Yellowstone Trail Cameras Reveal Elusive Mountain Lions

New documentary film showcases the secret lives of cougars in Yellowstone National Park

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:48pm

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An abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric shapes and organic spirals in muted earth tones, conceptually representing the complex interactions between mountain lions, wolves, and other wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.A new documentary film explores how remote cameras are revealing the hidden world of mountain lions in Yellowstone National Park.Livingston Today

Yellowstone National Park is home to a population of elusive mountain lions, also known as cougars. While these big cats are rarely seen by visitors, new trail camera technology has allowed researchers to capture thousands of hours of footage revealing the secret lives of these predators. This footage is now being compiled into a new documentary film that will provide an intimate glimpse into the daily activities and behaviors of Yellowstone's cougar population.

Why it matters

Understanding the role of mountain lions in Yellowstone's ecosystem is crucial, as they are a top predator that helps shape the park's food web. The new film will shed light on how cougars interact with other wildlife like wolves and bears, as well as how the reintroduction of wolves has impacted cougar populations. This information can inform conservation efforts and help the public appreciate the important, yet often unseen, presence of cougars in the park.

The details

Yellowstone biologist Dan Stahler explains that studying cougars in the park has historically been extremely difficult and labor-intensive, requiring the use of hound dogs and radio collars. But new trail camera technology has revolutionized cougar research, allowing researchers to capture thousands of hours of footage without the need for intensive fieldwork. The film will focus on the story of one particular cougar, known as 'Nubs', and her family's trajectory through the park.

  • Cougar research in Yellowstone actually began in the 1980s, before the reintroduction of wolves in the 1990s.
  • The new trail camera project in the park has been ongoing for several years, with around 140 cameras now in use.

The players

Dan Stahler

A Yellowstone biologist who has been studying cougars in the park for decades and is excited about the new insights provided by the trail camera footage.

Christina White

A representative from Yellowstone Forever, the non-profit partner organization that is helping to fund and produce the new documentary film on Yellowstone's cougars.

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What they’re saying

“With an animal like the cougar, they're so secretive, they're so mysterious, you rarely see them. This gives us an intimate glimpse into their life.”

— Dan Stahler, Yellowstone Biologist

“We realized that we needed to tell the story of these cougars and this research, and we thought we had the footage. Wouldn't it be neat if we put it all together in a film?”

— Christina White, Yellowstone Forever

What’s next

The new documentary film on Yellowstone's mountain lions will be screened at several locations in Montana in April 2026, including Livingston, Gardiner, and Bozeman. The film will also be available to view online at montanapbs.org.

The takeaway

The use of trail cameras in Yellowstone National Park has revolutionized research on the park's elusive mountain lion population, providing an unprecedented look into the secret lives of these top predators. The upcoming documentary film will share these new insights with the public, fostering a greater appreciation for the important role cougars play in Yellowstone's delicate ecosystem.