Mountain Lion Country

After finishing my shift at the Elkwater Landing restaurant, a daily hike up the Mitchell Creek Trail revealed a fresh cougar (puma) footprint square in the middle of the trail halfway up the climb. Once known for having the greatest concentration of lions in the world after a lengthy stretch of having none, the Cypress Hills became a bit of a gamble to enjoy in the way it once was. There is debate over whether the cougars introduction to the park was intentional or happenstance.