COUGAR

Cougars, which are also called mountain lions or pumas, are only found in the Western Hemisphere. Depending on food availability, the cougar generally resides in remote, wooded and rocky places, though it may also venture into the subalpine.

Cougars have short fur that ranges in color from reddish-brown to = grayish-brown. The tip of the tail, the sides of the muzzle and the backs of the ears are all black. The cougar’s body is long and lithe, and its tail is more than half the length of the head and body. Some cougars will have prominent facial patterns of black, brown or cinnamon. The cougar mainly preys on deer, but may also prey on bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, moose, beaver, porcupine, mice, rabbits and birds.  A cougar’s weight will vary from 70 to 109 lbs (32 to 86 kg).