The Cougar, also known as the Mountain Lion and Panther is Canada's largest wild cat. There are 4 cougar species in Canada, most residing in Alberta and British Columbia. This solitary cat roams and hunts day and night in all seasons and is most active at dawn and dusk. Males have a home range of 150 to 1,000 square kms. which is not shared with other males. There are 30 species of cougars worldwide.
The cougar's strong legs make this carnivore a powerful predator. As agile climbers they can leap up to 18 feet high. Known to travel up to 50 kms. daily for food. Their diet consists primarily of deer, although they will hunt and consume rabbits, beaver, raccoons, grouse, big horned sheep, elk and moose. They can leap forward 30 feet and run 35 mph.
Males are polygamous and females are monogamous. The Young are born with spotted coats, which fade after their first year. Females raise up to 6 kittens per litter and begin hunting with their mother within 3 months.
In the wild their lifespan is 10 to 12 years and up to 21 years in captivity. Early settlers hunted cougars to near extinction. Hunting bans in some areas may have saved these magnificent wild cats from extinction.
View a photo of a Baby Cougar Playing Peek a Boo here
View an photo of an Adult Cougar on a Winter Prowl here
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