The Cougar

Description: Hinterland Who's Who - The Cougar Because of their immense range, there is a wide variation in coat colour, from a buff or sandy brown to reddish brown, through to a light silver and slate grey. Cougar range through a wide variety of habitats, from coniferous, deciduous and tropical forest, through swamps, grasslands, and semi deserts, from sea level to altitudes of 4,500 metres Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, activity peaks at dusk and dawn. They hunt over a wide area, carefully stalking their prey and leaping on its back, or seizing it after a short, swift dash. As one of the top predators in the food chain, the cougar has been persecuted unmercifully by man. In an effort to help restore the depleted genetic make-up of the Florida panthers, officials have released a few Texas cougars into south Florida. It is hoped these new animals will breed with the established cats to strengthen the gene pool and prevent inbreeding.