On March 10, National Park Service cameras spotted a mountain lion roaming the Tavasci Marsh Trail at the Tuzigoot National Monument.
The footage shows the lion calmly strolling along a trail next to a railroad tie, blending in with its surroundings. From a hiker’s perspective, from some distance away, the lion would be nearly hidden below eye level by the dried reeds that surround it in the shot.
Mountain lions are normally at their most active during twilight and at night, but sometimes choose to hunt in daylight. Tuzigoot officials said in a statement that this cat has been repeatedly caught on camera during daytime park open hours.
Hikers who happen to encounter the flexible feline are cautioned to avoid running, maintain eye contact with the cat, “speak firmly in a loud voice,” appear larger if possible and refrain from bending over or crouching, as bending can make a hiker resemble a prey animal. Mountain lions prefer solitude, even from other members of their own species, and rarely attack humans.
The appearance of a lion at Tuzigoot is not a new occurrence.
“There is a healthy population [of mountain lions] in the Verde Valley,” the National Park Service’s website cautions prospective visitors. “Especially if you are heading down into Tavasci Marsh, be aware of mountain lions while on-trail.”
Mountain lions are not the only big cats to look out for while hiking the Southwest. Although rare, jaguars are also regularly recorded in Arizona and have been spotted as far north as Colorado. The Journal of Wildlife Management found that as much as 30% of Arizona is suitable jaguar habitat, and in 2021, the Wildlife Conservation Society proposed the planned reintroduction of the jaguar to Arizona and New Mexico.
