Cougar
Felis concolor or Mountain Lion, Puma, Catamount,
Deer Tiger, Indian Devil
Description - The cougar is a large animal with
fur that is short and reddish-brown to grey-brown with
white on the underside; the tail is black-tipped. The
head is fairly small with small, rounded ears and large
feet. The average adult male weighs 125 pounds and the
female 100 pounds. The cougar is the largest wild cat
native to British Columbia.
Distribution
- The cougar occurs in BC from the Canada/USA border
to Big Muddy River on the Alaska Highway. Although they
have not yet reached the Queen Charlotte Islands, they
can be found on most other coastal islands. This animal
is found only in the western hemisphere of the Americas
generally in mountainous areas.
Biology
- Although there is no fixed mating season, 1-6 young
are usually born midsummer in a den where they are raised
only with the female and remain with her for 1-2 years.
The cougar is a strong, solitary, strongly territorial
hunting species that requires an undisturbed game-rich
wilderness. They feed on large animals to mice; the
cougar is capable of killing a 600 pound moose or elk.
An adult male needs no more than 14-20 mule deer per
year to survive. The female cougar has a distinct scream
that has been described as "nerve-wracking, demoniac,
terror-striking, a trilling wail".
Tracks - The cougars tracks rarely show evidence
of the claw. The front feet are larger than the rear
and generally the toes spread wider with speed. A distinctive
feature of this creature in snowy areas is tail marks
on the snow.
Straddle: 20 cm (8 in)
Stride: 40 - 50 cm (16 - 20 in)
Track: 8 cm (3.2 in) long / 8 cm (3.2 in) wide
