Questions tagged [cougars]

Cougar, puma, mountain lion, panther, or catamount. Large cat living in the Americas.

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4 votes
4 answers
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Claw marks: Bear or cougar?

A friend of mine took the following picture of the tree with claw marks on it, in the pacific northwest Washington while on a hike. Both cougars and black bears are known to be in the area. Is this ...
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7 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are these prints in snow of a bobcat or cougar?

Are these footprints of a bobcat or cougar ? I apologize that there is no reference scale in the image, but the footprints measured about 3.5 or 4 inches in both dimensions. I found these while hiking ...
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4 votes
1 answer
142 views

How are mountain lion populations estimated?

Knowing how many mountain lions are in an area is important for conservation, as it would be important to know if the population was in decline or to set the number that can be taken by hunters in a ...
2 votes
1 answer
108 views

Was the young cougar who attacked a runner recently in Colorado likely to have been old enough to live independently of its mother?

Warning: Contains details that may be too graphic for some cat lovers. Today's New York Times has an article titled Man who Strangled Cougar Cited a Lesson from His Cat. See He's no Chuck Norris ...
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2 votes
1 answer
227 views

no weapons Fighting large cat with bare hands

Recently there was a news article about a Colorado jogger who was attacked by a mountain lion and killed the mountain lion with their hands (ie, no weapon). What are the effective ways, with no ...
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5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Hiking and camping with medium size dog and keeping safe from mountain lions

For some reason I have had multiple encounters with mountain lions. In my 20's while camping in a somewhat remote campground near the continental divide in CO I woke to a large mountain lion laying ...
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1 vote
2 answers
360 views

Will mountain lions eat wild horses?

If I remember correctly, someone proposed that the problem of wild horses over populating in the western United States would be to let the mountain lions control the populations. Would mountain lions ...
2 votes
1 answer
748 views

Do male mountain lions kill their own kittens?

Stallions will kill unrelated foals, but I have heard that male mountain lions will kill their own kittens, ostensibly to bring the females back into heat so they can breed again. (Bears will do this)....
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

How to estimate the size and or gender of a mountain lion from its tracks?

If one were to come across mountain lion tracks, how would one estimate the size of the lion making the tracks? Also, is it possible to tell the gender of the mountain lion(s)?
3 votes
1 answer
119 views

What animals have paw prints similar to a mountain lion such that the absence or presence of claw marks are the most reliable distinguishing feature?

I was reading this question about how to identify mountain lion tracks just now, and noticed the remark at the end of the accepted answer about the lack of claw marks. I am a cat owner, so the lack of ...
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

How to find and identify mountain lion tracks?

Mountain lions are rarely seen by humans, but their tracks can be much easier to find. How would one find and identify mountain lion tracks?
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Do mountain lions play with their food?

House cats will play with their food i.e. catch a mouse then let it go and then recatch it over and over again before finally eating it. Do mountain lions exhibit similar behavior?
5 votes
1 answer
286 views

Is there any statistical evidence that hunting reduces the likelihood of mountain lion attacks?

There has been some discussion on this question about whether or not hunting would increase or decrease the likelihood of a mountain lion attack. I have seen some websites saying that it does not, but ...
34 votes
9 answers
23k views

When back country camping, how do you avoid being attacked by a mountain lion in your sleep?

I'm looking to camp in SE Oregon. At minimum, my girlfriend and I will have sleeping bags. We're open to adding a tent, fire, and other stuff as recommended. Our goal is to be able to hike around ...
4 votes
1 answer
8k views

If you hear a mountain lion screaming, how close is it?

Female mountain lions will scream to attract a mate, and males will do it as well. This YouTube video and this one both have audio of what it sounds like. Given how loud it sounds, would there be ...
6 votes
2 answers
151 views

What are wildlife hazards/precautions near the treeline at 8200ft on Hearst Lake in Montana?

I want to drive to Hearst Lake (map here) and explore the area on foot, but I am unsure what wildlife precautions I should take at a high altitude. Do grizzly, black bears, mountain lions, elk have a ...
14 votes
3 answers
6k views

Solo-backpacking in mountain lion country

I've read that to take precautions in mountain lion country, people should hike and camp in groups. Does that mean solo-backpacking is not advisable in mountain lion country (Rocky Mountains in my ...
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Where and how is it allowed to hunt cougars in the US?

Cougar population is in decline. I wonder where the hunt for them is still possible in the US? Also what are the specific regulations for the hunt (especially in regards to the endangerment of the ...
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17 votes
3 answers
14k views

Is bear spray effective against other animals?

Is bear spray (pepper spray specially formulated to be effective against bear attacks) effective against other animals, especially mountain lions or wolves? Or is there something in it specifically ...
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27 votes
3 answers
2k views

What do you do if you see a cougar?

Hiking on the west coast of British Columbia, there are likely to be cougars around the trails. What do you do if you see one?
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