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IDENTIFICATION FOOD The cougar is a large native Cougars are . to . A cougar’s are their main source of food. head is small with a rounded face They will also eat other prey and ears. It has sharp teeth. It ranging from mice to . has forward facing eyes which Prey includes , , help it to follow movement of , , , mar- prey.The ’s neck and body tens, , , are long and narrow. A mountain cubs, antelope, Rocky North America Range lion’s legs are very muscular and Mountain goats, mountain sheep, Cougar range is mainly in the hind legs are longer than the , grouse, wild turkeys, fish, western Canada and in western front legs. It has a long, cylindri- and pets. and southern . Small cal tail. There are two main col- populations are found in the south ors of cougars: reddish brown HABITS from Texas to . Sightings and gray. Red can vary from Cougars are shy and elusive. have occurred in the midwestern buff, cinnamon and tawny to a They hunt alone except during and eastern states. very reddish brown color. Gray breeding season and when the cats can vary from silver gray to female is traveling with her cubs. bluish to slate gray. The sides of are nocturnal, preferring a mountain lion’s muzzle are to hunt at night. They stake out black and so is the tip of its tail. territories that range from 12 to The upper lip, chin and throat are 22 square miles. Dominant males white. The coats of newborn kit- commonly kill other males, tens are covered with black spots females and kittens. Cougars are which disappear as they grow. able to run quickly for short The male is larger than the fe- distances and are agile tree male. Adult cougars range in climbers. length from 5 1/2 to 8 feet (30-36 inches is tail) and can weigh from Mountain lions do not have a 80 to 200 pounds. definite breeding season. Mating can take place any time. The majority of births occur in late Mountain lions can be found in winter and early spring. After a a variety of including co- gestation period of 90-96 days, niferous forests, wooded one to five young are born. The swamps, tropical forests, open kittens can eat meat at six grasslands, , brushland weeks but usually nurse until and desert edges. They seem to about three months of age. The prefer rough, rocky, semi-open young usually hunt with their areas. Mountain lion and deer mother through their first winter. often share the same habitat. concolor

The cat with over 40 names, the mountain lion is commonly called cougar, , catamount, panther and painter.

Living in harmony . . . Living in Most of the time, mountain lions and conflict . . . live in harmony. · Cougars · Cougars help control deer popula- will tions. - on average a cougar will eat a kill livestock deer a week · Cougars · Cougars are an important predator in will kill pets the · Cougars · Cougars are a big and have are a challenge to hunt attacked · Because of the cougar’s elusive na- and killed ture, people enjoy trying to see one humans in the wild — some people enjoy just knowing that cougars are “out there” · Sometimes cougars kill people are trying to reintroduce into an area

It is possible to reduce This is an example of a front paw track which is 3 damage done by cou- 1/2 inches wide by 3 inches long. The hind track gars. Some control is smaller than the front track. The retractable methods are: claws do not show and the front of the pad has a double humped look. · around livestock areas, install heavy, woven wire fences at least 10 feet high (overhead fencing may also be needed)

· keep livestock in an enclosed barn

· remove brush and trees from within 1/4 mile of where livestock are kept

· bright lights, flashing lights, barking and changing the placement of scarecrow objects may temporarily scare lions away

· or shooting the offending animal.

The only North American cat bigger than the cougar is the .

If you encounter a lion . . .

Confrontations between humans and cougars have been · Keep children close to you increasing over the last 20 . These encounters have · Do not approach a lion resulted in injury and loss of life. There are several · Do not run from or turn your back to a lion. Its instinct theories as to why these encounters have increased. One is is to chase running animals. that there are more cougars now than 20 years ago and peo- · Do not crouch down or bend over — you look like prey ple are spending more time in cougar habitat — hiking, bik- when you do. ing and camping. Also urban growth has eliminated some · Make yourself look bigger and speak loudly. cougar habitat and in some cases provided habitat. · Fight back if attacked.

The puma is found in most buzzards to find the remains American Indian mythology. The of lion kills. In leg- cat’s cunning, ability and end there is a story of a strength are respected and woman who strayed into the admired by many tribes. The woods mourning the death of cougar is looked at as a her baby. Finding a den of protector or source of power motherless panther kittens, to ward off or to excel she gently pressed one close as a hunter. Some tribes to her breast and affection- viewed the cougar as an omen ately stroked the tiny animal. of disaster. Apparently hungry, it began to suckle. The woman raised the kitten and in time it repaid her by killing Ancient Peruvians gave the name puma to some of deer and bringing the meat to share. After that, other their most famous families. The puma was wor- Cheyenne women raised puma kittens for the same shipped and used as a symbol at feasts. Lion skins purpose. were used for dress to represent bravery. In the Inca civilization, districts, wards, cities and mountains The wail of the cougar was a death warning to the were often named after the puma. and Walapais of . Their medicine men dangled dried paws and claws of cougars over The cougar was considered a friend and provider sick members of the tribe to ward off evil spirits. to Cheyenne Indians who watched crows and

Alliteration . . . ______Using two or more words with the same ______beginning sound is an alliteration. Develop sentences about cougars using an alliteration ______and the many names for this animal. ______

For example: ______The coffee colored cougar crouched carefully. ______

______

Across: 2. , 5. elusive, 7. panther, 9. alliteration DOWN: 1. deer, 2. cougar, 3. nocturnal, 4. puma, 6. mythology, 8. kittens

ACROSS 2. an animal that eats meat is called a ____ 5. an animal that is not seen very much is called _____ 7. another name for mountain lion that is commonly used in the east 9. using the same begin- ning sound in two or more words

DOWN by You 1. most common prey of 1 cougars 2. another name for 2 3 4 mountain lion often 5 used in the Pacific

Northwest 6 3. an animal active at night is called this 7 4. another name for mountain lion used by 8 Peruvian Indians 6. having to do with myths 8. the young of a mountain lion are called

______9

Oct 8,1998

Wildlife Activity Book and Prevention and Control of Jack H. Berryman Institute 1998 Wildlife Issue of the Wildlife Damage CD ROM for Wildlife Damage Colorado Reader or Handbook Management Colorado Foundation for 202 Natural Resource Hall State University Agriculture University of Nebraska Logan, Utah 83431-5210 P.O. Box 10 P.O. Box 83819 Livermore, CO 80536 Lincoln, NE 68583

This activity sheet has been developed by USDA Wildlife Services. For more information about cougars contact your state’s Wildlife Services office or USDA Wildlife Services at (301) 734-7921