It’s been at least a couple of years since any mountain lions were filmed in our little 88-acre canyon in the bay area. The most recent puma was caught on camera in July as she checked the air for scent. This first video of her is dramatic, it isn’t a typical mountain lion walk-by video. The profile of her head fills the frame. The puma is only a few inches from the camera; so close that you can hear her breathing and count her whiskers.
The Bay Area canyon mountain lion and people
She’s a cautious mountain lion. She wants nothing to do with people and does whatever is necessary to avoid them. She travels through the canyon on the wildlife and hiking trails during those times when she is less likely to encounter people. At the first hint of a human, she quietly disappears into the brush. She knows when there are people nearby because they’re loud, not just vocally but in other ways. They walk heavy, the ground creaks and rattles under their feet, grasses crunch. People aren’t subtle on the trails. Although pumas avoid humans, there are exceptions. Females can be belligerent when accompanied by cubs. Like all species, maternal instinct kicks in. Another exception is when a mountain lion feels cornered.
Many wild animals, including the canyon mountain lion, venture out between dusk to dawn to find food and other resources, times when human activity is minimal. The presence of people alters the dynamics between predators and prey, changes feeding behaviors1, 2 and the locations for hunting, foraging and sheltering. Although some species, including mountain lions and bobcats, are naturally nocturnal and/or crepuscular3, studies are showing that wild animals are shifting their activities from day to night to avoid humans4. People should be mindful and time-share the canyon and other natural spaces with the wild residents, only enjoying them during the day. The night belongs to wildlife. Don’t visit the canyon at night, instead walk on the street in the evenings and at night. The street runs parallel to the canyon and is less than four hundred yards away.
Our canyon mountain lion runs from a person
On the night of August 23rd, in our bay area canyon, the mountain lion avoided an encounter with a walker who stumbled up the trail. Most likely, he had no idea that he was right behind the mountain lion, heading in the same direction. The time stamp on the first video shows the puma rushing up the trail at 8:39 PM. A few seconds later, at 8:40 PM, the walker is captured on film following closely behind her.
The time stamp on the first video shows the puma rushing up the trail at 8:39 PM.
A few seconds later, at 8:40 PM, the walker is captured on film following closely behind her.
Mountain lions follow their prey
Mountain lions follow their food and their favorite meal is venison. The canyon is currently hosting a substantial number of deer. There is plenty of vegetation, water, and cover for them. Until recently, it’s been a relatively safe haven for the does and their fawns. Before the puma showed up in July, the only predators that raised concern were a pair of coyotes who are regulars in the canyon.
A mountain lion will kill and eat approximately one deer a week. Our canyon lion, like all pumas, doesn’t eat the whole thing in one sitting. She first caches it; dragging the carcass somewhere nearby and then covers it with forest detritus to protect it from scavengers and reduce spoilage. Depending on the size of the prey and other environmental factors, it can take her between 2-5 days to consume it. Being a typical mountain lion, she’ll stay nearby, unless frightened away, until the carcass is eaten or spoiled. She isn’t the only one who benefits from her hunting prowess. When she’s away from the carcass, other animals have a chance to grab a quick bite—coyotes, raptors, skunks, and other wildlife benefit from the puma’s successful hunt.
On August 22nd, our bay area canyon mountain lion stalked and ambushed a fawn, one of two who was birthed by a lame, resident doe. Although sad to see, the death of that one fawn is ecologically significant. That fawn died so that others can live and thrive. Her death was not in vain—it contributed to keeping the eco-system balanced and healthy. She fed the community.
The delicate balance of the ecosystem
The presence of the mountain lion in the bay area canyon serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between wildlife and human activity. Our puma plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the canyon ecosystem. By regulating the deer population, she helps prevent overgrazing, reduces disease transmission (including Lyme disease), and provides sustenance for other wildlife. Additionally, because she is an opportunistic hunter she hunts smaller prey including rats.
By being mindful of our impact on the environment and sharing these spaces responsibly with wildlife and bay area mountain lions, we can help maintain the health of the ecosystem and its wild residents. The canyon, with its rich ecosystem, offers a sanctuary for many species, and it is our duty to protect and preserve it. One small way we can help the ecosystem is to enjoy the canyon only during the day—don’t go there at night. The night belongs to the wild ones. Enjoy the canyon and other open spaces during the day and leave the night to its rightful inhabitants.
Justine A. Smith , Justin P. Suraci1, Michael Clinchy, Ayana Crawford, Devin Roberts, Liana Y. Zanette, and Christopher C. Wilmers. Fear of the human ‘super predator’ reduces feeding time in large carnivores. September 14, 2025.
Veronica Yovovich, Meredith Thomsen, Christopher C. Wilmers. Pumas’ fear of humans precipitates changes in plant architecture January 1, 2021. Ecosphere www.esajournals.org 1 v Volume 12(1) v Article e03309
Crepuscular: Crepuscular animals are the most active during dawn and dusk.
Kaitlyn M. Gaynor, Cheryl E. Hojnowski, Neil H. Carter, and Justin S. Brashares. The influence of human disturbance on wildlife nocturnality Jun 2018 Vol 360, Issue 6394 pp. 1232-1235
Marilyn is a certified cat behavior consultant (The Cat Coach, LLC). Not surprisingly, she’s fascinated by feline behavior. This started with household cats and then after witnessing a puma being killed four blocks from her home in the suburbs, expanded to include local bay area mountain lions and bobcats. A few years after the tragedy, she joined the Bay Area Puma Project/Felidae Conservation Fund, maintaining trail cameras, writing and helping wherever she can. Her focus is on how urbanization is affecting apex predators’ behaviors.
She is also an author and educator. Her book Naughty No More! focuses on solving cat behavior issues through clicker training, environmental changes as well as other positive reinforcement techniques. She gives presentations throughout the United States as well as writes columns and articles for a variety of venues.
Join Marilyn for lively discussions about all things feline on her Facebook pages: The Cat Coach and Urbanedge Wildlife
Thanks for such an insightful article and amazing videos. It’s especially important for humans to appreciate and understand how to coexist with wildlife. Btw, both of my (indoor only) cats were curled up sleeping next to me when I was reading this and they both picked up their heads and looked when they heard the sounds the mountain lion was making. When they realized there was no threat to them they went back to sleep