The Mountain Lion Foundation is a science-driven conservation organization translating ecological evidence into public understanding, policy change, and long-term coexistence.
Through science, advocacy, education, and coexistence, we work to ensure mountain lions, and the landscapes they shape, endure for generations to come.
A future where mountain lions, ecosystems, and human communities thrive together across connected, resilient landscapes.
Where science guides wildlife policy. Where coexistence replaces fear. And where the landscapes shaped by mountain lions remain wild, healthy, and enduring for generations to come.
Our work connects science, policy, education, and public engagement to protect mountain lions and the ecosystems they sustain.
We begin with truth. In a landscape where fear and misinformation too often shape wildlife decisions, we replace assumption with evidence. Through research, field experience, and trusted expertise, we deepen understanding of how mountain lions live, move, and sustain balance in the ecosystems they shape. By turning science into clarity, we help communities and leaders make decisions grounded in facts—not fear.
Science matters most when it shapes the rules. We translate knowledge into durable protection—advancing policies that safeguard habitat, reconnect fragmented landscapes, and reform outdated lethal practices. The decisions made in statehouses and agencies determine whether mountain lions remain wild. We work to ensure those decisions reflect ecological reality and long-term responsibility.
Mountain lions endure where people are equipped to live alongside them. We provide practical, non-lethal solutions that reduce conflict and build confidence—from rural ranchlands to expanding communities at the wildland edge. When people have tools that work, fear gives way to understanding, and coexistence becomes possible.
Lasting protection requires more than passion—it requires strength and steadiness. We invest in expertise, partnerships, and national reach so our work endures across decades, not just moments. By building resilient systems, we ensure that the protection of America’s lion is not temporary, but lasting.
Our work is grounded in care, guided by understanding, and driven by the protection of the landscapes mountain lions shape.
Founded in 1986, the Mountain Lion Foundation emerged at a time when mountain lions were widely misunderstood and routinely targeted through fear-driven policies.
From the beginning, our work has focused on replacing myth with knowledge — grounding wildlife conservation in science, ethics, and a commitment to coexistence. Over the decades, that approach has helped transform how mountain lions are studied, discussed, and protected across the country.
Today, the challenges facing mountain lions are more complex than ever — from habitat loss and fragmentation to increasing human–wildlife conflict. Our work continues to evolve, guided by the same core belief that has defined the Foundation since its earliest days: protecting mountain lions means protecting the integrity of the landscapes we all share.
The Mountain Lion Foundation is committed to transparency, scientific integrity, and responsible stewardship.
We believe trust is built through openness — by sharing how we operate, how decisions are made, and how support advances our mission.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are accountable to our supporters, partners, and the communities we serve.
Protecting mountain lions means protecting something larger: connected landscapes, thriving ecosystems, and a future where people and wildlife can flourish together.
This work is made possible by people who choose to support mountain lions in different ways — from learning how to coexist, to speaking up for science-based policy, to contributing financially as donors and monthly Puma Protectors.
