Humans are increasingly coming in contact with mountain lions, raising questions as to whether humans are to blame and how they can safely coexist with the large cats.
These are the reasons why humans may be encountering mountain lions more often, according to experts:The population of cougars has been increasing steadily for decades, Jim Hayden, a biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, told ABC News.
"With regulated management, we've seen an increase in the mountain lion population pretty much west-wide, Canada as well," Hayden said. In addition, deer and elk herd typically congregate in south and west-facing mountain slopes in the winter -- areas where humans like to build homes as well due to the low elevations -- and the cougars follow their food, Hayden said.
In the 1970s, there weren't near as many campgrounds, people hiking into wilderness or an overall interest in wild, outdoor activities, she said. But, these are places where people will naturally come in contact with wildlife, and people accept that risk, Williams said.The hunting of mountain lions is legal in most of the western states, Hayden said.
Younger cats haven't learned how to hunt as proficiently as their adult counterparts, leading them to make mistakes and sometimes mistake a human for food, Williams said. The juvenile lions are often the ones wreaking havoc in human communities, attacking pets and livestock, he added. Juvenile cougars were also responsible for the attacks that garnered national attention in recent months.
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