Why did the Mastodon become extinct?

There is no definitive answer to why the mastodon became extinct, but there are several theories. One leading theory is that the mastodons were hunted to extinction by humans. Humans first arrived in North America about 13,000 years ago, and the mastodon population began to decline shortly thereafter. It is possible that humans hunted mastodons for food and clothing, or that they competed with mastodons for food and habitat.

Another theory is that the mastodons died out due to climate change. The climate of North America changed several times during the Pleistocene Epoch, and the mastodons may have been unable to adapt to the changing conditions. The climate became warmer and drier, and the forests that the mastodons lived in began to disappear. This may have made it difficult for the mastodons to find food and shelter.

It is also possible that a combination of factors, such as hunting by humans and climate change, led to the extinction of the mastodons. The mastodons were large, slow-moving animals, and they may have been easy prey for humans. The changing climate may have made it even more difficult for the mastodons to survive. Whatever the cause, the mastodons were extinct by about 10,000 years ago.