Erzsebet Frey

While human encounters are rare,
[cougars](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) are
dangerous as they are large predators that can seriously injure or kill
humans. Conflicts can arise when a
[puma](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) becomes
too accustomed to the presence of humans, often near where we live or
play, and begins to prey on livestock or other pets. Urban sprawl is
reducing cougar habitat and increasing human-cougar conflict.

Animals that pose a threat to public safety must be fatally killed under
a strict protocol developed with extensive public participation. More
importantly, the relocation of problematic wildlife puts other visitors
or residents of the new area at risk.

- Don't go near a [mountain
  lion](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/). Most
  wild animals will try to avoid human confrontation.
- Don't run away from a mountain lion. Running can stimulate a mountain
  lion's hunting instinct. Get up and face the animal. Make eye contact.
- Protect young children from panic and flight.
- Be calm, stand firmly and talk laudly.
- Make yourself taller: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you're
  wearing it. Throw rocks, branches or whatever is within your reach
  without bending down or turning your back. Move your arms slowly. The
  idea is to convince the cougar that you can be a threat to him.
- Slowly move away from the area.
- Defend yourself when attacked: Many potential victims have
  successfully defended themselves with rocks, sticks, hats, jackets,
  garden tools, and their bare hands.

IF YOU ARE LIVING IN MOUNTAIN LION COUNTRY

- Hike or walk in groups.
- Make noise when you are outside.
- Watch over children in [mountain lion
  habitat](https://simplyecologist.com/where-does-mountain-lion-live/).
  Watch children when they play outside in areas where [mountain
  lions](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) could
  live and between dusk and dawn when mountain lions primarily hunt.
  Talk with children about mountain lions and what to do if they
  encounter one.
- Keep pets inside, or gave a big fence. Roaming pets can become an easy
  prey for predators.
- Do not feed pets outside; the food can attract many animals that
  [mountain lion
  eats](https://simplyecologist.com/what-does-a-mountain-lion-eat/).
- Do not feed the wildlife!
- Trim landscaping around your home, especially near children's play
  areas. Remove dense vegetation that provides hiding places for
  predators.
- Install outdoor lighting. Keep the house perimeter, doorways and
  walkways well lit at night.


While human encounters are rare, cougars are dangerous as they are large predators that can seriously injure or kill humans. Conflicts can arise when a puma becomes too accustomed to the presence of humans, often near where we live or play, and begins to prey on livestock or other pets. Urban sprawl is reducing cougar habitat and increasing human-cougar conflict.

Are mountain lions dangerous?

**Habitat and Home Range**  
• Cougars use steep ravines, rocky outcrops, boulders, or vegetation
such as dense scrub and forest to hide while hunting.  
• Adult male cougars are widely roaming, covering a range of 50 to 150
square miles depending on the cougar's age, season, terrain type, and
prey availability.  
• The home ranges of adult male cougars often overlap those of three or
four females.  
• The range of females is about half that of males and there is
considerable overlap in range of females.  
• Female offspring often establish a territory adjacent to the mother,
while virtually all males travel considerable distances from the natal
area.

**Food and Feeding Habits  
**•Cougars are most active from dusk to dawn, although they sometimes
travel and hunt during the day.  
• Adult cougars typically feed on deer, elk, mountain goats and wild
sheep, with deer being the preferred and most common prey.  
• Other prey species, particularly for younger cougars, include
raccoons, coyotes, rabbits, hares, small rodents, and sometimes pets and
livestock.  
• A large male puma living in the Cascade Mountains will
[kill](https://simplyecologist.com/which-animal-kills-humans-the-most/)
a deer or elk every 9 to 12 days, eat up to 20 pounds at a time and bury
the rest for later.  
• Except for females with cubs, cougars are solitary, migrating between
prey locations, covering up to 15 miles in a single night.  
• Cougars rely on short bursts of
[speed](https://simplyecologist.com/how-long-can-cheetah-run/) to ambush
prey. A cougar can pursue an animal for an hour or more.  

**Daybed Sites**  
• Cougars do not use dens like bears. They can settle down for up to six
weeks while the kittens are immobile, but then they're almost always on
the move, building couches along the way.  
• A cougar's couch is used for resting, shelter from the weather, and
for rearing the young.  
• In rough terrain, divans are often located in a cave or in a flat
corner of a cliff or ledge. In less mountainous areas, divans are found
in wooded areas, thickets, or under large roots or fallen trees.  
• Day beds are often found near slaughterhouses. The preparation of day
beds is not carried out.  

**[Reproduction](https://simplyecologist.com/birds-reproduction-and-development/)
and Family
[Structure](https://simplyecologist.com/what-is-the-structure-of-a-bat/)**

- Cougars can breed year-round, but
  [breeding](https://simplyecologist.com/what-is-the-breeding-behavior-of-red-pandas/)
  occurs most frequently in winter and early spring. Multiple females
  may mate with a resident male whose home range overlaps with theirs.
- After 91 to 97 days of gestation, one to four (but usually two) young
  are born.
- The bond between male and female is short (about ten days) and the
  male cougar plays no role in rearing the young.
- Kittens stay with their mothers 12 to 19 months after birth.
- Puma females usually
  [reproduce](https://simplyecologist.com/how-does-a-bat-reproduce/)
  every two years.

**Mortality and Longevity**

- The two most common causes of natural death in cougars are being
  killed by other cougars or by prey during an attack.
- Humans are likely the leading cause of death in cougars from hunting,
  robbery, and vehicle collisions.
- Male cougars can live 10 to 12 years in the wild; while the females
  usually live longer.


Habitat and Home Range

• Cougars use steep ravines, rocky outcrops, boulders, or vegetation such as dense scrub and forest to hide while hunting. • Adult male cougars are widely roaming, covering a range of 50 to 150 square miles depending on the cougar’s age, season, terrain type, and prey availability. • The home ranges of adult male cougars often overlap those of three or four females.

Cougars interesting facts

[Cougars](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) make a
living by not being seen. In areas disturbed by humans, these cats are
most active at dusk and early in the morning. In low-light conditions,
cougars see up to six times better than humans. However, cougars can be
active at dawn or dusk if the prey is active at that time.

## Cougars tracks {#cougars-tracks .wp-block-heading}

The Cougars leave soft traces, meaning the animals make very little
contact with the ground and their tracks can be virtually invisible in
packed dirt or crusted snow. To maintain their prey acuity, these
animals keep their claws retracted most of the time, so claw marks are
rarely visible in their tracks. The underside may leave sanding marks
between each print.

## Cougar droppings {#cougar-droppings .wp-block-heading}

Cougars usually cover their droppings with loose soil. When visible,
their excrement generally resembles that of most feline and canine
species. However, the
[pumas](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) have
well-developed premolars that cut through the bones and hide. After
killing a large animal and filling it, a
[puma](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) often
blank the remains with rubble such as snow, grass, leaves, sticks, or
floor. These cuts rarely remove much bark; Tree clawing that removes a
lot of bark is probably the work of a bear. (Lynx claw marks are
typically 2 to 3 feet off the ground; domestic cat scratches occur at
about 1½ to 2 feet.) Cougar tracks are about the size of a baseball and
3 to 3½ inches in diameter.

## Cougar Feeding Areas (caches) {#cougar-feeding-areas-caches .wp-block-heading}

Cougars usually carry or drag their prey to a secluded, covered area to
feed, and trail marks are commonly found at recently killed locations.
After a [mountain
lion](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) kills a
large animal and eats its fill, it often covers the remains with debris
like snow. , grass, leaves, sticks or soil. Even if there is little
debris, bits of dirt, rocks, grass, or sticks can be used to cover the
carcass. The cougar can remain in close proximity to its prey,
protecting it from scavengers and eating it for a period of six to eight
days. (Meat spoils quickly in summer and male cougars must patrol their
territory. Often these males will kill, eat their fill, go out to patrol
the area, and return days later to feed on the carcasses.) Do not
approach or stand near a freshly killed or partially covered deer or
elk.

## Claw Marks {#claw-marks .wp-block-heading}

Like house cats scratching furniture, cougars mark their territory
boundaries by leaving claw marks on trees, stumps, and occasionally
fence posts.The claw marks left by an adult cougar will be 4 to 8 feet
above the ground and consist of long, deep, parallel scratches that run
nearly vertically down the trunk. These cuts rarely remove much bark;
the tree claw removing a lot of bark is probably the work of a bear..
(Bobcat claw marks are normally  
2 to 3 feet above the ground; domestic cat scratching occurs at a height
of about 1½ to 2 feet). Cougar traces are about the size of a baseball,
3 to 3½ inches in diameter.

## Calls {#calls .wp-block-heading}

Cougars hiss, purr, meow, growl, howl, chirp, and cry. The most
sensational sounds they make are the eerie howls and moans that can be
heard at night during the mating season, especially when competing males
have intentions. to the same receptive woman. Such wailing has been
[compared](https://simplyecologist.com/jaguar-vs-cheetah-vs-leopard/) to
the cry of a child, the cry of a woman, and the cry of someone in
terrible pain.

### **Preventing conflicts with cougars** {#preventing-conflicts-with-cougars .wp-block-heading}

The puma's ability to travel great distances occasionally leads these
cats into seemingly unsuitable territories, even places densely
populated by humans. Such appearances are almost always brief, and the
animal moves quickly in search of a suitable permanent home. However,
where humans encroach on wildlife habitat, cougar sightings and attacks
on livestock and pets increase.

Cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. About 25 fatalities and 95
nonfatal attacks have been reported in North America over the past 100
years. However, more puma attacks have been reported in the western
United States and Canada in the last 20 years than in the previous 80
years. In Washington, of the fatal and fifteen nonfatal attacks reported
here over the past 100 years, seven attacks occurred in the 1990s.

A high percentage of cougars attacking pets or humans are one to
two-year-old cougars who have become independent of their mothers. When
these young animals, particularly the males, leave home to seek their
own territory and come across a territory already occupied by an older
male cougar, the older male will chase off the younger one and kill him
if he resists. Some young cougars are herded for miles through the
countryside in search of unoccupied territory.

If you live in a cougar country, avoid conflicts with them by using the
following management strategies on your property and, if possible,
encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Do not leave small children unattended. If children are playing outside,
supervise them closely and make sure they are inside before dark.

Change the living space around your home. Light up all sidewalks after
dark and avoid landscaping with plants that deer love to eat. Where a
deer goes, a cougar can follow. Shrubs and trees around children's
playgrounds should be cut several times. A 10-foot-tall chain-link
fence, or a heavy wire mesh fence with 3-foot extensions installed at a
65-degree angle on each post, while expensive and not 100 percent
effective, can keep cougars out of the woods. To increase effectiveness,
run a barbed wire or four electrical wires between extension cords,
alternating positive and negative wires.

Do not feed wild animals or feral cats (domestic cats that have gone
feral). This includes deer, raccoons, and other small mammals. Remember
that predators follow their prey.

Close open spaces under buildings. Areas under porches and decks can
provide shelter for prey.

Food for dogs and cats in the house. If you should feed outside, do it
in the morning or at noon, and collect food and water bowls as well as
residues and spilled food, long before darkness.

For a bigger property with livestock, think about using a guard animal.
There are specialized breeds of dogs that can defend livestock. Buy a
guard animal from a reputable breeder who knows the animal they are
selling. Some breeders offer several guarantees in guard animals,
including a replacement if an animal does not work as expected.

### What do you do if you see a cougar? {#what-do-you-do-if-you-see-a-cougar .wp-block-heading}

Relatively few people will ever see a cougar, let alone come face to
face with one. When faced with a Cougar, your actions may assist or
prevent a quick retreat from the animal. Here are some things to
remember:

• Stop, take small kids immediately, and do not run.. Running and fast
movements can trigger an attack. Remember that a cougar's instinct at
close range is to hunt.

• Confront the cougar. Speak firmly as you slowly back away. It always
leaves the animal an exhaust route. If it shows signs of aggression
(crouching down with ears flat, baring teeth, hissing, wagging its tail,
and moving its hind legs in preparation to pounce), yell, wave your
arms, and throw something always available (water bottle, book,
backpack). ). The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey
but a potential threat.

• If the cougar attacks, counterattack. Be
[aggressive](https://simplyecologist.com/is-wild-boar-aggressive/) and
try to stay on your feet. Cougars were scared off by humans, who would
defend themselves with anything within reach, including sticks, rocks,
shovels, backpacks, and clothes, even without clothes. Hands. If you're
aggressive enough, a cougar will run away and realize they made a
mistake. The pepper spray on the surface of the pumping is also
effective in the extreme illusion of a narrow encounter with a Puma.


Cougars make a living by not being seen. In areas disturbed by humans, these cats are most active at dusk and early in the morning. In low-light conditions, cougars see up to six times better than humans.

Tracking Cougars

[Mountain
lions](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/), also
known as
[Cougars](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) are
opportunistic carnivores. In Utah, the mule deer makes up over 80% of
the mountain lions' diet. Cougars primarily eat large vertebrate prey.
such as elk, bighorn sheep (*Ovis canadensis*), moose (*Alces alces*)
and pronghorn (*Antilocapra americana*) may also be eaten. Although
cougars feed primarily on large ungulates, small mammals such as
porcupines (*Erethizon dorsatum*), lagomorphs (hares and rabbits),
ground squirrels (*Spermophilus* spp.), and beavers (*Castor
canadensis*) may also supplement the diet of cougarsCougars also
occasionally feed on livestock and pets. Sheep and goats are the
livestock most commonly taken by
[lions](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-the-lion/),
but they also kill cattle, horses, and domestic animals, including dogs
and
[cats](https://simplyecologist.com/melanism-in-cats-the-fascinating-phenomenon-of-melanism-in-big-cats/).

Cougars are attracted to the movement of prey and this could be why prey
species tend to 'freeze' after spotting a predator. Mountain lions
typically stalk and then stalk or attack their prey after a short chase
that rarely ends more than 100 yards.

Because cougars also feed on porcupines, they often have spikes on their
feet and faces. This occasionally results in some fatalities when the
spikes prevent the
[lion](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-the-lion/)
from eating or drinking. Cougars generally bury prey carcasses such as
moose or deer after each feeding. This prevents scavengers such as
magpies, ravens, eagles, bears, and coyotes from feeding on the carrion.
Lions will eat about 70% of a large carcass before killing again.

Cougars can affect the trajectory of some ungulate populations. Lions
were a major source of predation for one population of bighorn sheep in
Alberta and were implicated in the decline of another bighorn sheep
population, which began to avoid high-value foraging areas where they
faced predators.

Logan and Sweanor (2001) reported that for cougars predation was the
most important, proximate factor limiting a New Mexico mule deer (*O.
hemionus*) population. In this case, lion predation reduces the rate of
growth during a period of population growth and accelerates decline when
a drought affects forage availability and condition.

Mountain lions annually reduce an estimated 15-20% of a mule deer
population on the Kaibab Plateau, Arizona, 8-12% of a mule deer
population on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Colorado, and 2-3% of elk and
3-5% of mule deer in the northern Yellowstone Ecosystem. However,
predation by mountain lions does not necessarily suppress or regulate a
prey population. Suppression is more likely in systems with multiple
preys and multiple predator species. In these situations, predators that
would normally decrease as their prey becomes less abundant are
supported by other, more numerous prey species.

The potential effect of lion predation depends largely on the condition
of the prey and its habitat. In areas where the habitat is in good
condition, most individuals in the prey population are likely to survive
in the absence of predation. Where prey is in poor condition due to
diminished forage quality, individuals are more likely to die regardless
of predation. [Mountain
lion](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) predation
is more likely to be additive to other causes of mortality when
ungulates are in good physical condition. Conversely, mountain lion
predation is more likely to be compensatory when ungulates are in
diminished physical condition. Healthy prey populations typically have
higher reproductive rates and offset predatory regulation by producing
more young than are consumed by predators.


Mountain lions, also known as Cougars are opportunistic carnivores. In Utah, the mule deer makes up over 80% of the mountain lions’ diet. Cougars primarily eat large vertebrate prey. such as elk, bighorn sheep (

 Ovis canadensis

), moose (

 Alces alces

) and pronghorn (

 Antilocapra americana

) may also be eaten.

What does a mountain lion eat?

[Mountain
lions](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/), known as
"pumas" and "cougars," are large, powerful predators that have an
important role in the ecosystem. Their main food source is deer, but
they can also prey on smaller animals such as raccoons, rabbits, pets,
and livestock.

The historical range of the [mountain
lion](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) was, aside
from humans, the largest of any land mammal in the western hemisphere.
The mountain
[lion](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-the-lion/) is
still found from the southern tip of South America to British Columbia
but was apparently extirpated in the eastern United States (except
southern Florida) and eastern Canada in the late 18th, 19th, and early
20th centuries. They expanded their distribution into states like
Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

Much of this expansion occurred after cougars were reclassified from
unregulated status to wild animals in most states and after the use of
venoms was restricted in the early 1970s. Similarly, the
[lions](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-the-lion/)
of the mountains in Wyoming increased in abundance and distribution and
currently occur in most regions with timber or tall-shrub cover
statewide.

In
addition, much of the habitat occupied by mountain lions in Wyoming consists of mountain ranges that extend into surrounding states. These
long-distance movements represent a very effective means of gene
transfer, helping to maintain lion populations in distant regions.

The recovery of the cougars throughout Wyoming (and probably much of the
former area of ​​the species) is probably due to favorable changes in the
management practices and guidelines, and the habitat conditions, which
favor the increases of some prey such as elk and white-tailed deer.

More than half of California including most of the
undeveloped San Mateo and **San**ta Clara counties is a
prime mountain lion habitat. Cougars are a particularly protected
species in California.

Cougars are America's most widespread cats, found from Canada to
Argentina. They are found in almost all habitats. They live in
mountainous, semi-arid terrain, in subtropical and tropical forests, and
in swamps. Cougars are most commonly found where prey is plentiful,
rugged terrain, and suitable vegetation. They are active all year round.
While cougars tend to avoid humans, they can and do live in close
proximity to humans. They tend to be more active when fewer people are
around.

There is no breeding population of cougars in Iowa. Dental age and DNA
data have shown that the majority of mountain lions in Iowa are young
males (2-3 years old) hailing from the Black Hills region of South
Dakota or Nebraska. The oldest male mountain lion killed in Iowa in 2013
was a 4-year-old male. who came from Nebraska. A female
[puma](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) has not
been documented in Iowa in recent history.

Mountain lions are most commonly found in habitats where prey is
plentiful. In Utah, mountain lions prefer areas with pine and juniper
scrub. Within these habitat types, lions prefer areas with rocky cliffs,
ledges, and
[tall](https://simplyecologist.com/how-tall-is-a-grizzly-bear/) trees or
bushes that can serve as cover. Cougars often climb trees to avoid
detection and danger. Lions generally avoid areas of low-growing
sagebrush and shrubs, areas used for agriculture and grazing, and any
other areas without high enough cover.

Previous studies in the western US indicate that mountain lions select
coniferous, deciduous, riparian, and tall shrub habitat types at
mid-elevations on steep or rugged terrain. prey and brood rearing. Aside
from prey scarcity, the only other conditions that limit lion
distribution are wide open areas with few hiding places and extremely
cold winter temperatures in northern climates.

Lionesses with cubs prefer areas with large conifers, rocks, and dense
bushes that provide shelter and shelter for the kittens.

Overall, gene flow in the Central Rocky Mountains would indicate that
the region supports a large population of mountain lions with a rapid
genetic exchange between patches of suitable habitat.

Overall, gene flow in the Central Rocky Mountains would suggest that the
region supports a large population of mountain lions with a rapid
genetic exchange between patches of suitable habitat.

Despite the cougar's large geographic range and adaptability, evolution
and habitat fragmentation can negatively impact lion populations. The
construction of new roads and housing in cougar habitat not only reduces
the quantity and quality of habitat available to cougars and their prey
\[p. deer (Odocoileus spp.) and elk (Cervus spp.)\], but the human
presence in these areas is also increasing. Increased human activity
ultimately leads to more frequent conflicts and ultimately higher
mortality rates of cougars in these areas. Even in sparsely populated
states like Wyoming, where most of the lion's range is still relatively
untouched, subdivisions, new road construction, and oil and gas
development can negatively impact the habitats occupied by cougars.


Mountain lions, known as “pumas” and “cougars,” are large, powerful predators that have an important role in the ecosystem. Their main food source is deer, but they can also prey on smaller animals such as raccoons, rabbits, pets, and livestock. The historical range of the mountain lion was, aside from humans, the largest of any land mammal in the western hemisphere.

Where does mountain lion live?

Sleek and elegant,
[cougars](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/)
(*[Puma](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/)
concolor*) are secretive loners rarely seen in the wild. Also known as
[mountain
lions](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/),
[pumas](https://simplyecologist.com/cougars-interesting-facts/) or
cougars are famous for their strength, agility, and amazing jump
capacity. Their truly powerful legs allow them to leap 30 feet from a
standing position or leap 15 feet straight into a cliff.

A puma body strength and strong jaws enable it to trip and drag prey
larger than itself. Cougars belong to the largest members of the cat
family in North America. Adult males weigh 140 pounds, but in a perfect
situation, they can weigh up to 180 pounds and be 78 feet long from nose
to tail tip. Adult males stand at about 30 inches at the shoulder. Adult
female cougars are on average 25 percent smaller than males. Pumas'
color ranges from reddish-brown to tawny (deerlike) to gray, with a
black tip on their long tail.

Cougars can be found throughout the whole of Washington where there is
dense cover and abundant prey. The cougar population for 2002 was
estimated at between 2,400 and 3,500 individuals. Nationwide, the puma
population is declining. The Department of
[Fish](https://simplyecologist.com/fish-with-horns/) and Wildlife has
nine administrative zones throughout the state designed to maintain or
reduce and regulate harvest levels accordingly. Wildlife bureaus across
the state receive hundreds of calls each year about sightings, attacks
on livestock and pets, and confrontations between cougars and humans.
Our growing human population and dwindling puma
[habitat](https://simplyecologist.com/what-is-the-natural-habitat-of-a-red-panda/)
may create more opportunities for such encounters.


Sleek and elegant, cougars (

 Puma concolor

) are secretive loners rarely seen in the wild. Also known as mountain lions, pumas or cougars are famous for their strength, agility, and amazing jump capacity. Their truly powerful legs allow them to leap 30 feet from a standing position or leap 15 feet straight into a cliff. A puma body strength and strong jaws enable it to trip and drag prey larger than itself.

Postagens de Rogue Scholar

Are mountain lions dangerous?

Cougars interesting facts

Tracking Cougars

What does a mountain lion eat?

Where does mountain lion live?

Are cougars mountain lions?