The head size to body ratio is that of a house cat.
Mountain lions have "little" heads and long-ish necks relative to their body size.
Mountain Lion, Bobcat or Domestic Cat?Mountain Lion
- Weight: 80-160 pounds
- Length: About 7-8 feet long
- Tail: 2-3 feet long (up to half of the total length)
Identification
The mountain lion is a large, slender cat, with a long rope-like tail. Adults are a uniform tan or tawny in color, with a white or cream-colored chin, undersides and inner legs.
Bobcats, feral cats and domestic dogs may be misidentified as mountain lion. Below is a list of physical characteristics that distinguish mountain lions from more common species.
Physical appearance
- Coat overall is tawny to golden-brown
- Long, thick tail with blunt, black tip that is held low, not uplifted
- Oval heads are smaller in proportion to their overall body size
- Longer neck in comparison to housecats; the neck can be as long as the length of the head
- Rounded ears that are solid black or gray on the back, may have a white or light spot
- Some black on the front of the muzzle, below the nose
- Belly, underside, inside legs and chin are white or creamy
- Slight sag to their spine
NOTE: Use of optics (binoculars or scopes) can maginfy an animal's size.
Tracks
- Approximately 3-4 inches in length and 3-4.5 inches wide
- Round and often wider than they are long
- No claws
Front Track
Back Track
Trail Miles: 4,980.5
AT Map 1: Complete 2013-2021
Sheltowee Trace: Complete 2020-2023
Pinhoti Trail: Complete 2023-2024
Foothills Trail: 47.9
AT Map 2: 279.4
BMT: 52.7
CDT: 85.4
The size of those hind legs says mountain lion.
Stripes on tail says tabby
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
Based on my experience in video forensics, and basing my opinion on the displayed leaf litter and correlating it to the critter with an estimated 15-20 yards to the background structure....its a cat.
The closer to human habitat calls for a house cat.
''Tennessee Viking'
Mountains to Sea Trail Hiker & Maintainer
Former TEHCC (AT) Maintainer
I showed this photo to our 14 year old cat. He admitted it, it's him out on a night time hunt. Yes, he's a house cat BUT he IDENTIFIES as a Mountain Lion, therefore.......
For a couple of bucks, get a weird haircut and waste your life away Bryan Adams....
Hammock hangs are where you go into the woods to meet men you've only known on the internet so you can sit around a campfire to swap sewing tips and recipes. - sargevining on HF
We live in the DFW area, but 1/4 from a major lake with lots of wildlife. Bobcats are fairly common near the lake. Someone over on the "rich" side of town, from their porch overlooking the lake, they posted on NEXTDOOR, that there was a HUGE MOUNTAIN LION along the lake! A few others said "WE THINK SO ALSO". Then the wildlife experts posted what land here in Texas would be needed to support a large cat. Conclusion was that it would take all of the 11 counties that make up our "Metroplex (mess)". Photo's of the track and measurements showing it wasn't large enough to be a ML, didn't convince some. Meanwhile, lots of armchair people were posting their "sightings". This went on for a week. Then a funny thing happened. A person who lives 2 doors down from the "sighting", happens to have a game camera pointing at the lake. They posted photos of coyotes, deer,......and bobcat.....Dated to the day the original poster was convinced a MOUNTAIN LION walked by.
That ended that discussion.
For a couple of bucks, get a weird haircut and waste your life away Bryan Adams....
Hammock hangs are where you go into the woods to meet men you've only known on the internet so you can sit around a campfire to swap sewing tips and recipes. - sargevining on HF
I think I recall this same picture showing up with the same story but a different location some time ago. Anyone else remember that?
"It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss