Cougar | Wildlife Info and Photos

Cougars are very solitary animals and expert hunters. Alone, one cougar is capable of taking down a full adult male elk. As approaching, then the cougar will leap on top of the back of its prey and grasp its neck with its sharp teeth. The cougar will then try to snap its prey's neck. Just incase a scavenger animal approaches the cougars kill, the cougar usually hides its kill under a bunch of sticks and leaves. Sometimes they might even bury it in the snow. This way, the cougar can feed for several days on such a large kill.

Cougars are most active at dusk and dawn.  However, they will roam and hunt at any time of the day or night and in all seasons. Pumas eat a variety of foods but rely heavily on deer where available. It will also feed on wild sheep, elk, rabbits, beaver, raccoons, grouse, and occasionally livestock.   A cougar is capable of killing a 270 kg (600 lb) moose.  It climbs well, is an excellent jumper, and often drops from limbs onto its prey. Its powerful limbs allow it to jump to heights of 18 feet (5.5 meters) or more.

Generally, cougars are solitary.  If tracks show two or more cougars traveling together, it probably indicates a female with kittens.  Cougars have four toes with three distinct lobes present at the base of the pad.  Claws are retractable, so they usually do not leave imprints.

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