May 22, 2007—For these researchers, the hardest part of the job could be getting the cat into the bag.

But capturing and tagging mountain lions, also called pumas, are vital steps in the Colorado Division of Wildlife's ten-year study of the big cats' population in the state. In many regions of Colorado, pumas can be hunted legally. Scientists hope that understanding the cats' lives and deaths—including the impact of hunting—will help officials make better management decisions.

Watch as researchers catch and release a feisty cub and a young adult as part of their ongoing mission to help humans and mountain lions coexist.