Contact

Pumas

The ghost cat of the wilderness holds a special allure over me. Seldom detected, even more rarely seen, it is one of those wild creatures whose habits must often be deduced rather than directly observed.

The creature behind all the mystery is the world's third largest cat species (as measured by length) and the only large felid that still survives in North America. Its elusiveness has helped it survive in regions that have lost more fearless carnivores such as wolves, but mismanagement of its prey species and the erosion of large wilderness areas are posing threats.

The name game

Spanning two continents and an unimaginable diversity of cultures, this cat has acquired a bewildering number of local names, including cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount and painter. I like "puma" because it is the least confusing title for this enigmatic feline.

Wild cat country

Much like leopards, cougars are highly adaptable, and will be found in almost any habitat where there is sufficient prey and cover. Their natural range includes the Amazon jungle, the mountains of Alberta and Chile, the deserts of Arizona, the swamps of Florida and the forests of Ontario.

In western Canada, their diet includes mule deer and bighorn sheep. In the South American mountains, they prey upon guanaco (wild relations of llamas).

Tracking the ghost

Years ago, I was hiking in the dense temperate rainforests of British Columbia when I came across a mob of crows calling in raucous fashion over some impenetrable bush. Although I was only twenty yards away from the focus of their fury, I could see absolutely nothing in the greenery, and duly retreated to civilisation. Later that evening, I returned to the site to find puma tracks in the mud. I've rarely been so close to a wild cat on foot, yet I never saw it - but I'm absolutely certain that it saw me.

Many people struggle to tell puma tracks apart from those of a large dog.

	Puma	Dog
	Track is noticeably wide	Track is noticeably narrow and long
	Heel pad has two lobes at top and three at bottom	Heel pad is triangle-shaped - one lobe at top and two at bottom
	One of the centre toes ahead of the other	Both central toes aligned

Are pumas dangerous?

All large wild mammals (including elk and bison) are physically capable of harming people and should be treated with respect. Pumas are no exception, but despite their portrayal in the press, they are far less aggressive than most other large cats. There have been twenty or so fatalities caused by this species in recorded history, all of which are tragic, but the fact remains that it is clearly not the usual course for a human-puma encounter to end in an attack. (By way of contrast, one leopard alone killed 400 people, and tigers still account for dozens every year.)

When attacks do occur, the culprit is usually (though not always) unhealthy or underweight. Cougars who wander into the outskirts of town are probably young who have recently separated from their mother, and are searching for a territory of their own. Attacks seem to be more likely on unaccompanied children and on adults who are bending down.

However, the continued erosion of wilderness areas by subdivisions and recreational developments will increase the likelihood of human-puma interactions in the future. When hiking in puma habitat, I try to remain aware of my surroundings at all times, and I never leave pets unattended outdoors or allow them to explore the forest out of sight.

All photos, text and other content © Adele B. (www.thesittingfox.co.uk) 2006 - 2010. Inspired by stuff found at www.webcodingtech.com.