As the proud owner of a fluffy Maine Coon and a lover of hiking and all things nature, I have a soft spot for any kind of cat – even dangerous wildcats in nature throughout the United States. I’ve never been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a cougar on any of my hikes, but I have yet to give up hope. Here are a few feral felines to keep your eyes peeled for on trails throughout the country.

Mountain Lions

Although elusive and unlikely to be seen while hiking, mountain lions roam around the western United States in popular national parks and commonly hiked areas. Also referred to as cougars or pumas, mountain lions are most commonly seen in states like California and Colorado, as rugged mountains, canyons and forests provide ideal conditions for these big cats to hunt and raise offspring. As carnivores, mountain lions primarily prey on elk or deer, wild pigs, rabbits, bighorn sheep and other small mammals and birds. In fact, according to multiple sites on the internet, it is reported that mountain lions eat between eight to 10 pounds of meat per day. What makes mountain lions a bit eerie is their ambush strategy when it comes to hunting prey. They often stalk their prey and remain hidden many feet behind their prey until the time is right to strike – making a mountain lion attack difficult to see coming. 

Although mountain lions usually keep their distance from humans, there have been many news reports of hikers or bikers being stalked on trails in California and Colorado by mountain lions, sometimes curious juvenile mountain lions, that give the passersby a good scare and a viral video with which to walk away. In fact, in November of last year, bikers filmed their terrifying encounter with a mountain lion on a trail in southern California (ksl.com/article/51404608/have-you-seen-this-mountain-lion-stalks-bikers-on-california-trail). Fortunately for the mountain bikers, they remained calm and assertive, shouting and not cowering in order to stand their ground as the mountain lion followed them for minutes before retreating.

Florida Panthers

Part of the mountain lion family, Florida panthers roam around South Florida in areas like the Everglades. Classified as endangered species, there are only an estimated 120 to 230 panthers in the state of Florida, as reported by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Swamp forests and pinelands are their habitat of choice, and a visitor’s best chance of catching a rare glimpse of a panther is by taking a trip to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park or Collier-Seminole State Park.

Bobcats

Smaller than mountain lions and panthers, bobcats are widespread throughout the United States, inhabiting almost every state but Delaware. Their versatility in habitat means they can be found in North Carolina forests, river valleys in Texas, deserts in Arizona or swamps in Florida. It is estimated that there are between one and two million bobcats throughout the United States, but your chances of seeing one in the wild is still quite rare, considering their shy nature.

With shorter tails than mountain lions and panthers, they are considered medium-sized cats and are most active in early morning hours or dusk. North Carolina alone is home to approximately 125,000 bobcats, with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park having a higher population than other areas throughout the state. In July of 2025, a bobcat was captured on a home security camera in Asheville, NC at around 5:00 a.m. as it prowled through the homeowner’s backyard. Sadly, according to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website, rangers still insist that a bobcat sighting in the park is unlikely as this breed of wildcat remains stealthy.