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The North American cougar has, over the centuries, been given many names, such as puma, panther, mountain lion or devil, carcajou, sneak cat, or lord of the forest. This wilderness cat’s territory was at one time vast, spreading from northern Canada to the southernmost reaches of South America. Ancient Central and South American civilizations, particularly the Inca, regarded the “puma” as a worthy adversary and routinely hunted these large and dangerous cats. Europeans who settled North America quickly branded the “mountain devil” or “carcajou” as a danger to their sheep and cattle herds. Hounds, traps, poison, and bounties were the favored ways to kill the cats to ensure they didn’t make off with settlers’ precious livestock. By the early 1900s, cougars were close to extinction in eastern North America. The vast western wilderness and mountain ranges became the persecuted predator’s final salvation, but over the last several decades they’ve managed to make a slow and steady come back.
The North American cougar belongs to the genus “Felidae” and is the 2nd largest wildcat species in the western hemisphere after the South American jaguar. An adult male cougar can reach a weight of 75 kilograms and a length of over 2 meters. Of all the wildcat species, cougars have the longest tails, which is the appendage that helps them stay balanced when they’re on the prowl or climbing. A cougar’s coloration varies from light brown to grey brown with lighter tan shades on its underbelly. The throat and chest have white markings, and the muzzle, ears, and tail are dark brown or black. Like its smaller domesticated cousin the housecat, a cougar’s paws are well equipped for defense and hunting. Its front paws are divided into 5 digits while the back paws have 4. All digits are equipped with sharp, retractable claws to slash or grip prey. Cougars are extremely adept at staying hidden for hours at a time and are masterful tree climbers. Strong hind legs help them leap great distances, sometimes over 20 feet at one bound. Despite being color blind, the cougar’s eyesight is very keen, particularly its night vision, making the cougar a highly skilled nocturnal hunters.
Both male and female cougars are solitary and elusive creatures. After they mature, the cats move to an area where they know they won’t be encroaching upon another animal’s territory. Once a cougar decides on its new home range, it lays claim to the range by leaving scratch marks on trees or low bushes. These visible markings are enhanced by additional deposits of feces or urine. Cougars can adapt to a wide variety of terrain, from mountainous to swampy, as long as the region supplies adequate prey and safe shelter. Deer are the cougars’ preferred prey; however, these muscular and powerful cats can also bring down moose, elk, and caribou. Silent and very stealthy, they slink as close to their prey as they can, sometimes within a few meters, and then leap onto the animal’s back and bite down hard at the base of the skull. This maneuver usually breaks the prey’s neck. Smaller animals like squirrels, mice, beaver, muskrat, skunks, birds, and fish round out the wildcat’s diet. Once in awhile when hunting larger prey, the cougar will make a fatal error. Being trampled or gored by a wounded moose or elk is not all that uncommon, particularly with recently weaned cougars whose hunting skills are not yet up to par.
Cougars generally need 9-10 pounds of meat per day to remain sleek and healthy. This equates to about one deer every 8-10 days. After the cat has brought down its prey, it will drag the carcass to a secluded spot and eat its fill. Once satisfied, it will cover the remains with leaves or loose stones or may even drag the animal up into a nearby tree. The cougar will then return in a day or so and eat the leftovers if smaller predators haven’t gotten to it first.
When opportunity presents itself, cougars will also hunt cattle, sheep, and horses. This practice did not endear the cougar to early ranchers and farmers and for decades the cats were marked for death. Hunting restrictions have now ensured that the cougar will survive. Some areas do still see problem cougars from time to time. Cougars either choose to roam in populated areas or have acquired a taste for local livestock and in some cases, small pets. Wildlife officials will usually tranquilize and remove these problem cougars to a more remote area, but unfortunately an occasional cat will return to its original territory, resume its former habits, and must then, unfortunately, be destroyed.
Cougars forego their solitary existence when it’s time to mate. Females can go into heat at any time of the year but in most cases will breed only in fall or early winter, at which time a female leaves her own territory to find a mate. Throaty meows, growls, and sometimes bloodcurdling screams will alert any males within the vicinity. When the female’s mating call is answered by more than one male, battles usually ensue. The strongest and most dominant of the suitors will win the right to mate with the available female. The pair will consort for about 2 weeks, and then the female will return to her home territory to prepare for the birth of her young. Gestation is typically about 3 months.
While the pregnant cougar waits for her babies’ arrival, she seeks a secure den. This can be anything from an abandoned cave to a tangle of fallen trees. From 1 to 4 spotted kittens are born, virtually helpless and unable to see. In about 2 weeks, they catch the first glimpse of their world through eyes that are colored a brilliant blue. As they grow older, their eyes will turn green. The mother cougar will only leave her babies long enough to hunt. The remainder of her time is spent inside or close to her den to protect her curious and playful kittens from other predators like bears, wolves, and even roaming male cougars who won’t hesitate to kill the young kittens. The mother cougar not only remains close to her babies for protection, but also to teach them the important lessons of survival and of the hunt. Soon, play time is over and the adolescents must learn how to move quietly, how to lie in wait, and finally, how to successfully bring down their prey.
It takes the young cougars about 2 years to learn these important life and survival lessons. Around that time, their mother becomes ill-tempered, and she will no longer share food and sometimes she’ll even attack her young. It’s her way of telling them it’s time for them to leave the nest and find a territory of their own. By now the young cougars are as big as or even larger than their mother, and if they’ve learned their lessons well, are strong, silent, successful, and lethal hunters. Not all the young will survive. Hard winters, disease, fights with other cougars, and tangling with the wrong prey or the modern and sometimes unfriendly world will take their toll. But cougars have proven time and again that they are resilient and that they are indeed, lords of the forest.
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