If Big Bend had a symbol, it might well be the mountain lion the embodiment of freedom and wildness. Solitary and secretive, this mighty creature is the unquestioned lord of its natural world.
Research shows that cats help keep deer and javelina within the limits of their food resources.
Without lions, the complex network of life in Big Bend would certainly be changed. Encountering a mountain lion, however, can lead to conflicts in maintaining the balance between natural processes and visitor enjoyment and safety. Since the 1950s, there have been more than 2000 sightings of mountain lions by visitors. Each year, over 150 lion sightings are reported by park visitors. While over 90 percent of these sightings were along park roadways, encounters along trails have also occurred.