Cougars on the Cliff: One Man's Pioneering Quest to Understand the Mythical Mountain Lion, a Memoir - Paperback

by Maurice Hornocker (Author), David Johnson (With)

A story of redemption, this book is a memoir about the never-before-told adventures, challenges, and controversies surrounding Maurice Hornocker's groundbreaking study of cougars in the remote reaches of the Idaho Primitive Area.

Maurice Hornocker is recognized worldwide as the first scientist to unravel the secrets of America's most enigmatic predator--the mountain lion. North America's biggest cat was once killed for bounty dollars, slaughtered with impunity and driven toward extinction. But today's cat of intrigue, despite our lingering fears and misconceptions, has returned to much of its native range in the western United States. This turnaround was triggered by one man: Maurice Hornocker. Cougars on the Cliff recounts the early years of his research (1964-1973) when he tracked lions following a dog's nose and footprints in the snow--before telemetry was available. Thanks to Hornocker's work, today cougars can be found throughout the West and have even started to reclaim their place in New England.

Author Biography

Maurice Hornocker, PhD, is a wildlife biologist best known for advancing our knowledge of the elusive mountain lion's behavior and ecology. During his fifty-five years of research in Idaho, New Mexico, and Yellowstone National Park, he published numerous scientific papers about cougars and edited books that include Cougar: Ecology & Conservation, Yellowstone Cougars, and Desert Puma. In 2024 he was the recipient of The Wildlife Society's Aldo Leopold Medal for Distinguished Service to Wildlife Conservation. Hornocker and his wife, Leslie, live in Bellevue, Idaho, with their bird dogs, dressage horses, and a domestic cat named Redd.

David Johnson is a retired roving regional reporter-columnist for the Lewiston Tribune in Lewiston, Idaho. He holds bachelor's degrees in wildlife management from the University of Minnesota and journalism from the University of Idaho. Johnson lives with his wife, Linda Weiford, in Moscow, Idaho.