Emily Chan
To determine the hours that mountain lions are most active, the researchers used GPS trackers to monitor 22 mountain lions living within the Santa Susana Mountains between 2011 and 2018.
Then, they compared the movement to human activity data from a fitness app called Strava. They found that the lions with more human activity in their territories did not emerge during dawn and dusk as often. Instead, they preferred to come out at night.
The most nocturnal lions in the study were two males. Both of them lived in areas surrounded by human development and recreational activity.
Female mountain lions seemed to respond differently. They were less inclined to engage in nocturnal habits than the males. The least nocturnal lion in the study was a female.
According to the researchers, male mountain lions are a threat to female mountain lions and their cubs.
The females showed evidence of avoiding habitats where males were present. It appeared that they were more likely to avoid male mountain lions than humans.
The results of the study are important because they demonstrate another way in which people are affecting wildlife.
They also highlight how amazing it is that a large felid predator can thrive in one of the world’s biggest urban areas.
The study was published in the journal Biological Conservation.
