Author: Elizabeth Bennett

Halloween is weeks away, and the year-end holidays are right around the corner. What’s the best part about the holidays? The Mountain Lion Foundation Annual Calendar, of course!

This year’s calendar features incredible new images from some of our favorite wildlife conservation photographers, including Sebastian Kennerknecht’s stunning cover shot of a regal mother lion resting on a rock in Patagonia. We’re also excited about work from photographers new to the calendar like Alycia Renee, who captured a fleeting moment with a beautiful cat at dusk in the forests of Washington.

Photography, and the arts in general, are critical yet underappreciated components of wildlife advocacy, education, and ultimately, coexistence. Pictures, whether captured by camera trap or telescopic lens, provide us with a privileged glimpse into the lives of animals as they experience the world. Photography prompts empathy, and empathy is the foundation for tolerance, acceptance, and coexistence with both animals and people who are different from us. 

For the elusive mountain lion especially, photography is the only way that many of us will ever experience this wild cat. We are grateful for the photographers who have devoted their lives to sharing their experience of mountain lions with us and for using their art to help us all learn to thrive as neighbors with wildlife. 

Please consider making a donation to the Mountain Lion Foundation to support our advocacy, education, and coexistence programming. Help save America’s lion! Everyone who donates $35 or more will receive a 2025 Mountain Lion Foundation Calendar. 

Get the 2025 calendar

The Mountain Lion Foundation team is delighted to welcome (back) Sharon Negri, the Foundation’s co-founder and first Executive Director. As Executive Director, Sharon helped lead a coalition to pass California Proposition 117 in 1990, which banned trophy hunting of mountain lions and allocated $30 million a year for 30 years to critical wildlife habitat. To this day, California is the only state where the recreational hunting of mountain lions is illegal at the state level. 

In her new capacity as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Sharon works with the Executive Director to identify and develop new opportunities to advance the Mountain Lion Foundation’s mission and work. These projects and partnerships focus on the organization’s three primary program areas — education, advocacy, and coexistence.  

“I am thrilled to work with such a dedicated and passionate team to enhance our efforts in protecting and conserving mountain lions.”

In her spare time, Sharon continues to direct WildFutures, where she provides consultation to government agencies and organizations and develops essential tools and trainings to advance protections for mountain lions and other large carnivores.

Among Sharon’s published works are Cougar Management Guidelines (2005); Cougar Ecology and Conservation (2009), with renowned cougar biologist Maurice Hornocker; and numerous reports and papers for foundations, agencies, and conservation organizations. She produced the films The Secret Life of Mountain Lions (2016) and La vida secreta de los pumas (2017), and she co-produced the award-winning film On Nature’s Terms (2001) and television public service announcements on mountain lion and bear awareness and safety. 

We are excited that Sharon has returned to the organization to help us expand our advocacy, education, and coexistence programming for mountain lions and those living with lions across the country. 

Tom Forks is a Mountain Lion Foundation Coexistence Ambassador who lives in Mississippi, a state without a breeding population of cougars. We recently sat down with him to ask about sentiment towards mountain lions in eastern states and what makes eastern advocates some of the strongest voices for mountain lions. 

Q: Mountain lions were extirpated from Mississippi more than a century ago. While dispersing males might occasionally walk through your state, cougars haven’t called Mississippi home for quite a while. What got you interested in mountain lions? 

A: My father was a career Army officer and was often deployed. To pass the time and keep me out of trouble, my sister Cathy encouraged reading which led to a love of learning. My mom also encouraged my reading and always let me pick 5 or 6 books from the scholastic book club. I can still remember how excited I was to peruse the titles offered for sale. During my high school days, I discovered wonderful library books by Earnest Hemingway, Theodore Roosevelt, Jane Goodall and other authors and a series of books on hunting in Africa by Peter Hathaway Capstick which had a huge impact on my future education. I eagerly read each of his works, which led me to dream of becoming a game warden in Africa working with the “Big Cats.” 

So, my interest in conservation in general and felines specifically started in high school. As life unfolded, I eventually studied biology in college, married my wife, and raised my son who is now grown with his own family. Although I still work, I now have more time to devote to my lifelong interests. Not too many years ago, on a camping trip to South Texas I stopped at a small grocery store on Highway 90 in southwest Texas to purchase soft drinks and ice. Pinned on the walls throughout the store were six or seven different photographs of a man posed with a lion he had shot at the behest of local ranchers near Big Bend, Texas. 

 When discussing the photographs with the proprietor, he nonchalantly said “that’s nothing.” He relayed that his brother had killed more than 140 lions over the preceding 10 years. That was a pivotal moment in my interest in mountain lion conservation! How a lion population with relatively low fecundity and high kitten mortality could sustain such a slaughter was beyond my comprehension. I think of that conversation quite frequently with great sadness. A few years ago, I learned of the Mountain Lion Foundation, and I proudly support their mission and mountain lion conservation. I am very proud to be a Mountain Lion Foundation Coexistence Ambassador. 

Q: It would be ecologically beneficial for mountain lions to return to the eastern part of the United States. Do you think that your fellow Mississippians would welcome that return? 

A: Mississippi is predominantly a rural state. We have 6 National Forests and over 19,250,000 acres (about the area of South Carolina) of forested land spread between public and private land owners. Our human population is approximately 2.9 million. We have over 1.75 million whitetail deer in Mississippi: the highest number of whitetail deer per acre in the country and second only to Texas in total number of white tail deer. 

At my recent tabling event in Jackson, Mississippi I was very encouraged by the positive comments I received regarding the Mountain Lion Foundation. People were very supportive of the Mountain Lion Foundation’s mission. The response I received from attendees, albeit unscientific, certainly indicates a very healthy interest in mountain lions and I have no doubt most Mississippians would welcome their presence and would encourage the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to attempt to establish a breeding population of lions in Mississippi. As an aside, we now have, after years of absence, a population of about 200 black bears according to the Mississippi Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Parks. The bears are strictly protected. We can do the same for lions. 

Q: You table events in Mississippi for the Mountain Lion Foundation. What are the most common questions that people ask you as a cougar representative? 

A: Do we have mountain lions here in Mississippi, and what is the purpose of the Mountain Lion Foundation? 

Q: Earlier this summer (2024), Washington implemented new science-based rules to increase protections for their cougars. Colorado is poised to ban mountain lion trophy hunting in November. On the other hand, Utah continues to strip protections for their wild cats. And while Texas finally made canned hunts illegal this year, sport hunting of cougars remains unregulated. As someone who wants mountain lions to return to his state, what do you think about these legislative initiatives? 

A: I am thrilled that Colorado appears to be poised to ban the trophy hunting of cougars. I’m hoping that other states will take notice and do likewise. I am of the opinion that all states should ban trophy hunting of mountain lions. My view is that there should be a moratorium on all hunting until adequate studies have been published in peer reviewed journals detailing population dynamics to include: cat density, reproduction rates, survival numbers to reproductive status, numbers killed by rodenticides, automobile strikes, wolves, coyotes, other carnivores, disease and illness, and legal and/or illegal hunting by humans. In those states that adequately manage their lion populations and allow hunting: hunting with dogs is just plain unsportsmanlike and should not be allowed.

Q: Have you seen a mountain lion in the wild? What was that experience like?

A. Yes, I have had the rare pleasure of seeing a mountain lion in the wild. One very early morning (approximately 0200) while returning to San Antonio, Texas from a camping trip near Harlingen, Texas I saw a mountain lion walking into a field from the right side of the road. Our headlights illuminated the cat for about 5-6 seconds before it vanished but what an incredible sight. I’m grateful to have had one I’ll never forget. 

Q: Do you advocate for other wildlife that currently call Mississippi?

A: In addition to the Mountain Lion Foundation, I am a member of the Wildlife Society, Panthera, The Puma Fund, the Shark Research Institute, the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, Caretta Research Project, Ocean Conservancy, Coastal Conservation Association, The Rattlesnake Conservancy, The Asclepius Foundation and others. I am interested in these organizations, and I promote conservation and tolerance. I try to educate my fellow Mississippians about how important mountain lions, bobcats, sharks, snakes, turtles, etc., are to a healthy ecosystem. One of my very great concerns here in Mississippi is the use of rodenticides and their detrimental effects on pets and wildlife. I am also very concerned about the status of lynx in Mississippi, and I’m interested in an in-depth study of bobcat population dynamics. 

Q: What advice would you give to other lion advocates living in states without breeding populations? What can people do right now to support the return of wild cats in their part of the country? 

A: In those states without breeding populations of mountain lions I would suggest to advocate for the return of breeding populations to determine if:  

• there is an interest in the populace to reintroduce lions 
• the state has suitable habitat with wilderness corridors for dispersal 
• the state has the economic means to build wildlife bridges to cross busy highways to mitigate injuries and lion deaths from car collisions 
• the state has a suitable prey population for the lions to subsist on 
• the state legislature will work with you to help reintroduce lions to your state 
• the state’s wildlife agency is interested in helping you bring back lions.

In summary, the most effectual way to reintroduce lions in areas where they were extirpated is via science-based education and research, and a lot of hard work, patience, tolerance of opposing views and perseverance. Don’t give up, our lions need your help.

By Gown Batist, Coexistence Programs Manager

In 1980, near Cannich, Scotland, a farmer caught a mountain lion — a North American Puma concolor — in a wildlife cage trap that was baited with mutton.   

Sightings of a huge tawny cat in the area dated back to the mid-70s, but the puma, once caught, was revealed to be both familiar with humans and rather plump. In fact, she was obese and very tame and was likely someone’s former pet. Her tameness and fussy nature (she would not eat unprepared meat) led many to conclude that she wasn’t the culprit behind repeated livestock killings in the area.  

 The Scots named the mountain lion Felicity and moved her to Highland Wildlife Park, where she lived out her days before dying at an extremely old age.   

The discovery of Felicity, and the realization that she was not killing the Cannich ranchers’ livestock, convinced the community that there must be more lions on the moors. To this day, Scottish tabloids are full of mountain lion sightings, often accompanied by photographic “evidence” of a domestic house cat that looks strangely out of scale. (We get those pictures and home video camera footage here in America too.)   

Scotland is now an ecosystem without apex carnivores. The country’s last big cat, the lynx, went extinct during the Medieval period. But there seems to be a longing for the return of a large, majestic cat on the landscape welling up in the public consciousness.  

On the other hand, in other parts of the world, like Africa and eastern Europe, farmers and ranchers have lived alongside big cats for Millenia, including tigers, African lions, leopards and cheetahs (in addition to wild dogs and hyenas). 

By comparison, mainstream ranching culture in the Unites States is still very young, and still very mired with colonialist sensibilities about wildlife. When the British colonized Ireland, Scotland and Wales, they systematically killed wolves, bear and lynx. The same pattern repeated in the Americas. Beyond western Europe, however, there are deep cultural memories about how to successfully coexist.   

 Eastern European pastoralism, especially night penning and livestock guardian dog training, is a constant source of inspiration in my work as a sheep rancher in northern California, and some of the best global experts in my research are in African countries like Botswana and Namibia. Fortunately, international coexistence tools to keep livestock and mountain lions safe are beginning to enter the conversation for American ranchers. 

High night pens, called Boma or Krals depending on the country, keep livestock safe at night. Ranchers are adapting their programs to implement livestock guardian dogs and innovative wildlife friendly fences that allow small animals to pass through. To highlight some of this important work, the Mountain Lion Foundation recently hosted a webinar exploring the successes and challenges of protecting one of the mountain lion’s closest cousins, the cheetah.

Next month (October 2024), the 2024 International Wildlife Coexistence Conference will take place in Turin, Italy, featuring speakers from all around the world sharing their wisdom, challenges and innovations. I was honored to have a small role in the planning efforts for this conference, and I’ll be attending virtually. I’m especially excited to bring fresh insights and emerging research back to ranchers and farmers here in North America to keep more cougars safe and thriving in the wild. 

By Paige Munson, Science and Policy Coordinator

Wildfires in the United States spark concern for the future of wildlife including mountain lions. To understand how fire will impact mountain lions, we need to understand how we got to our current situation, and why not all fires are the same. 

History of fire suppression in North America

With the growing frequency of these fires, many researchers have focused  their work on understanding why there are more fires now. The answer is multi-faceted, and it begins  centuries ago when the United States began to seize land from indigenous communities. Many tribes across the US and Canada utilized controlled burns to steward the land. This tradition had many practical benefits and contributed to the “pristine wilderness” that was “untrammeled by man,” praised by the likes of John Muir and his contemporaries. 

 However, in reality, the land had never been pristine, and man had “trammeled” it for thousands of years in the form of controlled burns to keep forests healthy. To learn more about indigenous fire practices, listen to this episode of the Ologies podcast, hosted by Alie Ward, with special guest Dr. Amy Christianson. 

 When the United States government first took charge of land management, controlled burns ceased in most forests. After a series of vast wildfires across the West at the beginning of the 20th century, managers decided that complete fire suppression was the only acceptable policy. Federal agencies and the timber industry viewed fires as lost revenue and even a loss for war efforts throughout the 20th century. Thus began a regime of fire suppression that has persisted for more than a century. 

 A look at historic fire prevention posters shed some light on the attitudes around fire in the United States and make us all grateful for their successor, Smokey Bear. 

Controlled Burns

Controlled burns serve a variety of purposes, but one of them is to help prevent large, devastating canopy fires. Canopy fires, aka crown fires, are the most dangerous type of fire because they spread rapidly jumping from tree crown to tree crown. One of the greatest losses in wildfire is the death of large, old trees, which are more likely to die in canopy fires. 

Controlled burns help reduce the amount of fuel available to burn. If a wildfire starts, reduced fuel loads can mean the fires do not grow as large because the forest undergrowth has been thinned, allowing for more space between the understory and canopy. This gap can help small understory fires from reaching the canopy of older trees. 

A forest that has undergone a controlled burn will recover in a way that promotes forest health and recovery more quickly. On the other hand, when an “overstocked” forest experiences a wildfire that results in large amounts of tree mortality, it will take decades or possibly even centuries for the forest to contain old growth trees again. What was once a dense canopy of old growth will more likely convert to a shrub- or grass-dominated landscape. 

Fortunately, federal and state organizations have largely come around to controlled burns, and there is a wider acknowledgement that this indigenous tactic for land stewardship is an essential tool for land management. However, after a century of fire suppression policies and new fire challenges to overcome, there is still a lot of work to be done. 

Climate Change

Climate change continues to create hotter drier landscapes that are more likely to burn hotter with larger wildfire patch sizes. Climate change is also lengthening the fire season so that conditions remain hot and dry. Additionally, prescribed burns can only be done in specific conditions where temperatures are low enough, humidity is high enough, and winds are unlikely to exacerbate the burn. As climate change reduces the time that agencies can manage controlled burns, it makes it more difficult for managers to perform these prescribed burns and prevent fires in the future, which may require machine and manual removal of fuel. 

The region for fire prone areas is also expanding. As more regions become drier and warmer, they will be prone to fire regime changes (a fire’s pattern, frequency, and intensity) into landscapes that may be less adapted to fire. 

Human-caused fire

Without human intervention fires typically only start from lightning or volcanic activity. Most fires are started by people, whether it is a campfire gone wrong, a hot car over dry grass, a cigarette gone astray, or fallen lines from a utility company — humans are the cause of these fires. Humans have a long history of accidentally or purposely setting things on fire, and that is unlikely to change. By using active forest management techniques, we can work to get ahead of the fires we will continue to set so that there are more little fires than massively destructive ones. 

Mountain lions and fire

Mountain lions will be impacted differently depending on whether the fire is a management tool (i.e., controlled burn) or an unintended wildfire. The landscape where the fire occurs will also dictate its impact on the species around it. For example, certain habitat types such as chaparral are prone to vegetation conversion, where the landscape is often converted to grasslands. Conifer forests are more resilient to fire, but the large destructive canopy fires that kill all trees in an area can result in conversion to grasslands or shrubland habitat. These converted grassland habitats are also likely to be inhabited by an influx of invasive species. The branch of ecology focusing on how animals respond to wildfires is still progressing, as there is such a diversity of fire circumstances in differing vegetation communities to assess. 

Mule deer have been shown to avoid burned areas in the first years after a fire but prefer the burned habitat afterward, as vegetation starts to recover. This is likely to occur when the fire promotes shrublands, which are critical to mule deer success. In a conifer forest, dense layers of saplings in the understory can crowd out shrubs and forage that are vital to mule deer. Once this is removed, shrubs are likely to better recover, creating more ideal forage for mule deer. 

National Park Service (NPS) collaring has allowed for research into mountain lion behavior immediately after the Woolsey fire of 2018. This population of mountain lions faces unique threats and pressure due to habitat fragmentation via human roads and urban areas. Researchers found that this fire reduced the quality of habitat available to both ungulates and mountain lions. For mountain lions the reduction in habitat quality likely stems from greater prey scarcity and lack of cover to ambush prey. 

In these conditions mountain lions began exhibiting more risky behaviors, such as crossing roads more frequently and coming closer to humans. Mountain lions also began traveling greater distances and thus, more frequently overlapped ranges with other mountain lions. This increased movement may signal that the lions needed to travel more to find food. By increasing their range overlap, the lions also increased their likelihood of conflict with other lions. 

Thesis research on mountain lion habitat selection after the Woolsey fire found that mountain lions utilized burned areas soon after the fire, and particularly selected for areas where there were unburned patches, or at the edge of a burned area. The thesis author suspected this afforded increased hunting opportunities. However, the author did not believe this to offset the negative impacts of increased risk and food scarcity immediately after the fire. Their work is consistent with other findings showing that habitat heterogeneity is selected among large mammals post-fire.

For more information on how climate change will impact mountain lions, including some thoughts on how they will respond to more frequent and more intense fires, see also this webinar from the Mountain Lion Foundation, featuring lion researcher Dr. David Stoner.  

The impacts of wildfire and controlled burns on mountain lions have important conservation implications for the species. Fire has the potential to be both a tool in the conservation of mule deer and mountain lions, and a threat to their populations as well. 

The mission of the Mountain Lion Foundation is to ensure that America’s lion survives and flourishes in the wild. Our programs are designed to raise awareness about the importance of mountain lions and their roles in healthy ecosystems, advocate for policies that protect mountain lions, and support coexistence with these incredible carnivores.

A primary component of our coexistence programming is the Coexistence Ambassadors program, which trains people from around the country to be proactive ambassadors for human-lion coexistence in their own communities.

Every year, Coexistence Ambassadors receive hands-on training at Coexistence Camp, a weekend workshop on a regenerative sheep ranch in Mendocino County, California that is a successful model for small-scale ranching in lion country. At camp, Ambassadors learn:

• The basics of mountain lion biology and behavior
• How to present information to the public, including tabling at a public event and giving a community talk
• Indigenous perspectives on coexistence
• Tips on responding to urgent requests from livestock owners that are respectful and productive
• Incident assessments, including wildlife tracking and “barnyard CSI” to determine what kind of animal may have been responsible for livestock losses
• Trends and commonalities in how mountain lions are managed by state wildlife agencies across the country
• Understanding coexistence tools in the field, like electric fences, deterrent devices and livestock guardian dogs

Coexistence Camp 2024 just happened! Here’s a sneak peek into the incredible weekend:

By Paige Munson, Science and Policy Coordinator

July 1, 2024

In June, Mountain Lion Foundation staff Brent Lyles, Josh Rosenau, and Paige Munson were busy in Colorado, working to support mountain lions and communities living in lion country. We approached the work with the Foundation’s three main program areas in mind: education, advocacy, and coexistence.  

Education 

We were excited to attend the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Here, we listened to the findings of ongoing research on mountain lions, species interactions, conservation biology, wildlife management, and more. Attending these conferences and talking with experts in the field helps our staff stay up to date with the latest research, in and out of print. We also set up an information table in the conference’s exhibit hall; this brought us more opportunities to connect with the conference attendees (working biologists from across the country), and it allowed us to offer a variety of resources about peaceful coexistence with mountain lions in Colorado and beyond.  

After three days of learning, discussion, and awe-inspiring stories, we took on the role of educator at the Boulder Public Library. Here we hosted a crowd of eager community members looking to learn more about the mountain lions with which they share their state. Brent shared the story of the young male mountain lion who went on the longest known dispersal journey of any mammal. Afterwards, Brent explained the history of mountain lion hunting in Colorado and the current challenges the species faces in the state, including overhunting, roads, development, policy decisions, and human-wildlife conflict.  

Many members of the audience came to the presentation with insightful questions regarding mountain lion biology, how humans and mountain lions interact, and what we can all do to help them. We aimed to answer these questions while empowering the audience to be communicators themselves about the oft misunderstood mountain lion.  

Advocacy 

The CATs Campaign 

We also advocated on behalf of Colorado’s lions in two ways. The first was through the Mountain Lion Foundation’s support of the Cats Aren’t Trophies (CATs) campaign,a citizen-led effort to put Proposition 91 on the ballot this fall in Colorado. If passed, Prop 91 would prohibit the trophy hunting of mountain lions and end the hunting of trapping of bobcats in the state. This would be an historic achievement for Colorado, making it only the second state to fully protect mountain lions in perpetuity at the state level — the first was California, over 30 years ago.  The measure would also protect the endangered lynx, in hopes that the species will one day recover in Colorado and be free from hunting and trapping pressure as well.   

The Mountain Lion Foundation supports the ability of voters to decide whether mountain lions can be hunted in their state, and we hope that, with enough signatures now, and then enough votes in November, Coloradans will permanently protect their wild cats this fall.  

So, the Mountain Lion Foundation’s staff joined the many, many volunteer signature gatherers from across Colorado, collecting signatures outside of grocery stores, at local trailheads, at lunch with friends — anywhere we could think of!  

Testifying to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission  

Staff attended a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in picturesque Winter Park to speak to the Commission about what to expect if Prop 91 passes and prohibits mountain lion hunting in Colorado, and about their proposed East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan.  

Executive Director, Brent Lyles, spoke to the commission and summarized some of the existing science regarding mountain lions and their prey species. The consensus is that, in almost every case, “predator control” — killing carnivores — will not benefit ungulates in the long term. Director of Policy and Advocacy, Josh Rosenau, detailed the status of mountain lions, ungulates, and people in California, the only state to have banned mountain lion hunting in the West. After decades without mountain lion hunting, ungulate herds have not suffered, the rates of conflicts with humans are no worse and are often better than in other states with hunting, and the mountain lions have not overpopulated. Lastly, Science and Policy Coordinator, Paige Munson, spoke to the Commission about their draft East Slope Mountain Lion Management Plan. Some of the current management plans for units in Colorado are over twenty years old and lack contemporary science as a basis. The East Slope plan integrates this new evidence and corrects old management structures to be better aligned with other western states. She praised the positive changes, while suggesting further changes to improve it even more.  

We provided this scope of comments because our organization believes that mountain lion hunting is unnecessary, either ecologically or to help humans. The only reason to hunt mountain lions is to provide an opportunity to hunt mountain lions. Thus, we believe the voters of Colorado should have the right to decide whether lions are hunted in their state. And in those states where lions are hunted, it is critical that those states’ management plans reflect science and treat the species with the care they deserve.  

Coexistence 

Saying we must coexist with wildlife is one thing but doing it can raise questions and often requires thoughtful, proactive strategy. That’s why the Mountain Lion Foundation aims to help people do both. We drove through scenic Grand County to visit an alpaca ranch with the CATs Campaign Manager, Sam Miller, who lives in Grand County.  

There we were greeted by thirty alpacas and three Great Pyrenees puppies, eager to escort us to the house’s door. We sat down with the couple, who told us of their recent struggles coexisting with wildlife on the ranch. They suspected they had lost two livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) and one alpaca to mountain lions, one of which was confirmed by state agency personnel. Using LGDs is a tried-and-true method for protecting livestock, and it’s very rare for a cougar to kill an LGD, but it does happen.  The couple felt especially bad about the mountain lion that Colorado Parks and Wildlife killed because of their losses.  

The ranchers had recently acquired the three LGD puppies, which is a great choice — LGDs are most effective in a group. But despite their size, the pups aren’t ready to be the sole defenders of their flock without further training and maturity. The alpaca ranch had been hit hard over the years with wildfires: Their barn burned down, and there was damage to their fences at multiple points. After these hardships, the couple decided they were open to any help they could get to prevent more losses.  

After hearing their story and assessing the property, the Mountain Lion Foundation decided to take on the project of creating a more carnivore-safe ranch for their alpacas. We plan to return this fall to the ranch to help make their ranch safer for their alpacas and guardian dogs — and keeping livestock safe also keeps the local mountain lions safe because state agency personnel aren’t called in to lethally remove any lions.  

Our mission to “ensure that America’s lion survives and flourishes in the wild” is a lofty one. Our work in Colorado exemplifies some of the ways that the Mountain Lion Foundation sets out to accomplish that mission through education, advocacy, and coexistence. Stay tuned to learn more about the Mountain Lion Foundation’s work to protect and support America’s lion.