IDENTIFICATION

The cougar is a large cat native 

to North America. A cougar’s 

head is small with a rounded face 

and ears. It has sharp teeth. It 

has forward facing eyes which 

help it to follow movement of 

prey.The lion’s neck and body 

are long and narrow. A mountain 

lion’s legs are very muscular and 

the hind legs are longer than the 

front legs. It has a long, cylindrical tail. There are two main colors of cougars: reddish brown 

and gray. Red cats can vary from 

buff, cinnamon and tawny to a 

very reddish brown color. Gray 

cats can vary from silver gray to 

bluish to slate gray. The sides of 

a mountain lion’s muzzle are 

black and so is the tip of its tail. 

The upper lip, chin and throat are 

white. The coats of newborn kittens are covered with black spots 

which disappear as they grow. 

The male is larger than the female. Adult cougars range in 

length from 5 1/2 to 8 feet (30-36 

inches is tail) and can weigh from 

80 to 200 pounds. 

HABITAT

Mountain lions can be found in 

a variety of habitats including coniferous forests, wooded 

swamps, tropical forests, open 

grasslands, chaparral, brushland 

and desert edges. They seem to 

prefer rough, rocky, semi-open 

areas. Mountain lion and deer 

often share the same habitat. 

FOOD

 Cougars are carnivores. Deer 

are their main source of food. 

They will also eat other prey 

ranging from mice to moose. 

Prey includes rabbits, hares, 

beaver, porcupines, skunks, martens, coyotes, peccaries, bear 

cubs, pronghorn antelope, Rocky 

Mountain goats, mountain sheep, 

elk, grouse, wild turkeys, fish, 

livestock and pets. 

HABITS

Cougars are shy and elusive. 

They hunt alone except during 

breeding season and when the

female is traveling with her cubs. 

Lions are nocturnal, preferring 

to hunt at night. They stake out 

territories that range from 12 to 

22 square miles. Dominant males 

commonly kill other males, 

females and kittens. Cougars are 

able to run quickly for short 

distances and are agile tree 

climbers. 

Mountain lions do not have a 

definite breeding season. Mating 

can take place any time. The 

majority of births occur in late 

winter and early spring. After a 

gestation period of 90-96 days, 

one to five young are born. The 

kittens can eat meat at six 

weeks but usually nurse until 

about three months of age. The 

young usually hunt with their 

mother through their first winter.

North America Range

Cougar range is mainly in

 western Canada and in western 

and southern United States. Small 

populations are found in the south 

from Texas to Florida. Sightings 

have occurred in the midwestern 

and eastern states.

The cat with over 40 names, the mountain lion is commonly called 

cougar, puma, catamount, panther and painter.

Felis concolor
It is possible to reduce

 damage done by cougars. Some control 

methods are:

• around livestock 

areas, install heavy, 

woven wire fences at 

least 10 feet high 

(overhead fencing may 

also be needed) 

• keep livestock in an

enclosed barn

• remove brush and trees from within 1/4 mile of 

where livestock are kept

• bright lights, flashing lights, barking dogs and 

changing the placement of scarecrow objects 

may temporarily scare lions away

• trapping or shooting the offending animal.

Living in harmony . . .

Most of the time, mountain lions and 

humans live in harmony.

• Cougars help control deer populations. - on average a cougar will eat a 

deer a week

• Cougars are an important predator in 

the food chain 

• Cougars are a big game animal and 

are a challenge to hunt

• Because of the cougar’s elusive nature, people enjoy trying to see one 

in the wild — some people enjoy just 

knowing that cougars are “out there” 

Living in 

conflict . . .

• Cougars 

 will 

 kill livestock

• Cougars 

 will kill pets

• Cougars 

 have 

 attacked 

 and killed 

 humans 

 

• Sometimes cougars kill animals people are 

trying to reintroduce into an area

The only North American cat bigger than the cougar is the jaguar.

This is an example of a front paw track which is 3 

1/2 inches wide by 3 inches long. The hind track 

is smaller than the front track. The retractable 

claws do not show and the front of the pad has a 

double humped look. 
Alliteration . . .

Using two or more words with the same 

beginning sound is an alliteration. Develop 

sentences about cougars using an alliteration 

and the many names for this animal.

For example:

The coffee colored cougar crouched carefully.

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Across: 2. carnivore, 5. elusive, 7. panther, 9. alliteration

DOWN: 1. deer, 2. cougar, 3. nocturnal, 4. puma, 6. mythology, 8. kittens

The puma is found in most 

American Indian mythology. The 

cat’s cunning, ability and 

strength are respected and 

admired by many tribes. The 

cougar is looked at as a 

protector or source of power

to ward off disease or to excel 

as a hunter. Some tribes 

viewed the cougar as an omen 

of disaster. 

Ancient Peruvians gave the name puma to some of 

their most famous families. The puma was worshipped and used as a symbol at feasts. Lion skins 

were used for dress to represent bravery. In the Inca 

civilization, districts, wards, cities and mountains 

were often named after the puma. 

The cougar was considered a friend and provider 

to Cheyenne Indians who watched crows and 

buzzards to find the remains 

of lion kills. In Cheyenne legend there is a story of a 

woman who strayed into the 

woods mourning the death of 

her baby. Finding a den of 

motherless panther kittens, 

she gently pressed one close 

to her breast and affectionately stroked the tiny animal. 

Apparently hungry, it began to suckle. The woman 

raised the kitten and in time it repaid her by killing 

deer and bringing the meat to share. After that, other 

Cheyenne women raised puma kittens for the same 

purpose. 

The wail of the cougar was a death warning to the 

Apaches and Walapais of Arizona. Their medicine 

men dangled dried paws and claws of cougars over 

sick members of the tribe to ward off evil spirits. 

Confrontations between humans and cougars have been 

increasing over the last 20 years. These encounters have 

resulted in injury and loss of human life. There are several 

theories as to why these encounters have increased. One is 

that there are more cougars now than 20 years ago and people are spending more time in cougar habitat — hiking, biking and camping. Also urban growth has eliminated some 

cougar habitat and in some cases provided habitat.

• Keep children close to you

• Do not approach a lion

• Do not run from or turn your back to a lion. Its instinct 

is to chase running animals.

• Do not crouch down or bend over — you look like prey 

when you do.

• Make yourself look bigger and speak loudly. 

• Fight back if attacked.

If you encounter a lion . . .
This activity sheet has been developed by USDA Wildlife Services. For more information about cougars 

contact your state’s Wildlife Services office or USDA Wildlife Services at (301) 734-7921 

Wildlife Activity Book and

1998 Wildlife Issue of the

Colorado Reader

Colorado Foundation for 

Agriculture 

P.O. Box 10

Livermore, CO 80536

Prevention and Control of 

Wildlife Damage CD ROM

or Handbook

202 Natural Resource Hall

University of Nebraska

P.O. Box 83819

Lincoln, NE 68583

Jack H. Berryman Institute

for Wildlife Damage 

Management

Utah State University

Logan, Utah 83431-5210

ACROSS

 2. an animal that eats 

meat is called a ____

 5. an animal that is not 

seen very much is 

called _____

 7. another name for 

mountain lion that is 

commonly used in the 

east

 9. using the same beginning sound in two or 

more words

DOWN

 1. most common prey of 

cougars

 2. another name for 

mountain lion often 

used in the Pacific 

Northwest

 3. an animal active at 

night is called this

 4. another name for 

mountain lion used by 

Peruvian Indians

 6. having to do with myths

 8. the young of a 

mountain lion are called 

______

by You

Oct 8,1998

 1

 2 3 4

 5

 6

 7

 8

 9