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Country Living Wildlife - Mountain LionI put mountain lion at the top of my Bad Guys list because I respect them most of all the wildlife in this area. I know that although I can survive an attack by one of these big cats, I won't walk away unhurt, and most likely will suffer serious injuries. These guys aren't a major threat in northeastern California, but they are around, and people living in Modoc must be aware of them. The animal is unpredictable and although not frequent, they have been known to attack dogs, cats and other livestock. The cats aren't a cattleman's favorite animals! I have personally seen tracks a few hundred yards from my front door. 
These big cats also go by the names cougar, puma and panther, depending on the area of the world. This is a very large cat, and has the greatest range in the Western Hemisphere. Its habitat ranges from Yukon to the southern tip of South America, concentrated in the western states in North America. The cat has largely disappeared from the eastern United States, except for a very small area in Florida, where it is referred to as a panther. The animal is usually called a mountain lion in the western states. It is very adaptable and is comfortable from the deserts of the U.S. Southwest to the cool damp coasts of the Northwest, from sea level to elevations as high as 10,000 feet.
These lions are just about impossible to mistake for any other animal. Most of them are tawny colored with buff underside and black tipped ears and tail. In Florida and further south in its range, the animal can be a deep chocolate color, where they are erroneously called black panthers. They also have a relatively small head. Adult males range in size from 7-8 feet and usually weigh around 130-150 pounds. Females generally weigh around 65-90 pounds. They are the second heaviest of the large cats after the jaguar.
Cattlemen are usually most concerned about the presence of these animals. Although not necessarily a threat to their person, they are threat to their cash crop, livestock. The cats usually won't attack large livestock such as adult horses or cattle, and definitely stay away from llamas or alpaca. The real threat is to colts, calves and smaller livestock such as sheep and goats.
The mountain lion has my utmost respect, but is still at the top of my Bad Guys list. Although they prefer to stay well away from humans, they will attack domestic animals and people in some rare circumstances. Small children and pets are most vulnerable, so if you live in an active mountain lion area, protect your pets and educate your children. These guys aren't a major threat in northeastern California, but they are around, and people living in or visiting Modoc County, California must be aware of them. By educating yourself and maintaining a level head if attacked, you can survive an attack by one of these big cats.
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Mountain lions are carnivores with their main food source various species of deer. Therefore, if you live in an area with a large deer population, be on the lookout for these guys. Further south in their range, and anywhere if hungry enough, they will feed on small rodents or even insects. If you've ever watched your pet tabby stalk a bird or insect in your yard, you have seen a miniature version of a mountain lion hunting. These cats are solitary territorial hunters who stalk their prey and attack from concealment. Mountain lions are most active and stalk and hunt during dusk and dawn periods, but are sometimes active during nighttime hours. Adult lions meet only for mating, and then return to their own marked territory of 60 to over 300 square miles. The size of their home range depends on available food supply and terrain. They are very illusive animals, and prefer to stay well away from humans. However, they can attack people, and human fatalities have been reported. A
