Researched by: Randi and Gentry
Cougar
felis concolor
Description
The cougar is 5 feet or more long. It's fur is fawn gray,
tipped with reddish brown or a grayish color. The cougar has no
spots. The inside legs and belly are white, and the tip of the
tail is black.
Habitat
Cougars live in a mountainous area, semi-arid terrain,
subtropical and tropical forests and swamps.
Diet and Feeding Habits
The cougars chief prey is deer and elk. Occasionally it will
kill a bighorn sheep. If in need, it will feed on small mammals
even skunks and porcupines.
Breeding Habits and Offspring
The cougar has one to five cubs at a time. They weigh one
pound at birth, covered with fur, and blind. Their mating call is
a harsh scream.
Extinct, Reintroduced, and Population
The cougar is extinct from Missouri. They have not been
reintroduced, but there are some around because people buy them
and then let them go. The population is probably less than ten.
Significant Findings
The female is smaller than the male. The cougar requires
undisturbed, isolated, game-rich wilderness. The cougar is weaned
at three months.
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Last Updated 23 februari 1998 by Marionville Public Schools