The Mountain Lion is a key apex predator in the Sierra Nevada ecosystem, maintaining ecological balance by regulating prey populations.

Mountain Lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are crucial predators in the Sierra Nevada. As apex predators, they control the populations of herbivores such as deer, preventing overgrazing and helping to sustain vegetation and overall ecosystem health. These solitary and elusive animals require large territories and intact habitats to thrive. While Grizzly Bears once roamed the region, they are now extinct in California, making Mountain Lions one of the most important remaining large predators in the Sierra Nevada.