Mountain lions are elusive animals that are often heard about but rarely seen. Whether you’ve spotted an animal, found tracks on a trail, discovered signs of wildlife activity, or captured a trail camera image, this guide can help you identify evidence of mountain lion presence and distinguish it from other wildlife.
Learn how to distinguish mountain lions from bobcats, coyotes, dogs, and other commonly misidentified animals.
Identify an Animal →
Compare mountain lion tracks to those of dogs, bobcats, and other wildlife to learn what to look for in the field.
Identify Tracks →
Learn to recognize scrapes, scat, cached prey, and other evidence of mountain lion activity.
Identify Signs →
Use body shape, tail length, movement, coloration, and other visual clues to identify mountain lions in photos and videos.
Identify Trail Camera Images →
Mountain lions are elusive and often seen only briefly. Lighting, distance, movement, and terrain can make identification difficult. Understanding a few key characteristics can help distinguish mountain lions from other commonly misidentified animals.
Long tail. Powerful build. Rounded head.
Short tail. Smaller body. Pointed ears.
Long legs. Bushy tail. Dog-like appearance.
Highly variable, but usually identifiable by posture and movement.
Mountain lions have long, thick tails that can measure nearly as long as their body. Their ears are rounded, and their movement is typically more fluid.
Bobcats are much smaller than mountain lions and have a short “bobbed” tail. They often display spots or markings and may have visible ear tufts. Coat is typically more grey.
Coyotes are frequently mistaken for mountain lions at a distance. Unlike mountain lions, they have a longer, narrow muzzle, pointed ears, and have a bushy tail. Coat is typically more grey.
Many large dogs are mistaken for mountain lions, especially in low light. Dogs tend to move differently, often carrying their tails higher and showing a more energetic gait.
Key Traits:
Key Traits:
Key Traits:
Key Traits:
Quick Tip: Mountain lion and bobcat tracks usually do not show claw marks because cats retract their claws while walking. Dog and coyote tracks often show visible claw marks.
Even when a mountain lion is never seen, signs of its presence may remain. Learning to recognize these clues can help you better understand the wildlife using an area.
Territory markers made with the hind feet. Cougars pile duff or debris and then mark with urine and sometimes scat. These are typically under trees or in sheltered areas, but can be in the open along trails.
Evidence of recent activity. Cougar scat is segmented, cylindrical, and large. At kill sites, scat will be buried in a latrine, but scat can also be left along travel routes.
A mountain lion’s meal saved for later. Cougars typically cover their food resources to hide them from scavengers. They will bed nearby and return to feed.
Visual and scent communication. These are often more rare to find and can be difficult to identify. Cougar claws are thin compared to other animals that scratch trees, like bears.
Important: Never approach or disturb a cached prey item. Mountain lions may remain nearby and often return to feed over several days.
Trail camera images can provide valuable clues, but lighting, camera angle, distance, and motion can sometimes make identification challenging. Looking at a few key characteristics can help distinguish mountain lions from other animals.
Tail Length
One of the easiest clues to spot. The tail is long and has a black tip.
Body Shape
Built for power and stealth with a muscular build.
Head & Ears
Small features reveal a lot. Note coloration.
Movement & Posture
Watch how the animal carries itself and how it moves.
Not every observation is easy to identify. Photos, videos, tracks, and other signs can sometimes be confusing or incomplete.
If you’d like to share an observation, photo, video, or story, we’d love to hear from you.
It helps us identify tracks if you can photograph them with a reference for scale and can also photograph the track pattern or gait.
Share Your Mountain Lion Story →
The more we understand mountain lions, their behavior, and the landscapes they inhabit, the better equipped we are to make informed decisions, reduce conflict, and share space responsibly. Explore additional resources to deepen your knowledge and build confidence in mountain lion country.
Living alongside mountain lions starts with understanding.
Learn how people and mountain lions can successfully share landscapes through awareness, prevention, stewardship, and practical solutions that benefit both wildlife and communities.
Learn to recognize the signs of mountain lions.
Discover how to identify tracks, scat, scrapes, trail camera images, and other clues that help distinguish mountain lions from other wildlife.
Answers to common questions about mountain lions.
Find answers to common questions about mountain lion behavior, habitat, safety, conservation, and coexistence, all grounded in science and informed by experience.
