Mountain Lions — Reading Comprehension Lesson

Reading Passage

Mountain Lions

Mountain lions are known by many names — cougar, puma, panther, and catamount are all common names for the same animal. They are large, solitary cats with tawny tan coats and long tails, found throughout the western hemisphere from Canada to the southern tip of South America. Mountain lions have the widest natural range of any large wild land animal in the Americas.

Mountain lions are powerful and agile predators. They can leap 15 feet straight up, drop 60 feet silently from a cliff, and jump 40 to 45 feet horizontally. They prey mainly on deer but will also hunt smaller animals. Mountain lions are ambush predators that stalk prey carefully and attack with a sudden burst of speed rather than a long chase.

Each mountain lion maintains a large territory, ranging from 25 to several hundred square miles depending on prey availability. They mark territory with scent and scratch marks on trees. Mountain lions are mostly nocturnal or crepuscular — most active at dawn and dusk — which is why they are rarely seen despite sharing landscapes with humans. They are sometimes called “ghost cats.”

Unlike lions and tigers, mountain lions cannot roar. They are the largest cat capable of purring. Though not currently listed as endangered, mountain lions are considered threatened in parts of their range due to habitat loss and conflict with ranchers. Conservation efforts focus on protecting wildlife corridors that allow mountain lions to move between habitat areas.

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