The cat will stalk its prey on the ground, or use a high spot to look for potential prey. A few quick bounds and the cat leaps onto the back of larger prey, trying to break the neck or puncture the neck with its sharp canine teeth. A mountain lion will usually catch only one out of three deer that it chases. Any uneaten parts of a carcass may be covered with pine needles, leaves and other debris for later feeding. This is called a cache .
Cougars eat about one deer every one to two weeks.
Cougars eat weak or diseased animals and help keep ungulate populations scattered, preventing overgrazing. Adult mountain lions have no enemies, only humans. Now, they are considered a beautiful, powerful predator that plays an important role in the ecosystem. There is no exact count of mountain lions in Boulder County, so reported sightings are an important measure of the population. To avoid injury to yourself and the lion, know when you are in lion country and what to do if you encounter a lion.