We’re going to look at Mountain Lion population by state, though many states don’t have a population as Cougars are mainly found in Western U.S. The big cats of North America are Cougars (often referred to as Mountain Lions), and Jaguars. In this article we’ll be focusing on the former of those big cats in the United States, the Mountain Lion. The smaller wild cats are the Bobcat, Lynx, Ocelot, and Jaguarundis. According to a new study, however, more is definitely not the merrier in this case.There are 6 species of wild cats in North America, and 2 of those are what we consider “big cats”. The puma, also known by over 80 other terms like the cougar and mountain lion, holds the enviable title of 'mammal with the most names' as per Guinness World Records. Puma, Cougar, Or Mountain Lion The Big Cat's Many Names Hinder Conservation Efforts.Adults typically weigh 90-160 pounds with a robust tail that can be one-third as long as the cat’s body. States that Mountain Lions call home, as well as those that they don’t.The mountain lion has many common names including cougar, puma, catamount, panther and ghost cat. An endangered subspecies of mountain lion also remains in Florida.So let’s dive right into the article and have a look at all of the U.S. The mountain lion used to be found all over the United States, but now is primarily seen in the western U.S. This cat can be found throughout much of South and North America. It is possible numbers in Illinois could slowly increase if cougars in areas such as South Dakota and the Rocky Mountain states begin to disperse eastward.The mountain lion goes by many names, including cougar, catamount, panther, red tiger, deer tiger, and puma.
Note that many of these states have had sightings over the years, and continue to have them, but that doesn’t necessarily constitute a population in the state.Mountain lions have been extirpated (considered extinct) from the eastern U.S. States do not have any population of breeding cougars. We will look at the currently accepted population numbers, and any other notable information and history about cougars in that state.The majority of U.S. States with Mountain lion populationsBelow we will talk about the mountain lion populations in each U.S. Audio karaoke pablo alboran solamente tu mujerThey are accurate to the best of our knowledge. This list is for breeding mountain lion populations, but some sightings are noted. Mountain Lion population by stateThe following population estimates were taken from state government websites, and other authoritative sources. AlaskaThere is currently no breeding population of Mountain Lions in Alaska. Read more about the status of Mountain Lions in Alabama here. There are occasional reports of people who think they saw one, maybe they even took a blurry picture, but those are most likely bobcats. Learn more about Mountain Lions in Alaska here. Populations of mule deer are increasing in some parts of Alaska, and this could attract mountain lions to the area. Often, people who thought they spotted a mountain lion saw another member of the wild cat family, the lynx. ArkansasWhile mountain lions were considered rare in Arkansas after 1920, it seems they are making a comeback. Find out more about Mountain Lions in Arizona here. Hunting is legal, but closely regulated by the state. The most common areas to see mountain lions in Arizona are in places of rocky and mountainous terrain. The current estimate is 2,000 – 2,700 throughout Arizona. There are an estimated 3,000 – 7,000 Mountain lions in Colorado. The states beautiful wilderness and mountainous terrain are prime mountain lion habitats. ColoradoMountain lions have been an important part of the Colorado ecosystem for a long time. DelawareWhile there are some sightings reported each year, there have been no confirmed mountain lions found in Delaware. So while this amazing traveler ended up in Connecticut, it did not originate there. A trail of DNA evidence collected over the years shows this particular mountain lion had traveled through New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The one confirmed case, sometimes referred to as the “ Connecticut Mountain Lion” happened in June 2011 when an SUV struck and killed a cougar in Milford. Connecticut’s official position is that mountain lions have been extinct in the state since the late 1800s. ConnecticutDespite many people claiming they have seen a mountain lion and calling sightings in to the state authorities, only one has been confirmed. Greg johnson mark voorsangerFlorida panthers were listed as endangered in 1967. They are considered to be the only breeding species of cougar in the eastern part of the U.S. FloridaA subspecies of mountain lion can be found in Florida, the Florida panther. Florida Fish & Wildlife has a nice page about the Florida Panthers here.You may also like: 13 Different Owls In New Mexico (Pictures) GeorgiaAccording to the state wildlife division, there have only been 3 credible mountain lion sightings in the last 25 years. In 2017 the population was estimated between 120-230 panthers. At present they are only found around the Caloosahatchee River / southwest of lake Okeechobee in southern Florida. There were a handful of sightings in 2002 that drummed up attention, but no big cat was ever found. HawaiiBeing the isolated chain of islands that it is, Hawaii is not home to any mountain lions, or any larger mammals for that matter. Find more information about Georgia’s stance on mountain lion sightings here. It is legal to hunt mountain lion in Idaho, however there are strict guidelines about quantity and gender that can be taken. Estimates place the mountain lion population in Idaho to be around 2,ooo. IdahoMountain lions are found regularly throughout Idaho, and have been observed in every county. If there were a big cat on the loose, it would have to have escaped captivity. The last sighting reports considered to be confirmed where in 2009-2010. IndianaIndiana does not have a mountain lion population, although there are occasional sightings. Find out more about mountain lions sightings in Illinois here. It is possible numbers in Illinois could slowly increase if cougars in areas such as South Dakota and the Rocky Mountain states begin to disperse eastward. Four mountain lion carcasses have been found between 2002-2019 and DNA testing shows they are likely cougars from South Dakota. However there are confirmed sightings, so it is likely the big cats do occasionally move through the state. Big Mountain Lion Free Ranging MountainThe IDNR does admit that because of the confirmed cases, it is possible there are a few “free ranging mountain lions” present in the state. A handful of these have been confirmed over the years, but according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 95% of reported sightings are mistaken identity. IowaLike many other states we have mentioned, Iowa does not have a breeding population of mountain lions, but still sightings are made every year. Young males may travel long distances looking for new territory. According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism it is likely the sightings are transient young males from more established populations (such as neighboring Colorado). State where there is no established breeding population, but a few mountain lions have been seen over the years. KansasKansas is another central U.S.
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