Oklahoma has seen an increase in mountain lion sightings in recent years. Now, photos have led the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODFW) to confirm the “first instances of possible reproduction of mountain lions within the state” in the agency’s history.
According to a press release, two separate lions were found with kittens in different parts of the state. In October 2024, an adult mountain lion was recorded with two half-grown kittens in Osage County. Then, in December 2024, a different lion was captured in photos with three small kittens in Cimarron County. Both counties are on the northern edge of the state.
“While exciting and interesting, these sightings are just one small piece of the puzzle needed to better understand this species,” said ODFW furbearer biologist Jerrod Davis in a press release. “It’s our first piece of evidence that mountain lions may be breeding in Oklahoma, a key indicator the population is becoming established. That two female mountain lions have established at least part of their territories in Oklahoma is a direct reflection of a healthy ecosystem.”
Historically, Oklahoma is mountain lion territory—in fact, the species’ range once extended across the entire Lower 48. However, as Europeans settled North America, they extirpated mountain lions in much of the Northeast and Midwest by the late 19th century, though populations persisted in the West and Florida.
In recent years, though, anecdotal evidence indicated that mountain lions have been spreading from western populations back into parts of the Midwest. A recent study by Tufts University “confirmed suspicions that mountain lion range is likely expanding to several midwestern states including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.”
The same appears to be true for Oklahoma. Prior to the photographic evidence of two breeding pairs, confirmed sightings have been on the rise in the state for the past eight years, peaking at 19 in 2023, up from zero in 2016. Researchers say that one explanation for the species’ increasing range is young male lions dispersing to find their own range. ODFW officials also note that some of the uptick in confirmed sightings in the state is likely related to the increasing use of trail cameras.
It remains to be seen if the species will thrive in the Midwest, which has a higher density of deer—and also people and highways—than many parts of its current range in the West. In Oklahoma, mountain lions cannot be hunted but may be killed in self-defense and to prevent livestock depredation.
The recent sightings of mountain lions with kittens “could open the door for potential research,” Davis said. “Our first focus should be evaluating the abundance and distribution of mountain lions in the state. We’ve been confirming sightings through our online reporting process for more than 20 years and may deploy more intensive camera arrays. Depending on those surveys, further research may be possible.”
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