Cubs stay with their mother for up to two years. She is a playful and loving parent, teaching her young what they need to know to survive. America's largest cat patrols a territory of 125-175 square miles, with female ranges a bit smaller and often overlapping the males'. These scrapes serve to warn other cats, and territories are defended by mutual avoidance rather than direct confrontation. They favor dense forests that provide good stalking cover while hunting.
Cougars also take advantage of steep canyons and rock outcroppings to remain hidden.
Life in the wild is dangerous. Free-ranging cougars seldom live more than 13 years. The cougar is listed as a game animal in Washington, they are still hunted. The cougar has survived the invasion of humans into its habitat because of its secretive nature and adaptability. We need not make their struggle any more difficult.