In Arizona mountain lions are absent only from the extremely arid southwestern portions of the state and those areas heavily impacted by human development. In general, the distribution of mountain lions in Arizona corresponds with the distribution of its major prey species, deer. Summer is the peak period of kitten births, with litter sizes of two, three, or four being the most common. Young remain with the mother for 15 to 22 months learning the skills necessary for survival. Juvenile males tend to disperse long distances compared to relatively short dispersals for juvenile females.
Mountain lions are essentially solitary animals.
Adult females may be accompanied by kittens, but are normally not associated with other adult animals except for mating purposes. Deer, both whitetail and mule, are the principal mountain lion prey species in Arizona. Mountain lions will almost always attempt to cover the uneaten portion of a kill with leaves or other debris. An entire deer can be consumed in two nights. A conscientious observer is usually able to detect the presence of mountain lion in an area through the presence of tracks, scrapes, kills, or other sign.