What are Mountain Lion Sounds?

Do you want an answer to the question, “What are mountain lion sounds?”  You may be surprised to know that they do not roar like other big cats such as lions, tigers and jaguars. However, they purr, meow, yell, scream, whistle, growl, squeak, yowl, hiss, and spit.  Let’s find out more about mountain lions and the sounds they make.

The sounds mountain lions make are closer to the domestic cat than to big cats. That is partly due to the fact that their physical characteristics are closer to small cats. 

• The mountain lion's sounds include hissing, meowing, yelling, growling, spitting, and purring. 
• Because of its size, the purring sounds made by mountain lions will be deeper than that of domestic cats. 
• There is one really deep sound that a mountain lion makes that sounds like “Wah Wah."  This sound is also made by lynx, caracal, bobcats, and golden cats of Africa and Asia. 
• Mountain lions make a sound like a scream.  It is high-pitched and is used as a long range call. 
• Mountain lions make a shrill, high-pitched whistle that is used between members of a family group.  This can also be heard over a fairly long distance and has been reported in the mountains in New Mexico.  

A few sounds made by mountain lions are reserved for communication between males and females. 

• These would include a low gargle-type sound, a yowl made in the throat, squeaks, and an “ouch” type of sound. The “ouch” sound can show frustration or mean that the mountain lion is there. 
• When a female is in heat, she will make a caterwauling kind of sound, much like domestic cats, but of course at a higher volume.

Facts about Mountain Lions 

There are also plenty of other interesting things to know about mountain lions in addition to what sounds they make:

• Two common names for mountain lions are puma and cougar.
• Mountain lions can weigh up to 200 pounds and in contrast, tigers can weigh 500 pounds.  So mountain lions are smaller than most big cats and some are not too much heavier than a large house cat.  They are similar to domestic cats in these ways: the shape of their nose, their short and wide skull, the distance between their eyes and the tip of their nose is short, the shape of their pupils, and the structure and shape of their feet.  They are the largest cats that purr.
• The scientific name for a mountain lion is Puma concolor which means “cat of one color”.  Other than puma and cougar, they are sometimes called: panther, tyger, ghost walker, leopardo, el leon, painter, concolor, and catamount.  They are a tan color with black tips on their ears and tail.  From their nose to the tip of their tail, most adults are between six and eight feet long.
• Mountain lions hunt alone and at night.  They will eat deer, birds, porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, and wild hogs.  When they kill something large, they will eat some of it then hide it from others and keep it from spoiling by covering it with pine needles, leaves, or grass.  They return to it every few days until they have finished it.
• Mountain lions can be found from coastal areas to snow covered mountains.  At one time, they ranged from South America to Canada, but today, they can be found in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta and mostly in 12 states in the western part of the United States.  They lead solitary lives and do not mate for life.
• When mountain lions are running, they can leap up to 40 feet.  They can jump 15 feet into a tree and climb over a 12 foot fence.  They are capable of running 50 miles per hour for a short distance and can walk 10 miles per hour for great distances. 
• Since mountain lions are one of the largest predators, they are important in keeping deer populations in control.  Since they usually hunt the weak, sick, or old deer, they help maintain a healthy population.  

So, now you know what sounds mountain lions make as well as other interesting details about the animals.