Grizzly and black bears are omnivorous rather than carnivorous, since they regularly incorporate a wide variety of vegetation into their diets along with meat. Cougars eat mainly deer or elk, though they also commonly eat porcupines, raccoons, and other small mammals. They hunt by ambush and pouncing, much the same as a domestic house cat. Cougars get to be about 7 feet long with the tail accounting for about 3 feet of that length. Large adult males may reach 200 pounds while females are only about 120 pounds.
Cougars are territorial.
The Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife estimates that there are about 2500 cougars in the entire state. In recent years the number of cougar sightings in suburban areas has increased dramatically. This may be due to increased human encroachment on cougars' traditional territories, and the animals may be adapting and becoming more accustomed to human activity. Since cougars will go where there is prey, do not leave pet food outside that might attract raccoons, possums, or coyotes, and do not feed these types of small mammals that might attract cougars. Pets should not be left out at night.