Geneveive at 6 months old
 
Max and Genevieve at just a few
weeks old
 
Cougar are powerful, and majestic animals that mainly
prey on larger animals like deer and elk. Cougar are
also known as "Puma, Mountain Lion, Panther, Catamount,
depending on the region in which they are found, are all
the same basic animal. Cougar can grow to two hundred
pounds or more. Size and coloration can vary somewhat.
They the largest cat in North America and were once
found all across continent, but are now found mainly in
the western united states and in Canada and the small
endangered Florida panther. Finally, Michigan has
admitted the presents of cougar here in our state. Up to
30 across the Upper Peninsula and possibly 20 in the
northern lower peninsula.
Here are thirteen facts about
the incredible cougars.
* * * * * * * * * * *
1. Cougar is the most
widespread of all the New World Mammals. Its geographic
range in Americas is larger than that of any other
animal.
2. Owing to its historic presence across a multitude of
regions and
cultures, Cougar has earned more names than any other
animal, including mountain lion, mountain screamer,
pi-twal, carcajou, puma, catamount and many others.
3. Despite its heavy build, Puma Concolor, the Cougar
resembles smaller felines in its physical makeup and is
often not included in big cats owing to its inability to
roar.
4. With its rudder-like tail and bodily structure,
Cougar is often said to be related to the Cheetah in its
evolution, though there is currently insufficient
evidence to validate this.
5. Cougars are great athletes. Their long hind legs give
them an incredible horizontal leaping ability of nearly
forty feet in one bound, second only to the Snow Leopard
which can reputedly cover forty five feet in a jump.
6. Versatile predators, Cougars are capable of taking
down a variety of animals, ranging from rodents to
moose. The predominant prey species though, in most
parts, is deer.
7. Stalk and ambush predators, Cougars employ their
great speed and momentum to take down their prey, and
then proceed to make the kill with a lethal neck bite.
8. If they don't finish their meal in one sitting,
Cougars usually cache their kill under leaves and shrubs
to return to it later.
9. Despite their prolific hunting profile, Cougars are
not at the top of food chain in many of their native
ecosystems and face stiff competition at the hands of
Bears, Wolves and Jaguars.
10. As a result, Cougars have evolved into developing
unique survival strategies in many parts, including the
ability to swim and climb trees.
11. Even with their vast distribution and adaptive
ability, Cougar numbers are declining in the wild owing
to loss of habitat and prey.
12. Conflicts with humans also do not bode well for the
Cougars who are increasingly coming into contact with
people who keep pushing into their territory.
13. The highest numbers of attacks by Cougars on humans
occur in the infamous 'Cougar Island' in British
Columbia.
Click on the link
below to hear some animal sounds at the zoo
Animal Sounds
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