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"Scarlet" 1989 - 2007 Status: Good. Diet in wild: Deer and small animals. Life span in wild: 8 to 15 years. Weight: 80 to 230 pounds. Native habitat: North American forests and mountains.
Think you want a cougar?? Read this from the USDA.
Black Pine Animal Park 1426 W. 300 N. P.O. Box 02 Albion, IN 46701 (260) 636-7383
©2008
Professional Animal Retirement Center, Inc.
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North American Western Cougar
Although at one time cougars lived
throughout the U.S., today they are found in only the western states and
generally in the mountains. One of nature's most powerful hunters, a
cougar can bring down prey that weighs nearly 10 times its own body
weight. Using strong front legs and jaws, cougars pounce to kill. In the
early 1900's, there were virtually no Cougars are the largest of the cat family that have the vocal cord structure needed to purr, as well as the largest cat that has no stripes or spots. Incredibly, cougars can jump 30 to 40 feet horizontally and can safely jump to the ground from as high as 65 feet up. Still desired by many people who wish to keep them as captive pets, these beautiful animals always pose a real threat. Cody came to Black Pine in 2006 after being confiscated by wildlife officials. He was owned legally for a period of time, but due to a change in laws had to be removed from a home. He had lived in the basement of a home for over eight years. To learn more about keeping animals like these as pets, click here. |
The Animals
Once the most widely dispersed
mammals in the Americas, this species of cat is known by dozens of names including
mountain lion, cougar, catamount, puma, and firecat. The history and
fables surrounding cougars are still told by ancestors of many of the
native American Indians throughout this continent.
reports of humans killed by
cougars. Then, as populations rose and people moved up into the
mountains, many deaths were reported and the cat's population was
controlled by hunting. Just a few years ago, populations were down and the
cat was protected from killing. Today, controlled hunting once again
has been necessary to protect people from becoming prey. The most recent
reports indicate the cougar population in the U.S. is higher now than
since the 1800's.