In the book Where the Red Fern Grows, Billy, Little Ann, and Old Dan are attacked by a mountain lion. Read about mountain lions below.

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Description

The mountain lion has been known by many names including cougar, puma, deer tiger, Mexican lion, mountain screamer, brown tiger, catamount, silver lion, mountain demon, and panther.

The mountain lion is the second largest cat. It has spots only while young. Male mountain lions can reach up to eight feet in total length and weigh in excess of 220 pounds. Females are smaller, averaging slightly over six feet in length and up to 140 pounds. The head is marked with black on the sides of the muzzle and on the backs of the ears.

Habitat   

Mountain lions live in the western regions of North American from Canada down to Central America. The mountain lion stays alone. Their home range can cover more than 100 square miles.

Food

The main food of the mountain lion is the white tailed and mule deer. When stalking and attacking its prey, the mountain lion makes good use of its jumping abilities, with running long jumps. They can jump 45 feet and leap up to 15 feet high. The mountain lion drags its prey to a safe place before eating.

Young

Mountain lions mate at any time of the year. After about 94 days, a litter of one to three cubs are born. The cubs are born blind. The cubs weigh one half to one pound and are 10 to 13 inches in length. Their eyes open in two weeks. The male leaves after the birth. At six weeks the cubs go with their mother to a kill. The cubs stay with their mother until they are 20 to 24 months old.

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The following links open new pages.

     Download a free mountain lion screen saver. http://www.fotoscreens.com/screens/monlion1.htm

Download free mountain lion wall paper.  http://www.snap-shot.com/pages/zoo/mountain_lions.html