Cougars are deemed "extirpated;" locally extinct in the Eastern United States. I'm trying to document their existence in Virginia and West Virginia through the many sightings people have each year.
Friday, January 9, 2009
What is a Mountain Lion?
It occurred to me that I should explain some of the basics of what a cougar is and about the possibility of their existence in the east.
So, what is a cougar?
- Well, a cougar defined by the Eastern Cougar Foundation is; large, tawny, long-tailed cat native to the new world. They have been called a range of names from Cougar, Mountain lion, Puma, Panther, Painter, to Catamount. (Although I use Cougar when talking about them).
What color are they?
-Cougars are mainly a light brown color; or called tawny. They can have a range of dark brown to grey during the winter months as they grow a longer coat.
What kind of habitat do they live in?
- I am amazed at the range of habitat they can and do live in. They can live in desert environments, rainforests, steppes, coastal swamps, mountains, and forests.
What is an Eastern Cougar?
-By my definition, it is any mountain lion (felis concolor), that inhabits the wild of the Eastern United States, whether it is part of the eastern subspecies, or has migrated eastwards.
* ask any questions and I will try to answer them!
Easterncougar.org is the reference sight for Eastern Cougar Foundation
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