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Cougar |
Scientific:
Puma concolor L. Description:
Body length 2m (6.6 ft) plus 1m (3.3 ft) tail, 75kg. (165lb.) Beige or light-brown to
reddish brown. Identifying
characteristics: the long tail, buff-white underbelly, white chin,
throat and chest; and the backs of the ears and tip of the tail are
black. Life
History: The eastern cougar, known by many names, is a reclusive
animal rarely seen or documented. Similar
Species: Partly due to it’s varying appearance, and no doubt also
to its sensational status in Ontario, many animals are commonly confused
as eastern cougars, including white-tailed deer, domestic and feral
cats, bobcat, Canada lynx, fisher, dog, fox, coyote, and wolf. Vocally,
the cougar may be confused with owls, bobcat, fox, porcupine, and
others. Cougars raised in captivity may be released into the wild. Ecological
Role: A top predator in the food chain.
There is a great deal of debate over whether cougars in Ontario
are remnants of a historical population, migrants from western
populations, or escapees from domestic sources. What
you can do: Any
suspected cougar sighting or discovery of tracks and signs should be
photographed, left as undisturbed as possible, and reported to the
Ontario Puma Foundation http://www.ontariopuma.ca/.
Only if there is real physical
evidence (photo of animal, hair tuffs or scat), report to the local OMNR.
Compiled by: Jeremy St.Onge, Canadore College. |
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