What Attracts Mountain Lions To Your Yard?

Whether you call them cougars or mountain lions, these wild cats are equally beautiful and intimidating. The large, quiet predators are quite aggressive when they spot their prey, which includes deer, elk, and raccoons. So, what attracts mountain lions to your yard?

Overgrown shrubs, tall grass, and low-hanging branches can attract a mountain lion to your yard because they provide great hiding spots. Livestock and pets can also attract hungry a mountain lion to your yard, so you must protect them. Install a 12-foot fence around your property, place motion-activated lights, and keep your pets indoors at night to keep mountain lions away.

It’s also a good idea to close your compost bin and garbage cans with straps or heavy objects. That way, you won’t attract some of the small animals that mountain lions eat. Follow along as we explore what attracts a mountain lion to your yard and highlight ways to keep it off your property.

What Attracts Mountain Lions to Your House?

1. Livestock

Mountain lions, also known as cougars, are fierce predators, and typically go wherever they can find easy prey, such as deer, goats, dogs, cats, chickens, and other mammals. Mountain lions typically prey upon small animals, but they also eat bighorn sheep, elk, wild hogs, and whitetail deer. This creates a big problem for farmers, who must think of ways to protect livestock on their property.

If you're a farmer, build a fence big enough to deter mountain lions. Ideally, it should be 12-feet fence to stop mountain lions from climbing over it. Bury the fence a few feet underground so the big cat can't dig and crawling beneath it. Wrangle livestock before sunset, as mountain lions are less likely to prey upon a large group of animals.

2. Vulnerable Pets

Farmers aren’t the only ones who worry about mountain lions killing animals on their property. Family pets are just as vulnerable as livestock, so you must protect them. The easiest way to protect your pets from cougars is to bring them inside before the sun sets. That way, you can account for them, know they’re safe, and avoid attracting mountain lions.

Of course, you can still take your dogs outside to relieve themselves, but you should keep them on a short leash. Otherwise, your dogs may see distant mountain lions and run toward them. Cats are harder to control than dogs, so it’s better to keep them indoors after sunset. Never tie your pets to a tree or post in an area with many mountain lions, or else they could become easy prey.

3. Compost And Garbage

Mountain lions primarily prey upon other animals, but their sense of smell can direct them toward your garbage and compost. That’s especially true if you put meat and other food scraps in your garbage can. Not only can the smell entice mountain lions, but it can also attract their prey, such as raccoons and opossums. Secure the lids of your garbage cans so small animals can’t get in.

Put your garbage cans outside the night before they’re due to get picked up. That way, animals will be attracted to it for a shorter peiod of time, and be less enticing for mountain lions. Keep pests out of your compost, or else mountain lions may prey upon them and linger on your property. Install a locking lid or at least weigh the lid down with heavy objects to keep animals out. Never put meat in your compost, or else you’ll attract mountain lions and other animals.

How To Keep Mountain Lions Off Your Property

Deterring mountain lions isn’t as hard as you may think. However, you must prioritize your safety, as encountering these laege cats is quite dangerous. That’s why you should focus on preventative measures during the day. Never attempt to modify your yard at night. For example, don't trim overgrown vegetation at night, as mountain lions might be hiding beyond your sight. Keep mountain lions off your property using a few easy methods, including:

Install Motion-Activated Lights/Sprinklers

Even the fiercest predators are scared of unexpected stimuli, and you can use that to your advantage. Scare mountain lions away by installing motion-activated lights and sprinklers. Pay attention to which parts of your yard mountain lions and other predators enter through. That way, you can install the motion-activated lights in the most effective areas possible.

It helps to put motion-activated lights and sprinklers on trees and fence posts on the edge of your property. That way, you can scare curious mountain lions with bright lights and a stream of water. Be patient, as you may need to tweak the sprinklers and lights to be as effective as possible. Set up cameras to see where they enter your property. Only tweak the lights and sprinklers during the day to avoid encountering mountain lions.

Use Noise To Your Advantage

Mountain lions hate unpleasant noises as much as they hate bright lights and sprinklers. You can find motion-activated alarms meant to deter mountain lions and other predators. They work the same way lights, but they produce harsh sounds instead. You can find motion-activated alarms that also produce bright, flashing lights. This is the best of both worlds, but a simple motion alarm will work.

If you don’t have a motion-activated alarm, you can use a radio to deter mountain lions. Place a radio near where mountain lions enter and crank the volume to deter them. This isn’t quite as effective as motion-activated alarms, but it’s a good temporary solution.

Clean Up Your Yard

Cougars and other predators are often drawn to yards with plenty of hiding spots. Thick brush, overgrown shrubs, and tall grass give mountain lions plenty of room to hide and look for prey. That’s why it’s important to clean up your yard and remove hiding spots. Remove low-hanging branches and overgrown brush, prune your bushes, and mow your lawn to deter mountain lions. It’s especially important to clean the parts of your yard close to the woods. Mountain lions are unlikely to emerge from the woods if they feel vulnerable due to a lack of hiding spots.

Don’t Feed Wild Animals

Living in a remote area with lots of wildlife is quite rewarding for many reasons. However, interacting with wild animals can be dangerous. Feeding deer is fun, but you’ll also attract mountain lions if you keep doing it. The more you feed deer and elk, the more you’ll find them in your yard. Mountain lions will quickly notice the influx of deer and elk on and view your property as a place to find food. Feeding wild animals can also disrupt the ecosystem, as they can become dependent on you. This is even illegal in some states, so you may face fines and penalties for feeding wild animals.

Summing It Up

Mountain lions are drawn to properties with livestock, pets, and garbage cans. Compost can attract small animals, like raccoons, which attract mountain lions looking for an easy meal. You can keep mountain lions out of your yard by installing motion-activated alarms, lights, and sprinklers.

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• How To Keep Coyotes Away From Your House
• Why Are There So Many Rabbits In My Yard?