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Recently our local newspaper ran an article saying a cougar had been spotted within the city limits. It warned against allowing young children and pets to be outdoors without supervision. This article brought back memories – memories of when I was growing up on the farm.
A wildlife artist lived about a half-hour’s drive from where we lived. He had founded a small zoo for local children. The animals were also used as subjects for his paintings.
Unfortunately, one of the cougars escaped. It killed a full-grown cow on a neighboring farm. Fear gripped our small community; children were not allowed out after dusk.
I remember lying in bed at night, listening to the cougar’s screams. The sound reminded me of a baby’s cry, yet there was an eeriness. It sent shivers of fear slithering up my spine. Goosebumps crawled along my skin.
The townsmen went out on several nights with their rifles and their Beagle hounds but the cougar always eluded them. Finally, officials from the Department of Game and Fisheries were able to trap it, tranquilize it, and return it to the town zoo. Immediately precautions were taken to prevent further escape.
The recent newspaper article inspired me to do some research on these beautiful creatures. They are one of three felids (members of the cat family) that are native to Canada. In Canada they are also known as mountain lions, panthers, and pumas. Cougars are the largest of the three. Lynx and Bobcats are smaller. The cougar also has a longer tail.
Cougars have lived in Canada since Europeans first arrived here. At one time their range extended from the West Coast, across the prairies and into the forests of Ontario. They also prowled the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Valleys, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Presently, because of a dwindling deer population, which is the cougar’s main food source, they are usually found only in the western provinces.
Canada has four subspecies of the cougar. The species native to the eastern provinces are listed as endangered by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. This is an international committee. In Canada, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Species also lists the cougar as endangered. Other wildlife authorities list the eastern cougar as extinct. Three other subspecies of cougar are found along the Coast Range and interior of British Columbia and throughout southwestern Alberta.
The cougar is the second largest cat in the world. It has a muscular body that is deep-chested. Its head is short and rounded with large eyes and long whiskers. The long tail is used similar to a rudder for balance. Males weigh-in at an average of 71kg while females average 41kg. Male body length is a little above 80 inches and a female’s a few inches shorter.
The cougar’s color ranges from dark brown to tawny gray to reddish tawny. They have black face markings, a black tip on the tail and black on the back of the ears. Kits are spotted when born but by the time they are a year old, the spots have vanished.
A cougar’s neck and forelegs are strong, enabling it to pull down prey easily. It has long fangs and muscular jaws designed to hold large prey such as deer, moose and elk. Special teeth allow cutting of sinew, meat, and tendons.
Cougars have five toes on the forepaws and four on the hind paws. Each toe has a claw, similar to that of housecats. These are sheathed when the animal walks but can be quickly extended when running down prey.
Canada’s cougar population is made up of adults, kittens and transients – young cougars that have not established a territory or begun to breed. The population density is between 0.3 to 9.2 per 100 kilometers. This depends on hunting sites, food sources, and social structure. Healthy cougar population is an indication of a balanced ecosystem.
The territory of a male cougar never overlaps that of other males but does overlap the ranges of several females of breeding age. A female’s range often overlaps the territory of other females.
When territory overlaps, the cougar avoids others of its kind. Both males and females are solitary travelers except when females have young to care for or when breeding is taking place. Male cougars breed with several females and will travel for miles to females that are in heat. The male then marks his territory with scent posts and will defend it if necessary but usually the cougar maintains a peaceful social life, which helps it stabilize populations.
Cougar populations are found in the mountains, interior and forested foothills of western Canada. These animals prefer to roam areas where they cannot be seen. They pray on moose, deer and elk when available but eat numerous bird and animal species. When larger animals are not available, they prey on squirrels, beaver, rabbits and porcupine. They are not scavengers and gorge only on fresh kill. The only time exception is if they are near starvation.
Cougars are masters at camouflage and avoid contact with humans as much as possible. If approached they usually stay hidden and will flee. As with all animals, they will attack if cornered or if they feel there is a danger to their young.
Cougars are rarely seen. Paw prints along creeks or in snow give sign that a cougar has been in the area. If you ever have the opportunity to observe these animals in their natural habitat, do so. It is an unforgettable experience.
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