Now, over 20 years later, I still can’t get enough of them!
