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Friday, March 8, 2019

Nature and Feline Friday: A Mountain Lion in Stalking Mode

More than a year ago, I found some most fascinating footage of a mountain lion stalking prey on a trail camera. I recently ran across it again, and I was mesmerized once again. I just had to share with you.

The mountain lion appeared at a water hole that was dry due to a severe drought. He clearly thought that prey was nearby and moved incredibly slowly and meticulously for about 30 minutes. He took each step painfully slowly, avoiding making any noise at all.

It took him almost a minute to get from that first position almost into his pouncing position. As he moved each hind paw forward, he'd inch this front paw forward so that the hind could land where the front paw had been an instant earlier. It looked like a method to prevent him from accidentally making noise with his hind paws since he can't see where they are landing.

Then, he maintained this very uncomfortable-looking position for quite a while. I believe that he was ready to pounce on an animal. He held his tail up and off the ground the entire time.

He left the view of the camera a couple of times but kept coming back, always using his silent deliberate gait.
When I checked the cam well after the lion had been there, I spent some time exploring near the water hole to see if I could find signs that the lion had made a kill but I didn't find anything.

Here's a video of this mountain lion's time near the dry water hole. Although it may appear to be in slow motion, it is not. Rather, he was moving with such stealth that he moved very slowly. Enjoy - I have never again seen footage like this, and I doubt that I ever will!

22 comments:

  1. he reminds me a lot of the Nelly... he is a stalker too and he has a lot of feline moves ;O)

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  2. Hari Om
    An absolute cat!!! My angel Jasper would make like this as he approached his sister-dog's tail... YAM xx

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  3. That's an amazing video, yes, he sure had his sights set on something.

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  4. Amazing! what a stalker he is. each paw as it moves into position, he touches it several times to make sure it is in the correct spot. i watched for a short time 2 days ago on my walk, a giant white heron, stalking a lizard, much like this cat, one claw went forward, i did not stay to see if he got his prey but i am sure he did.

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  5. Fantastic 3min Video There!! Way Cool. Reminds me of the Boy Dog in a big way. Shadow Boy was just under 100 pounds and he would move in the same stealth like pattern when he saw a bird, snake, etc on the trail. We had numerous friends that would "laugh" at him because he acted just like a cat on the hunt. Seeing this video, The Boy Dog must of had a Mountain Lion Spirit.

    Thanx For Sharing This And Enjoy You Weekend,
    Cheers

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  6. WOW I loved this video...Cats large and small, wild and domesticated, are so very deliberate with each step.
    In her younger years, Madi would stalk a toy exactly like this. I always loved right before the pounce how she marched in place as if to get her momentum up.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  7. What a cool video! It's too bad we couldn't see what he was stalking.

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  8. I love how precise his steps are that without noticing he misses every leaf that could make a sound. what an amazing video to watch

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  9. Wonderful to see!
    If only we knew more of the story.
    My friends dog moves a lot like that and will hold still for a very long time in wait.

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  10. He is very patient and very quiet. What a cool video!

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  11. Wow, this is amazing. I would love to live in this kind of country. Loved the video. We watch the fishing birds do this very same thing. Ever so slow and ever so quiet. Beautiful.

    Thank you for joining the Feline Friday Blog Hop.

    Have a purrfect Feline Friday and weekend. ♥

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  12. Such deliberation and care, so quiet, and after all that nothing to show for his time and stealth. How little we would know if it were not for all your videos and photos. We are the winners here today, thanks so much for the visit to your part of the world.

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  13. That is SO COOL! I like to use stalker mode, too. Mostly on Cammie. Sometimes on my mom. And sometimes on my bff Chelsea the Border Collie. She does this slinky thing, too. It's so fun. Then we wiggle all over and do nose bumps and stuff. I don't think that's what the Mountain Lion had in mind, though.
    Yours sincerely,
    Margaret Thatcher

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  14. How we love this video!!! That cat is quite the stalker. Timber likes to stalk squirrels and rabbits but we don't think he has the patience to move that slowly:)

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  15. so fascinating to watch him step so slowly and deliberately.
    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

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  16. With all that patience and effort, I hope he was rewarded with a tasty meal.

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  17. It's amazing how deliberate and patient they are! That deer must have sensed that was not a good place to hang out!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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