Path of the Puma: The Remarkable Resilience of the Mountain Lion

by Jim Williams, Douglas Chadwick (Foreword), Joe Glickman (Primary Contributor)

During a time when most wild animals are experiencing decline in the face of development and climate change, the intrepid mountain lion -- also known as a puma, a cougar, and by many other names - has experienced reinvigoration as well as expansion of territory. What makes this cat, the fourth carnivore in the food chain -- just ahead of humans - so resilient and resourceful? And what can conservationists and wild life managers learn from them about the web of biodiversity that is in desperate need of protection? Their story is fascinating for the lessons it can afford the protection of all species in times of dire challenge and decline.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Animals, Science, Natural History, History

312 pages, Hardcover

Published October 9, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond my ability to describe with praise.

Ghost cat, cougar, mountain lion, panther, puma and its many other names- this is about this incredible species that is put 3rd group of the food chain. (Humans are #4.)

How can I describe this book? For one thing it has the best photos and maps that I've seen in any book since the beginning of the 21st century. Even better than the geography 5 star giants. Is that superlative enough for you!

If you have any inkling to non-fiction whatsoever, READ this book.

It's a tinge of autobiography and memoir as well, but that is merely the baseline platform. It includes worldwide travel, and exact designation and science studies of all puma species in both North and South America. To me the first 3/4ths of the book was 6 star. Tracking, scat study, and actual real numbers with predator "eat" knowledge and territory expansion directions - that's merely the BEGINNING of the science included. And detailed and interchanged with 100's of other natural world plants, elements, creatures who hold dwell in puma world.

Because of the intersects, it also entails nearly every avenue of prey species and human overlook and interchange criteria. And the numbers of leaders and groups in that field that have studied and do now study puma and environmental prey criteria. With ranching, with human suburbia, with high mountain ranges, with highways and freeways of under or over pass etc.

The only reason the last 1/4th of the book was less enthralling for me was because it was entirely in the Southern portions of South America. Argentina and Chile's Patagonian areas. And the formation of the new and vast Patagonia National Parkland. So many of the intersect species of prey were unfamiliar (llama / camel families) to me, as were their adaption paths.

This is also highly pertinent to Glacier Nat. Park, nearly all of Montana (especially about the Augusta, Montana area), Wyoming, and also Canadian territories just North of both. But it holds detail about and within 100's of other places too. And Jim Williams has been to all of them.

What a life? What an unusual childhood and upbringing (most of it in two oceans- far from the land mammals and the mountains). What tremendous outcomes. And what "eyes" to seeing many sizes / sides of the natural world and its crux issues too at innumerable levels. No preaching! And yet hunters and the unlearned also have their voice. Incredible how even to "hear" as well as the "eyes" dwell in this book.

Jim Williams loves pumas. And it is no small feat doing the kinds of tasks that studying and "knowing" them involves.

Best book so far of this year in a non-fiction category. No contest.

At the end there are directions, cautions, and suggestions. Practical all.

You can't believe the photos. They are of supreme detail clarity, distinct and also reveal much about the most exalted talents for hiding/ invisibility within the predator world. They appear throughout the book with some sections having double page layouts of 3 or 4 in a row.

They are all around many of us within North America. Yet we rarely ever see them. And they are expanding their territories. And have been for quite some time, despite some of their prey (big horn sheep especially have had terrible decline because of catching domestic sheep bacteria) having opposite species adaption.

No one suggested this book to me. Found it completely on a shelf search. Also best "find" of the year. (2018)

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know there were some disappointed reviewers which had me on caution purchasing this book, but the book exceeded my expectations. Maybe because it took me to the snowy mountains while stuck at work and that alone gets 5 🌟. It is an enjoyable read!

[Maureen Caupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative book about not just mountain lions, but the vast and varied wild ecosystems they inhabit and need to survive. Focuses mainly on the different ecosystems the pumas and other animals live in and how those areas are threatened by human development, but gives hope to those who love the outdoors by also exploring ways people are trying to protect large wild areas and connecting migratory pathways in both North and South America. An interesting read for anyone fascinated by pumas and the splendor of nature. Full of great photographs.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book rekindled my love and awe of these elusive, mysterious cats. It reminded me that they are the widest spread mammal in the western hemisphere, ranging from the Yukon all the way down to Patagonia. Somehow these cats manage to live in the mountains during a Montana winter, the jungles of the rainforest, the dry steppe of Patagonia, and everywhere in between. And I had no idea that their diet was so widespread that they've been known to hunt magellanic penguins on the coast!

Williams delves into trophic cascades and indirect interactions that cougars have on their environment: everything from the animals they hunt, the condors soaring above, and the soil beneath. He also give a reasonably objective account of those who want cougars around (houndsmen, conservationists) and those who don't (hunters, ranchers), and shows the complex relationships between all of them in the modern world we live in. I also think he does a nice job of stressing the threats to cougars and wildlife/wild places in general, while balancing it with notes of hope for a more cooperative future that can coexist with these top predators.

And my goodness did it make me want to travel to Glacier National Park and Patagonia! What an incredible life he was fortunate to have lived.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw a mtn lion while walking with my kids and our dog a little while ago, and felt it was the most beautiful and scary thing I’ve seen. This book adds to that assessment with some interesting information about the puma. However, it’s more about the ecosystem of the lion, how to protect it, and the science of the ecosystem. The author explains the North American and South American cats. Note: don’t do the audio. The pictures alone make this book worthwhile!

[Iulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, Comprehensive, Vivid Description of The Mysterious Mountain Lion

I liked a lot the structure of the book, intertwining the personal journey of the author with the knowledge he presents about the elusive puma/ panther/ catamount/ mountain lion.
The naration by the author added charm to the story, because of the authenticity of the retelling of events by the person who participated directly. Sometimes, the reader can actually relate to the thrill of the tracking, witnessing, observing and even meeting the cat in its natural environment, as the author or other characters he introduces do their work.
Lots of interesting information, about conservation, habitats, geography and social networks, from Montana to Patagonia, about the puma and the many other species that it influences.
Great piece of wildlife literature!

[Clare vanLieshout · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best written wildlife books I’ve read! The author is an excellent storyteller and conveyer of science, and while the focus of the book is pumas I finished it having learned about a lot more than just them

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book owned!

[Breanna Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new wildlife biologist and cougar enthusiast, I was really excited to get this book when it was published. It did not disappoint. Filled with stunning photography and an in-depth look at the struggles of this elusive big cat throughout their historic ranges, Williams explains both the struggles and the necessity for involving those that hate predators the most in the process of saving them.

Everything in nature is connected, one thing cannot be changed without impacting many others, this book goes from the condors of the sky to the soil composition. While the focus is pumas, Williams discusses the other animals that share the landscape, both as prey, as competitors, and as profiteers.

While some things get repeated a few times, overall this book is a must read for both wildcat lovers and those interested in the role of apex predators in today's ecosystems.

[Kitty Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although not reading like one, this book is an encyclopedic rendering of the puma and its cousins in the Americas. Seen through the eyes of a wildlife biologist who worked with these fascinating and marvelous cats for many years, the reader comes to a total appreciation of the power, strength, and its place in the ladder of life on earth. In some places it is winning, in others losing. Nearly every species loses the closer it comes to humans. Replete with numerous photographs, this book is a must read for big and little cat lovers.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mountain lions. It is easy to read and understand the complex environment that mountain lions and humans share. It will help you understand why saving wildlife and wildlife habitat will benefit the human race as a whole. Jim Williams does not weigh this down with a lot of scientific jargon, but puts into into layman terms. We all need to do our part in saving this planet.

[Fate's Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half or so of this book was really interesting, but slowly new information was overtaken with repetitive descriptions and the same facts spat back at us again and again to the point where the last few chapters felt like a cut and paste collage of the first few with a few descriptions of Patagonian mule deer thrown in. I was hoping for something like Eager by Ben Goldfarb or Coyote America by Dan Flores, but this just wasn't nearly as good.

[Grayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful photography and some cool sections and stories, really makes me want to visit Argentina! But more or less sticking with my initial impression that this would have worked better as a long magazine feature. Pretty repetitive and didn't have a strong overarching narrative, yet at the same time more journalistic/stylized rather than the more academic biology dive on pumas I was hoping for (though alas a common affliction of pop nonfiction and especially pop natural sciences).

[Steven Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one who bikes and hikes, I have an abiding interest in what we call in Nevada, the mountain lion. I remember a small number of encounters with lions over the years. As a youngster working on our ranch in eastern Nevada I recalled when a professional lion hunter and his dogs were called out to take care of a lion that had ‘gotten into our sheep’ one summer. Within a day or two the lion had been treed and killed. I remember the pelt and body sitting in the pack of a pick up truck. The bloody head seemed so large. Years later I saw a captive lion at the Denver zoo with my young-at-the-the time children. The lion looked old, out of shape and moved very slowly. Last year I heard the story of a jogger near Fort Collins, Colorado who was attached while jogging and who successfully fought off and killed a lion that had attached him. Shortly thereafter two mountain bikers were attacked and one killed by another lion. Finally, while riding my road bike last summer a lion crossed the street 30 yards in front of me moving from one side of the golf course to the next. In homage to the sum of these experiences I decided to read Path of the Puma.

Williams does a nice job of detailing his early life and growth and development as a wildlife biologist in the wilds of Montana. He clearly loves his profession and he is particularly addicted to the mountain lion or puma, which he has become an expert on over his professional career. We learn many things about this unique and essential animal. Its habits and range vary little no matter where it is found from the near arctic to the tip of South America. It is a stealthy hunter that moves in the shadows. When given space, decent habitat, and food sources, it will thrive and grow. It isn’t necessarily afraid of man and when it becomes too accustomed to man and his ways, it must usually be removed or killed.

When hunted with knowledge for the types of lions that ought to be killed, it can continue to thrive as a result of these controlled hunts. Despite the fear of some ranchers, the lion is rarely the cause of noticeable amounts of domestic livestock loss. Where wolves, bear, coyotes and other predators abound, it often loses control of its own kills and must move on to new game leaving its last kill to its more numerous adversaries.

Even though Williams expands the scope of the book to study the Puma in South America and a serious discussion of the importance of appropriate habitat for the survival of the species, these are necessary discussions in order to understand the resilience and latent survivability of the puma. This is a must read for those who want to understand the Mountain lion and why it is an important part of our natural world.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated with big cats - it's part of the reason why I have one tattooed on my leg ;) So when I was on a recent trip to California, and spotted this book in an Vroman's Bookstore, I grabbed it. And I'm so glad I did.

Jim Williams is a biologist that has been studying Puma in Montana for years. He's also been assisting with them in South America - so he knows whereof he speaks. It was fascinating, reading about the big cats, their prey, the studies done and still being worked on. And from the standpoint of a conservationist, who also grew up in a hunting family, it was eye-opening what he had to say about the state-sponsored hunting of these amazing creatures. I tend to be fairly open to reasoned arguments, and what he had to say about these hunts as *tools* was...hard to read? But also made sense. There has to be a middle line somewhere, between LET ALL NATURE BE FOREVER AND EVER and KILL THEM ALL BECAUSE THEY'RE EVIL/NUISANCE/IN THE WAY. And Montana, as much as it may pain me to point it out, seems to have found a way that works. I don't know how many others will agree, but...it's a process. And one that can only be helped by books such as this one.

As for the book itself - it's BEAUTIFUL. The photos are full-color, the paper is thick, the endpapers are awesome...all the way to the pawprint on the cover under the dust jacket (which, on its own, is also beautiful). There were a few errors that were missed by the editor, but...not enough that it caused any difficulty.

Overall, this is a book that will have a proud place on my shelf. It was an impulse purchase, but one that I'm glad I made.

[Mika Byar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an informative read that chronicles the career of a successful mountain lion researcher who has primarily worked in Montana. The book spans from Patagonia all the way up to Canada, where pumas live in vastly different landscapes. While never leaving it’s focus on the star of the show, pumas, the book is primarily about the ecosystem of these pumas, the damage that has been done to them, and the work that has gone on (and still is) to restore and protect these ecosystems. It details the important role of mountain lions in terms of their landscape/habitat as well as the survival and balance of other species. The book often dives into the socio-political aspects surrounding wildlife and wilderness protection. In the end, this was a book published by Patagonia with a clear message promoting and encouraging the importance of protecting wild spaces, and along the way you’ll get to learn about mountain lions, their history and future, and about the people doing the work of researching and protecting these big cats.

I picked up this book because I love cats, if you love cats then you’ll probably like the book.

[Brian Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An autobiographical account on cougars that had a detailed history of the author at the start. These can go different ways depending on if I found the author relatable or likable in which he succeeded in both. I thought this worked really well with the book as it played on the dynamics of those who assist in animal population control, ranchers, loudmouths, conservationist, biologist. All of whom have valuable experience with cougars, but come from varying backgrounds that promote sometimes disputing ideas of them.

Throws in a fair amount of individual encounters (treeing, and tagging), while also giving a good overview of what cougars eat, follow, and avoid, the latter of those less spoken of in Patagonia, absent of a threatening bear or wolf species. I liked the comparing and contrasting of the Big Sky region to Patagonia, while consistent on the efforts of providing free roam to predator and prey.

4.6/5

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is this book beautiful with stunning imagery of wildlife and landscapes, it was also a fantastic read! Jim has a great way of exciting you about Pumas and drawing you into their story, weaving together chapters of his personal experiences and wisdom from the wild. Most people have heard of the animal depicted on the cover of this book by one of these names: Puma/Mountain Lion/ Cougar/ Panther/ Catamount and more. The Path of the Puma revealed so much about what these elusive cats are up to and even had helpful advice at the end of the book of how to help support conservation efforts and what to do if you live in Puma country. The book is quick paced and easy to devour- much like a guanaco. I look forward to reading more books from Jim- what an incredible live he has lived so far.

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the fascinating world of mountain lions. Williams shares his personal and professional journey studying these powerful creatures, a journey that took him all the way to the southern corner of the Americas, Patagonia. He shares the knowledge and experience that has allowed mountain lion populations to increase and for human communities to understand and give space to this apex predator. His prose captures the magic of the beautiful terrain these creatures inhabit and the hope that with better understanding we can continue to return wilderness to all corners of the Americas.

[Pierre Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of good information in this book, though it is not exactly what I expected. It is, figuratively, one part discussion of the puma, one part memoir, one part ecology, and two parts conservation. While I learned a lot and enjoyed the personal stories I was hoping for more discussion on the lives of pumas, similar to Rick McIntyre's books on the wolves of Yellowstone, though I can understand how that might not be possible for pumas given their reclusiveness. There was one tidbit in the final chapters that hinted at new learnings about the lives of the pumas, which is what I would have liked to seen explored more.

[Corey Grassmyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Loved the depth that the author covered the topic of the big cat resurgence throughout the Americas while also touching on the success of Nature conservation that helped facilitate the comeback. This genre of books is definitely my favorite but I think above that the balance of story telling mixed with conservation hard facts made the book an enjoyable read and firmly places it in the best I've read this year (especially since its the first book I read this year). Anyway, amazing photos and easy to follow, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in animal conservation or ecological conservation in general.

[Tymon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of fascinating information about mountain lions and their fellow predators and their prey. The parts of the book where the author stayed on topic were superb. The book did leak more into travelogue and memoir than I cared for, but it certainly does not ruin the book. I definitely enjoyed reading about the challenges in Montana and the parallel issues and solutions to mountain lion/ puma conservation in Patagonia.

[Rachaell Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the book's first half, Williams presents extensive knowledge of the elusive mountain lion. The downfall of this book is that while the author's expertise is based in Montana, in the second half of the book, he takes us to South America and skims the surface of other species, places, and people. In the process, Williams spreads himself thin, leaving the second half of the book lacking. It would have been wiser to separate the content into separate books- that is, one book about Montana and one about South America. The ending becomes a memoir about South American travels with a light emphasis on land protection. While not bad in intent, it verges on solipsism and by no means honors the title, which is what readers agreed to.

[Mikey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book, great information, viewpoints from all sides, and viable options of what we can all do, plus a great resource for implementing those options. In addition, just a very well written and entertaining book...reminds me one of my favorite wildlife authors...makes sense that he wrote the Foreword to this book.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was introduced to me by my aunt because she knew the author and I was very interested to start reading it because books about wildlife always interest me. Event though the book is not super long, it is definitely written at an adult level. This book is very interesting and I would definitely recommend it if you are into these types of books.

[Margee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading about the author’s adventures saving cougars in Montana as well as his visits to Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. I just recently visited Chilean Patagonia and enjoyed learning more about it, especially how the native plants and animals have been so affected by extensive cattle and sheep ranches. It made me more appreciative of our wonderful natural parks and other preserved areas.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to read a book by a wildlife biologist that doesn't just focus on the animal, although that's much appreciated, but instead looks at some of the human dimensions of managing wildlife. Jim's book details this animal of many names and takes away the fear and mystery to reveal a gorgeous and secretive North American great cat.

[Drew Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that’s about far more than mountain lions. While they are the centerpiece, Williams does an excellent job describing the North American model for conservation and the struggles and benefits of a multi-share holder system. Understanding how hunter, hikers, and industry are arguably all needed for American conservation to succeed is perhaps his greatest contribution to the narrative.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

In recent years, I have read books about wolves, coyotes, bison, etc. So I was looking forward to learning about Mountain Lions/Pumas. Unfortunately, this book is less about science, that True Stories of Real Scientists, and "Oh Gosh!" ecology. Repetitious, chatty, preachy, repetitious. Nice pictures, though.

[Robin Tama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very different from what I would normally read and thus a refreshing change of pace. I learned a lot about Pumas. Cons: some of the book is slow and repetitive and the answer to why the mountain lion is surviving/thriving is answered in the forward.