Welcome to the latest edition of America’s Lions Share, your monthly update on the stories, science, and people shaping the future of mountain lion conservation.
THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MOUNTAIN LION CONSERVATION: KEEPING AMERICA’S WILD – WILD
by Ellen C. O’Connell, Executive Director, and Byron Weckworth, Chief Conservation & Advocacy Officer
HONORING OUR LEGACY
For nearly four decades, the Mountain Lion Foundation has stood as a leading voice for mountain lions. From securing landmark victories like California’s Proposition 117 to advancing science-based coexistence programs and protecting vital wildlife corridors, MLF’s legacy is one of courage, advocacy, and impact. Today, as we step into new leadership roles, we do so with deep respect for this history and a renewed sense of purpose for what comes next.
MOUNTAIN LIONS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Mountain lions are more than a symbol of the wild. They are essential to the health of the landscapes we all depend on. These quiet, elusive predators shape ecosystems from the top down, keeping deer and elk populations balanced, allowing forests and riparian vegetation to recover, and supporting the biodiversity that sustains entire watersheds. Yet the challenges facing mountain lions are growing. From habitat loss and fragmentation to increased human-wildlife conflict, mountain lions are at a crossroads—and so are we
COEXISTENCE IN ACTION
Honoring Our Legacy:
Elizabeth Sullivan
A Lifelong Advocate for Coexistence
A LIFE FOREVER SHAPED BY A LION ENCOUNTER
When Elizabeth Sullivan first saw a mountain lion, she was barely twenty. Hiking the ridgeline above Marin County with her now husband and their dog, she watched in awe as a tawny lion appeared ahead of them—graceful, silent, and powerful. “It was gliding down the hill,” she recalls, “those big, beautiful feet working so effortlessly.” That fleeting moment became a turning point in her life, sparking a passion that would guide her for decades.
Protecting Mountain Lions Protects Us
by Byron Weckworth
THE PUMA’S QUIET PRESENCE
If you are one of the lucky ones traversing through the West’s wild places during those crepuscular hours of the day, maybe you’ve felt it, the quiet awareness that you are not alone? A ripple in the brush. A trail of pawprints edged in frost. Mountain lions rarely show themselves, but their presence is everywhere, with impacts felt across every part of the ecosystems they inhabit. Mountain lions are architects of balance, shapers of movement, and the consummate providers of life to others. They move quietly through landscapes influencing them in ways far more powerful, and beneficial, than their elusive nature suggests. And they remind us that we too are part of nature’s intricate balance.
TELL US YOUR WILD STORY
Do you have a mountain lion sighting, experience, or personal connection you’d like to share? We’re collecting stories from supporters to highlight in future newsletters and outreach. Click the link below to add your voice.
Trail Camera
Lion Lore
Did you know mountain lions are masters of meat preservation? After making a large kill, they will feed on it, then drag the carcass to a secluded spot and completely bury it under leaves, grass, and debris (aka a “cache”) to protect it for as long as possible from scavengers like vultures or coyotes. They return to the cache to feed for several days.
Support the Mountain Lion Foundation with Every Purchase
You can now support mountain lion conservation every time you shop!
By joining RoundUp App, your everyday purchases can help protect America’s lion and the wild landscapes they call home.
How it works:
Link your credit or debit card securely through the RoundUp App.
Each time you make a purchase, your total is automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar.
The spare change is donated directly to the Mountain Lion Foundation—helping fund our education, advocacy, and coexistence programs across the country.
Your change can help make lasting change for wildlife.
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