Mountain lion predation on deer and elk involves welfare considerations for both predator and prey, with wildlife management decisions affecting both populations.
Wild predation involves individual prey animals experiencing fear during pursuit and attack, and the acute suffering of being killed. However, wild predators typically kill more efficiently than disease or starvation - prey that escape predation attempts may survive injured, causing extended suffering. The welfare of deer herds overall may benefit from predation that removes weakened individuals and reduces chronic wasting disease spread. Wildlife management that maintains mountain lion populations at ecologically appropriate levels may reduce aggregate deer suffering from disease and winter starvation.