Our cougar images gallery contains photos of one of the biggest wild cats—the cougar (Puma concolor), also known as the mountain lion and puma. Wild cougars can be found in North, Central, and South America. They inhabit many different regions, from rocky mountains and thick forests to swamps and even deserts.
What is it like trying to photograph a cougar in the wild? According to a story by @JamesLucasIT on X, in 1999, photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen waited 42 days to capture the photo of a cougar. “He spent 12 to 14 hours on location daily, with breaks to sleep at home. He finally got the shot of the female cougar at dusk emerging from her den.”
Here is what some other wildlife photographers have said about capturing images of this elusive predator:
Jess Lee, recalling a rare sighting in Wyoming, said: “From the back seat there was an exhaled whisper ‘-COUGAR-’ and there it was. Lying almost imperceptibly in the snow was a mountain lion… My heart raced; this was the moment we had been waiting for… The vision of those beautiful, but deadly eyes lock onto mine are forever burned to my mind.”
Steve Winter, on photographing the famous P-22 cougar in Los Angeles noted: “This story was extremely difficult. The mountain lion is a very secretive animal. It has to be in order to show up in downtown L.A. and have no one ever see it but the scientists, and so it was a great relief when you have a picture like this that can become iconic.”
David Marchant, sharing his strategy in Utah, explained: “The best way to find cougars is to watch the deer. If there are deer in the area, there will be cougars nearby. If the deer become nervous there is a reason, he said. Perhaps a person or a dog is approaching the area. Or, perhaps they sense a cougar in the brush. Sit quietly and watch the places where a cougar could sneak up on deer.”
Mark Girardeau, describing a close encounter in California, said: “If I said I wasn’t scared, I’d be lying… This mountain lion didn’t blink. You could just see its eyes staring at us.”
Want to learn more about cougars? Check out this page on the cougar species, including physical characteristics and behavior.
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