Oklahoma Wildlife Confirms Mountain Lion Kittens in Two Counties

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) has confirmed for the first time the presence of mountain lion kittens in the state, with trail camera photos capturing an adult mountain lion with two half-grown kittens in Osage County and another adult with three smaller kittens in Cimarron County in late 2024. These sightings provide the first concrete evidence suggesting mountain lions may be breeding and establishing territories in Oklahoma, a significant shift from previous beliefs that all mountain lions in the state were transient. Biologist Jerrod Davis highlighted that these family groups indicate a healthy ecosystem and could pave the way for future research focused on the abundance and distribution of the species. Since 2002, ODWC has confirmed 85 mountain lion sightings, noting an uptick in 2023, though some sightings may be of the same individuals. The department plans to potentially deploy more intensive camera arrays to better understand the population dynamics and possibly support further studies. This development comes amid increasing sightings and legislative groundwork for a possible cougar hunting season in Oklahoma.