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              July 2010

Sleek and secure in its own abilities, the mountain lion stalks its prey, sprints, then pounces with overwhelming force. Relative size doesn’t matter; even elk, bison and bear weighing five to seven times its own weight succumb with a single swift, killing bite to the neck.

Curiously, despite such abilities, the big cat acts like the neighborhood tabby when it encounters a barking dog, and leaps into the trees to escape. If cornered, it does not roar, since a bone in its throat prevents the low rumble, but it does snarl and growl. However, despite a reputation for terrifying screams, the cougar usually communicates with high-pitched chirps, purrs and warbles.

Such vocalizations are especially important among mothers and kittens. A litter of two to six, most often born in summer, is dependent on mother’s teaching and corrections for nine months, before confidently assuming the hunters’ roles for themselves.

 

Mountain lion               Puma concolor

Aka: cougar, puma, panther

Head and body: 42-54 inches; tail: 30-36 inches

Habitat: wilderness forests, swamps, chaparral, deserts

© Tim Herd    photo by Leonard Lee Rue III

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