Animals around the Basin: Cougars continued

How big is a cougar? Here is how Washington Fish and Wildlife describes the animal:

“Cougars are the largest members of the cat family in Washington. Adult males average approximately 140 pounds but in rare cases may weigh 180 pounds and measure 7-8 feet long from nose to tip of tail. Adult males stand about 30 inches tall at the shoulder.

“Adult female cougars rarely exceed 110 pounds. Cougars vary in color from reddish-brown to tawny to gray, with a black tip on their long tail.”

My research shows there are larger cougars in other parts of North America. The largest referenced and confirmed was a 232-pound male. A couple of larger animals were reported of 260 and 276 pounds each, but this was not confirmed and is believed to be embellished.

The male cougars average 140 pounds in Washington, but may weigh 180 pounds on occasion. In contrast, several male cougars in British Columbia weighed between 190 and 211 pounds.

Needless to say, a mountain lion is a large animal, as big as or larger than a human.

The various names for a cougar always impress me. Yesterday we listed several of them. However, it was discovered the cougar holds the Guinness record for the animal with the highest number of names having over 40 in English alone.

Yesterday we described a few human-cougar interactions in the Columbia Basin within the past few years. Here is another one.

A photo of eight cougars appeared on a Facebook page. All were visible and it was easy to count all eight. The place was in Moses Coulee, which is west of Ephrata.

The American lion is not known to live in prides, such as the African lion. The puma is more of a solitary animal.

Next, readers began sending questions my way. Was it authentic or just a composite of several photos? The Fish and Wildlife biologist for the area was contacted. It is a true photo, he indicated.

“Sometimes a mother cougar will let her daughter live in or share the same territory,” he said. “This may be what is happening here.”

At this point we have two female adult cougars and six kittens. Then he told me to look closely at the six smaller cats. They were thin and malnourished. It is possible only one would live through the year.

Yes, cougars live in the Basin. Will one appear in my backyard next week?

Most likely not, but maybe, be aware of this fact, but careful while hiking and traveling by foot around the Basin.

Tomorrow: Be cougar aware.