The next up in our series of "big cat" features, we focus on one of the most well-loved predators in North America: the Mountain Lion. Also known as the cougar, puma, panther, and catamount, this big cat (unlike most others its size) is actually native to the Americas.
Secretive and solitary by nature, the mountain lion prefers to spend time alone, stalking prey from high altitudes when possible. Most mountain lions hunt at night, and are exceedingly reclusive. This means they are rarely spotted in the wild and even more rarely captured on film.
Perhaps it's the solitary nature that makes the mountain lion so popular among artists and wildlife lovers. Slender, agile, graceful, and elusive, this cat has been celebrated by some Native American tribes as a symbol of power, agility, and hunting prowess.
