Cougar or Mountain Lion or Puma (Felis concolor)

Description: Member of the cat family. Colour is a blend of tawny, reddish, brown and golden-yellowish brown. The belly is buff and the chest, throat, and lips are white. The muzzle is streaked with dark stripes, and the back of the ears and tip of the long tail are blackish brown. Weight ranges from 70 to 200 pounds, with males usually around 150 pounds and females around 100 pounds.

Habitat: Open woodland to dense coniferous forests, also rocky cliffs and ledges, marshes, swamps and beaver meadows.

Feeding: Mainly on mule deer and elk, also porcupines, moose, raccoons, mice and livestock.

General: Females produce one to five kittens every two years. Can breed during any month.

References: Rezendes, Paul. 1992. Tracking & the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks & Sign. Camden House Publishing Inc. Charlotte, Vermont.

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