Humans and Cougars
Research has consistently concluded that hunting mountain lions increases conflicts with humans.
Humans can coexist peacefully with mountain lions.
It is unlikely you will see a mountain lion in your lifetime, but they have undoubtedly seen you. Mountain lions avoid humans and will abandon a carcass at the sound of a human voice. In fact, since 1870, there have only been 28 fatal mountain lion attacks on humans in North America. Actvities such as jogging and biking increase the risk of an attack because these motions resemble running animals and can trigger a lion's instinctive prey drive.
Humans benefit from the presence of mountain lions.
Mountain lions keep Blacklegged Tick numbers down by regulating deer population, thereby reducing Lyme disease infections in humans. The regulation of the deer population also prevents over-grazing and a resulting food shortage.
.Mountain lions prevent automobile accidents by reducing the numbers of animals that are involved in wildlife-human highway collisions.
Recent research found that mountain lions target the diseased deer in a herd, thereby keeping herds healthy.
Killing mountain lions contributes to the disruption of our entire ecosystem.
Mountain lions are considered a "keystone species," meaning that their activities support vital functions of the natural world, such as balancing the water table by reducing the amount of time deer spend at water sources.
Almost 500 species benefit from the mountain lion's kill sites.
Mountain lions help seed new growth of plant life through the distribution of the seeds contained in their scat.
