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Reproduction | |
| Distribution
& range
Author: Jason Pautz Site
created by Richard Phillips
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The mountain lion is a solitary animal except during breeding periods. When a female is in estrous breeding can last up to two weeks (Davis and Schmidly 256). The gestation period is only 92 days and neonates weigh only 500 grams (Anderson 1983:33-34). Adult females reach reproductive maturity in between two and three years of age. The mean interval between births (except when a litter dies ) is usually about 24 months (Hornocker 1970:16, Robinette et. al. 1961:215; Beier 1993:96). The average litter size ranges from two to three. Beier (1993) reported preliminary analysis of 172 cougars-months of telemetry data (0- and 1-year-olds combined) suggests an annual survival rate for cougar cubs of 0.48. A survival rate of 72% was reported for 3 and 10 months of age in an area of extremely low cougar density (Hemker et al.). |