Mountain Lion

Distribution

Reproduction

Ecology

Management

Literature Cited

Reproduction

Mountain lions are polygamous, but a stable territory may cause the same lions to mate year after year (Seidensticker et al. 1973).  Gestation periods can vary from 82 to 96 days, depending on the time from the last day of mating to parturition (Eaton and Verlander 1977, Rabb 1959, Young and Goldman 1946).  Most births in the northern hemisphere are between April and September; however, female mountain lions can come into estrous any time of the year (Eaton and Verlander 1977, Robinette et al. 1961).

The first estrous is usually accompanied by a bloody discharge (Eaton and Verlander 1977).  Estrous can last from 4 to 12 days, but has an average duration of 8 days (Eaton and Verlander 1977, Rabb 1959).  In a study conducted by Rabb (1959) at Chicago Zoological Park, a female lion would have an 8- to 11-day estrous and, if not mated, would come into estrous again in 2 weeks.  She went through 6 cycles and then underwent a 2-month lull before going into estrous again.

Copulation frequency during estrous is variable.  The highest frequency observed by Eaton and Verlander (1977) was 9 times in 1 hour.  A single copulation usually lasts less than 1 minute (Eaton and Verlander 1977, Rabb 1959).  Eaton and Verlander (1977) observed 52 mated estrous periods and calculated that the chance of conception per mated estrous was 67%.

Litter sizes of mountain lions range from 1 to 6 kittens (Robinette et al. 1961, Young and Goldman 1946).  Robinette et al. (1961) examined 66 pregnant, wild females and found the average number of fetuses to be 3.4.  He also found the average litter size of 131 females with kittens that weighed up to 23 kg to be 3.0, and the average litter size of 37 females with kittens that weighed over 23 kg to be 2.2.

If a litter is removed within 24 hours or is born dead, a female lion will usually go into estrous within a few weeks (Eaton and Verlander 1977, Rabb 1959).  Uncharacteristic of other large Felids, female mountain lions will not usually go back into estrous soon after death or removal of a litter if the kittens had been raised for more than a few days (Eaton and Verlander 1977).

A mountain lion kitten weighs approximately 400 g at birth (Young and Goldman 1946).  Its coat is densely spotted and its eyes and ears remain closed for one to two weeks after birth (Eaton and Verlander 1977, Young and Goldman 1946).  Young lions usually stay with their mother until age 1.5 to 2 years (Hornocker 1970, Seidensticker et al. 1973).  Females sexually mature at 2 to 3 years of age (Eaton and Verlander 1977, Rabb 1959, young and Goldman 1946), but a mountain lion in the wild will usually not mate until a home area or territory has been established (Hornocker 1970, Seidensticker et al. 1973). Reproductive activity can last to at least an age of 12 years in females and as far as 20 years in males (Eaton and Verlander 1977).  In captivity mountain lions have lived longer than 20 years, but a free-ranging lion living past the age of 12 years is probably rare (Young and Goldman 1946).