Rebreeding of Female Mountain Lions After Litter Mortality

Despite litter size and kitten survival in mountain lions (Puma concolor) being well-documented, there is a critical gap in the literature regarding the time that elapses between litter mortality and subsequent rebreeding in females. Here, we present observations from seven female mountain lions from two distinct study locations-the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico-where female mountain lions lost litters and rebred shortly afterward. Our findings contribute novel data to the understanding of reproduction in mountain lions, including the shortest documented interval between litter loss and rebreeding (range: ≤ 4-94 days; mean: 46 days). These observations underscore the evolutionary pressures shaping sexual selection in mountain lions and highlight the significant physiological toll females endure as a consequence of infanticide and intraguild competition, with implications for population dynamics and fitness.