3 Wild Cats in Colorado

Colorado’s wild cats include three species: the mountain lion, the bobcat, and the Canada lynx.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife lists mountain lions and bobcats as game animals. On the other hand, Canada lynx in Colorado are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

Discover everything you need to know about wild cats in Colorado, including the behavior, habitat, diet, and physical characteristics of mountain lions, bobcats, and Canadian lynx. Learn how these solitary yet adaptable predators survive and thrive across Colorado’s diverse landscapes.

Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)

Because they live in a wide geographical area, mountain lions have a long list of regional names. In recent years, their scientific name has been changed from Felis concolor to Puma concolor. Some common names that mountain lions go by are cougar, Florida panther, catamount, painter, Andean Mountain lion, and puma.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the state has between 3000 and 7000 cougars. Due to their elusive nature, though, a more precise estimate is difficult to come up with.

In Colorado, the mountain lion is an apex predator. So are the state’s black bears and recently arrived wolves.

A big portion of the state of Colorado is suitable habitat for mountain lions. This includes but is not exclusive to the areas around the main population centers on the front range. On the western slope, cougar populations are on the increase. Human populations are also on the rise. For instance, per a February 15, 2020, Vail Dayley report, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3 to 5 mountain lion-related calls per week. Source

What Do Mountain Lions Look Like?

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) are large, muscular wild cats. They resemble giant tan house cats with a lean, muscular build. Their sleek, lean bodies are designed for agility and strength, allowing them to thrive in Colorado’s rugged landscapes.

Size and Weight
Mountain lions are significantly larger than domestic cats. Male mountain lions or toms typically weigh between 110 and 200 pounds (50 to 91 kg), with some reaching over 200 pounds. Female mountain lions, also known as queens, are slightly smaller, weighing between 80 and 130 pounds (36 to 59 kg). In length, males can grow up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) from nose to tail, while females measure around 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 meters).

Coat Color
Mountain lions have a light brown or tan coat, which helps them blend into the natural landscapes of Colorado. Their fur is short and coarse, covering most of their body in a tan color. Unique markings include black patches around their nose, tail tip, and ear tips. Their underside, including the chin, belly, and areas around their lips, is typically white. They also have a sprinkling of black hairs on their backs. This coloring pattern can vary slightly depending on their geographic location.

Distinctive Features
One of the most distinguishing features of mountain lions is their long, black-tipped tail, which makes up almost a third of their total length. This tail helps them maintain balance and acts as a rudder for quick direction changes. This is handy while navigating steep, rocky terrain. They also have rounded heads with oval-shaped, upright ears, contributing to their keen sense of hearing.

Comparison with Other Wild Cats
Despite their size, mountain lions are not classified as “big cats” like lions or tigers because they cannot roar. Instead, mountain lions belong to the Felis genus, as they can purr but cannot roar. This differentiates them from big cats in the Panthera genus, like leopards and jaguars, which roar but cannot purr.

Mountain lions’ size, color, and muscular build make them Colorado’s most iconic wild cat species. They are adapted to their role as apex predators in diverse habitats, ranging from forests to open plains.

What Do Mountain Lions Eat?

Mountain lions are opportunistic predators. Their diets vary depending on the food sources available. For instance, Argentine pumas primarily hunt guanacos. On the other hand, North American mountain lions mostly hunt deer. Below is a list of prey species that Colorado mountain lions feed on.

• Primary Prey:
  • Deer: Mountain lions primarily prey on deer. Colorado has both mule deer and white-tailed deer. An adult mountain lion typically hunts and consumes the biomass equivalent of one deer per week.
• Other Large Mammals:
  • Elk
  • Moose
  • Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats
  • Pronghorns and Feral Horses
• Small to Medium Mammals
  • Coyotes and Raccoons
  • Squirrels, Rats, and Porcupines
• Birds and Reptiles:
  • Various Bird Species
  • Snakes and Other Reptiles
• Other Sources:
  • Carrion: Mountain lions will scavenge when fresh kills are scarce.
  • Livestock and Pets: In areas near human populations, cougars may prey on livestock and, on rare occasions, domestic pets.

Mountain lions are opportunistic hunters, so their diet can vary based on seasonal availability and location. Their adaptability in prey selection plays a critical role in their survival across diverse Colorado habitats.

Where Are Mountain Lions Typically Found?

Mountain lions inhabit regions across all three American continents. Their range begins in Canada’s Yukon Territory in the north. It then extends southward through North America, Central America, and South America. The southern tip of Argentina is also the southern extent of their range.

As of 2017, mountain lions are taxonomically divided into two subspecies:

• Puma concolor couguar (Northern Cougar): This subspecies ranges through North and Central America. They also possibly exist in the northwestern part of South America.
• Puma concolor concolor (Southern Cougar): These cats are only in South America.

In Canada, most mountain lions live in British Columbia and Alberta. Within the United States, they are primarily located in the western states and in Florida, where the cougar is known as the Florida panther.

A significant portion of Colorado is ideal habitat for mountain lions. This includes areas near the main population centers on the Front Range. Deer are a mountain lion’s preferred prey. So, their populations are highest in regions with abundant deer. Colorado’s diverse habitats that provide optimal environments for mountain lions to thrive include:

Mountain Lion Behavior

Mountain lions are solitary animals. It’s a rarity to see two or more together unless during the time that they come together to mate or in the case of a female raising young.

They have expansive home territories. In fact, an adult cougar male’s home range usually is more than 100 square miles and up to 250 square miles. They will sometimes mark their territory by leaving claw marks on trees. They also scratch up piles of leaves and or pine needles that they urinate on as a scent marker.

Male mountain lions fight to the death sometimes to defend their territory.

Although they may move around during daylight hours, cougars are crepuscular or nocturnal hunters, preferring to hunt during twilight and dark hours.

A mountain lion is a formidably tough wild animal:

• They can sprint at speeds of 40 to 50 miles per hour in short bursts.
• They can leap as far as 40 feet with a running start and jump 15 feet vertically from a flat-footed start. See

These behaviors make mountain lions one of Colorado’s most impressive predators. They are well-adapted to their environment and uniquely skilled at solitary survival.

Mountain Lion Hunting in Colorado

The state of Colorado classifies mountain lions as game animals. A valid hunting license is required to hunt them. There are 2 cougar seasons in the state: a spring season and a fall season.

Hunting is a time-honored tradition in the United States. However, as our population becomes increasingly urban, an increasingly small minority still has some connection with the outdoors and many of those who do not understand hunting.

A greater percentage of this increasingly urbanized population views recreational hunting, when consumption of the animal’s meat is not the object of the hunt, as an unethical, needless practice. What they term trophy hunting of mountain lions is viewed by some with disdain.

In the spring of 2022, some Colorado legislators sponsored a senate bill (SB22-031) concerning Colorado’s wild cats. This bill would have banned all trophy hunting and trapping of wild cats within the state.

The bill was referred to the Colorado Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where it was voted down 4-1. The chief sponsor of SB22-031 states that she will soon be back with another bill crafted to pass more easily.

To a non-hunter, enacting a ban on the hunting and trapping of wild cats pushes all the right emotional buttons. However, Colorado Parks and Wildlife uses managed hunting of predators to macro manage all wildlife populations within the state.

Additionally, in areas where predator hunting is completely banned, and these animals lose their fear of humans, the percentages start to rise ever so slightly on the chances that one of them will view a human as a potential food item. This happened in Idaho Springs, Colorado, back in 1991.

Update: On November 5th, 2024, Colorado voters were asked to decide the fate of mountain lion hunting and bobcat trapping in the state. Proposition 127 would have outlawed the killing of cougars, bobcats, and Canada lynx in Colorado except when they threaten livestock or humans. This measure was defeated.

Are Mountain Lions Dangerous?

Don’t let a fear of mountain lions keep you out of the backcountry. It’s an extremely rare occurrence when a mountain lion bothers a human being. Most of the time, they want nothing more than to avoid you. However, I will also say that these are tough, dangerous predators that do, on very rare occasions, harm humans. There have been 27 fatal mountain lion attacks over the last 100 years. On the other hand, use the fact that lightning kills around 43 people in the U.S. every year for some perspective.

Here’s what recently happened to a bowhunter in Utah. Finally, look here for tips on what to do in the unlikely event that a mountain lion is bothering you.

Colorado’s Bobcats (Lynx rufus)

The Bobcat, also known as the red lynx, is a North American wild cat. Biologists believe that both the bobcat and the Canada lynx are descendants of the Eurasian lynx whose ancestors crossed into North America via the Bearing Sea land bridge.

Bobcat range begins in southern Canada, about where the range of the Canadian lynx begins to dwindle out and extends south into central Mexico.

Around 12,000 bobcats live in Colorado. Biologists estimate the population of bobcats and cougars by luring the wild felines into hair traps, either with predator calls or food bait. When the cat enters the trap, a small amount of its hair gets snagged and left behind.

Researchers extrapolate the cat’s DNA from its hair and keep a database of the animals in any given area. From there, they’re able to estimate how large a territory each animal uses and, ergo, the population density for larger areas, such as Colorado’s Front Range or the western slope.

What Do Bobcats Look Like?

Bobcats are smaller than mountain lions and slightly smaller than Canada lynx, with smaller female bobcats being only slightly larger than large domestic cats. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their physical characteristics:

• Size and Weight:
  • Length: 2 to 3 feet.
  • Weight: Typically between 15 to 35 pounds, with females significantly smaller than males.
• Tail and Body Markings:
  • Short, “bobbed” tail with a distinctive black tip.
  • Fur color: Ranges from gray to brown, with mottled dark spots in shades from black to dark brown.
  • Markings: Black stripes are visible on their inner forelegs and tails.
• Body Shape:
  • The rump sits slightly higher than the shoulders, giving them a unique profile.
  • Long hind legs compared to shorter forelegs, similar to the structure seen in lynx.
• Ear and Facial Features:
  • Ear tufts: Black tufts of hair that rise above each ear.
  • Earbacks: Black with a central white spot, creating a “false eye” appearance.
  • Face: Broad and whiskered, with long, ruffled facial hair enhancing the width of their face.
  • Eyes: Yellow or greenish-yellow with black, vertical elliptical pupils.

These unique physical traits make bobcats distinct in appearance, helping them adapt to various environments with excellent camouflage.

What Do Bobcats Eat?

Bobcats are skilled hunters with a diet primarily consisting of small mammals and birds. Here’s an in-depth look at what makes up a bobcat’s diet:

• Primary Prey:
  • Rabbits are a staple food source, providing a significant portion of a bobcat’s nutrition.
  • They also hunt other small mammals, such as rodents (mice, squirrels, and voles).
• Additional Prey:
  • Bobcats may hunt birds, particularly ground-nesting species and game birds.
  • When available, reptiles and amphibians are also on a bobcat’s menu. Interestingly, bobcats don’t hesitate to kill venomous snakes, even though they are not immune to venom. They do this by pinning the snake’s head down and dispatching it with a quick bite to its spine behind the head.
  • Bobcats occasionally prey on larger animals like deer, particularly fawns or injured adults. They are more likely to try to bring down a deer if the animal is stranded in deep snow.
  • Bobcats may feed on small livestock or pets in areas close to civilization.
• Diet Adaptability:
  • Opportunistic in their diet, bobcats can adapt to seasonal food availability.
  • They feed on carrion if prey is limited but prefer fresh kills.
• Hunting Patterns:
  • Bobcats are solitary, stalking their prey and hunting mostly at dusk or dawn.
  • Their stealth, keen eyesight, and hearing make them highly effective hunters in diverse environments.

Bobcat Behavior

Bobcats are solitary animals, just like mountain lions. Outside of the mating season, seeing two adult bobcats together is rare. Urban bobcats are the exception to this rule. They tend to be more tolerant of each other’s presence.

Key behaviors and breeding patterns for bobcats in Colorado

Urban Encounters: In urban settings, bobcats may occasionally wander into buildings or homes. If a bobcat is cornered in a building, keep a safe distance and open doors to allow it to exit. If the bobcat does not leave on its own, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). They will send someone to safely remove it for you.

Mating and Raising Young: Female bobcats typically breed once a year. An average bobcat litter is three kittens. After mating, the male moves on in search of other mates. The female is responsible for caring for and teaching the kittens survival skills. When the young reach around one year of age, they begin their independent lives.

Defensive and Territorial Nature: Bobcats are fiercely territorial. They become defensive, hissing, growling, and behaving aggressively if cornered. Their survival depends on this toughness and their ability to defend themselves.

Also, see Venomous Snakes of Colorado

Canada Lynx in Colorado (Lynx canadensis)

The Canada Lynx, sometimes also known as the Canadian Lynx, is a medium-sized wild cat that lives in the boreal forest in the high country of Canada and the northern United States. It is one of two North American members of the “Lynx” genus, the other being the bobcat.

Formerly extirpated from Colorado.

Canada Lynx are native to Colorado’s high-elevation forests. However, after European Americans settled the state, the value of lynx fur on international markets proved to be their undoing. By the early 20th century, Canada lynx were trapped into expatriation in Colorado.

Colorado once again has a population of these wild felines.

In 1999, Colorado Parks and Wildlife released 41 Canada lynx from Canada and Alaska into the San Juan Mountains. Subsequently, they released over 200 lynx into that area in southwestern Colorado.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, between 150 and 250 Canada lynx live in the state today.

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service listed Canada lynx in the contiguous United States as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the year 2,000.

Canadian Lynx Characteristics

The Canada lynx is a close relative of the bobcat. The two cats look quite similar. But, there are some distinctions between the two species. Below is a detailed look at their defining characteristics:

• Size:
  • Slightly larger than a bobcat, Canadian lynx can reach up to 35.5 inches (90 cm) in length and about 26 inches (65 cm) in height.
  • They weigh up to 37.5 pounds (17 kg).
• Ears, Tail, and Facial Features:
  • Their ears are triangular with black backs, tipped with long tufts of black hair. These tufts are longer than those of a bobcat.
  • Both the Canada lynx and the bobcat have short, black-tipped tails. A bobcat’s tail tip is only black on top, while a lynx’s is black all the way around. While both cats have bobbed tails, a lynx’s tail is shorter than a bobcat’s
  • Below their chin, they have a unique, flared white facial ruff.
  • Their eyes are green with black pupils that are sub-circular and vertically elongated.
• Body Structure:
  • Long legs, with hind legs slightly longer than the front. This gives them a characteristic downhill-sloping appearance.
  • Their large, fur-covered paws act as natural snowshoes. This allows them to move efficiently on top of snow. A lynx’s oversized paws can support nearly twice the weight that bobcat feet can on snow. This enables them to thrive in deep snow environments.
• Fur and Seasonal Changes:
  • In winter, they have a thick, dense gray coat for warmth and camouflage in snowy landscapes.
  • By summer, this coat sheds to reveal shorter, reddish-tan fur.
  • A lynx’s coat pattern is more uniform than that of a bobcat. They have a solid tan coloring with occasional darker brown spots on their legs.

Large paws, thick fur, and powerful hind legs enable these wild cats to excel in mountainous and forested habitats.

What Do Canada Lynx Eat?

Mice, squirrels, ptarmigan, grouse, ducks, deer, Dall sheep, and caribou make up a minor portion of a Canadian lynx’s diet in regions where these prey animals are available. However, their preferred food is snowshoe hares, which live in most of their range.

Lynx and Snowshoe Hare

The Canada lynx is very dependent on snowshoe hares as a food source. In some areas, hares comprise 75% of their total diet. Their population density is directly correlated with the snowshoe hare population.

Canadian and Alaskan Canadian Lynx and snowshoe hares go through what is known as the Lynx-Snowshoe Hare Cycle. When food sources are abundant for hares, their population increases rapidly since they can have several litters yearly. When hare populations peak, there can be as many as 1500 animals per square kilometer ( 3913 per square mile). At this time, the population of Lynx and other predators are also at their peaks.

In Colorado, Canada lynx chiefly depend on snowshoe hares as prey animals. However, they also feed on deer, squirrels, various other small mammals, birds, and carrion.

Final Thoughts

Colorado’s wild cats are a remarkable part of the Centennial State’s ecosystem. Each species plays a vital role in maintaining nature’s balance. Understanding their habits, habitats, and behaviors can help us appreciate and coexist safely with these elusive creatures. Whether you’re a hunter, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply curious about Colorado’s big cats, staying informed is key. Embrace the beauty and mystery of these wild cats, and let’s work together to ensure they remain a treasured part of our wilderness for generations to come.