Are Mountain Lions Coming Back?
Until a few centuries ago, mountain lions ranged across the North American continent. Hunting by settlers exterminated many populations, but sightings in the central and eastern United States have occasioned speculation that mountain lions are making a comeback.
That's not precisely what's happening, said Sweanor. The cats are indeed roaming their ancestral lands, but they're not settling down. They're males searching for -- and not finding -- mates.
"There's no evidence of any breeding populations outside the established populations," Sweanor said. Yet while this might seem a dour take on a celebratory narrative of recovery, there's a silver lining. Part of the reason why mountain lions are now seen roaming is because, thanks to conservation efforts, they're surviving to do so.
Image: A track in the snow in St. Croix county, Wisconsin. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)