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Expedition 🇺🇸 United States

Mountain Lion in United States

Ghost of the American wild — a solitary cat with more names than any other predator and a range spanning two continents.

Mountain Lion

The species

The mountain lion — also called cougar, puma, panther, or catamount — is the largest cat in the Americas and one of the most wide-ranging mammals on Earth. Solitary and elusive, it patrols territories spanning hundreds of square kilometres from the Canadian Yukon to the tip of Chile.

Habitat in United States

Mountain lions occupy almost every habitat in the Americas: Rocky Mountain forests, Arizona desert, Florida swamps, and California chaparral. They need deer or equivalent prey and cover for stalking, and are expanding eastward in some US states.

Where to spot one

  • Central Park

    New York City

    Urban ponds for mallards, pigeons on the paths, and sparrows in every shrub — a compact starter loop in Manhattan.

  • Golden Gate Park

    San Francisco

    Lakes, meadows, and tree cover where common birds and park wildlife turn an afternoon stroll into a discovery session.

  • Suburban Park Systems

    Nationwide

    Local green spaces across the US — pond edges, playground perimeters, and dog-walking trails where the everyday species gather.

  • Neighbourhood Streets

    Nationwide

    Front gardens, fence lines, and café patios — where house cats watch from walls and sparrows squabble over crumbs.

Conservation status

LC — Least Concern

Mountain lions are Least Concern globally but face hunting pressure and habitat fragmentation in the US. California and Florida populations are protected; western states allow regulated hunting.

Keep exploring

Keep exploring

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