Mountain Lion Sightings

U.S. Forest Service Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest Report

Recent reports of mountain lion (cougar) activity along the River Trail corridor in Logan Canyon and at lower elevations reinforce the fact that mountain lions can be present anywhere. Mountain lions are active year round and their main food sources are deer, rabbits and other small mammals. Mountain lions have extremely large territories. They sometimes roam more than 20 miles a day in search of new food sources or mates. This is especially true after young mountain lions leave their mother at about a year and a half old.

 If you recreate in mountain lion country, here are a few guidelines to make your experience safer:

• Hike with other people and make noise. Cougars usually will not bother groups of people.

• Keep a clean camp and store food and garbage in your vehicle or hang it between two trees where cougars (and bears) cannot reach it.

• When hiking with small children, keep the children in the group or in sight ahead of the group. Remember, cougars ambush from behind, so keeping a child in front of the main group will lessen the possibility of attack.

• Keep away from dead animals, especially deer or elk. This could be a kill that a cougar is guarding or will be returning to. A cougar will defend its food.

• If hiking with pets, keep them on a leash and close to the group. Roaming pets will be open to cougar attacks.

• Try to minimize your recreation activities during dawn and dusk- the times mountain lions are most active.

• Respect any warning signs posted by agencies. It may not be a good time for outdoor adventuring.

• Make enough noise when hiking, cycling or running that you do not get too close without them hearing you coming. Lions that hear you coming will leave an area before you get there.

• If you encounter a cougar please alert the Division of Wildlife Resources 801-476-2740.