Looking for Lion info

[LBell]

Ok I am wondering if anyone knows what age a mature (in their prime) tom/sow would be? I have never looked into it much and this season has me wondering. Also I know so much depends on food availability and alot of other things but while reaching maturity how much weight is put on from season to season (yearly)? I don't know if there have been many studies done but if anyone who knows about lions wants to share that would be great. thanks Lance

[jcutler]

This study has some good info in it.

http://www.cougarnet.org/Assets/pumafieldguide.pdf

[Mike Leonard]

A very good source of information. Genetics and food supply are the main contributing factors to ultimate size of cougars. Generally Biologists feel that a cougar has reached maturity by the time they are 30 months old. We do however know that in many situation a great deal of growth potential still remains especially for male cougars. In many of the more northern habitats that support good prey base that consists of larger ungulates growth can be significant between 4-6 years

. I have caught a tom the first year he was independant of his mother, and he weighed approximatly 120 pounds. He was identified by a split ragged ear. He remained in the same general vicinity for two more years and catching him in his 4th. year he was a prime 150 pound speciman. He was in an area with significant elk for prey year round. He was harvested in his 6th. year and weighed 187 pounds. so you can see significant growth can still occur after the 4th. year.

[LBell]

Good book thanks