Yellowstone Trail Cameras Reveal Elusive Mountain Lions

New documentary film explores how remote cameras are capturing the secret lives of cougars in the park.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:48am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex interconnectedness of mountain lions, wolves, and other wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.New trail camera footage offers an unprecedented glimpse into the secret lives of Yellowstone's elusive mountain lion population and their vital role in the park's intricate ecosystem.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.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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

This case highlights the importance of using new technology to study elusive and hard-to-observe wildlife like mountain lions. The intimate footage captured by trail cameras will provide invaluable insights into the role of cougars in Yellowstone's ecosystem and inform conservation efforts to protect these apex predators.