Mountain lions are rather secretive, consequently,
most visitors are unaware of their existence in
Yellowstone. Lions probably live throughout the park
in summer. In winter, difficulty of movement and lack
of available prey causes most lions to move to lower
elevations. Lions are territorial and will kill other
lions. The dominant animals reside in the northern
range areas of the park where prey is available year-
round. Mountain lions prey chiefly upon elk and deer,
although their diet probably varies based upon
opportunity, porcupines provide an important
supplement to the lion's diet.
Mountain lions were significantly reduced by predator
control measures during the early 1900s. It is
reported that 121 lions were removed from the park
between the years 1904 and 1925. At that time, the
remaining population was estimated to be 12
individuals. Mountain lions apparently existed at
very low numbers between 1925 and 1940. Reports of
lions in Yellowstone have increased steadily from 1
each year between 1930 and 1939 to about 16 each year
between 1980 and 1988. However, increases in visitor
travel in Yellowstone and improvements in record
keeping during this period probably contributed to this trend.
In 1987, the first study of mountain lion ecology was
initiated in Yellowstone National Park. The research
documented population dynamics of mountain lions in
the northern Yellowstone ecosystem inside and outside
the park boundary, determined home ranges and habitat
requirements, and assessed the role of lions as a
predator in the ecosystem. In recent years in other
areas of the West, mountain lions have occasionally
attacked humans. No documented lion/human
confrontations have occurred in Yellowstone.
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