Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) is in the Felids family (Felidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 8,706 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Mountain Lion: observations by month (U.S.)
About Mountain Lion
The cougar (Puma concolor), also commonly known as the mountain lion, puma, panther, or catamount, is a large felid of the subfamily Felinae native to the Americas. Its range, from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes of South America, is the most widespread of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in most American habitat types. It is the second-heaviest cat in the New World,...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Mountain Lion by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,092 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Nebraska | 926 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Arizona | 568 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Oregon | 457 | February | Feb–Sep |
| Washington | 385 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Colorado | 327 | March | Feb–Jan |
| New Mexico | 191 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Utah | 158 | May | Dec–May |
| Montana | 157 | January | Nov–Sep |
| Nevada | 98 | August | Mar–Jan |
| Florida | 91 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Texas | 86 | November | Oct–Dec |
| Idaho | 75 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Wyoming | 56 | August | May–Aug |
| South Dakota | 33 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Felids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Mountain Lion?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is Mountain Lion most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Nebraska, Arizona.