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Northwest Wildlife Online
Order Carnivora
Family Felidae: Mountain Lions, Bobcats, and Lynx
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Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)
Cougar, Puma, Panther; our biggest North American cat has a host of names. But there is no doubt about their size and beauty. At weights of approaching 200 pounds and a nose to tail length of 6 to 9 feet this is a magnificent and formidable feline.
The Bobcat, Lynx rufus, poses on the left. Named for their short, bobbed tail, the Bobcat is the most widespread wild cat in the US. Famous for their wails, screeches, and legendary ferocity, these 25 to 30 pound cats have been reported to attack and kill deer. They have also adapted well to the encroachments of humans. A two year old Canadian Lynx, Lynx canadensis, out for a walk at the Point Defiance Zoo is seen on the right. Notice the amazingly large paws of the cat, and the pronounced ear tufts of the lynx. The lynx is also a larger cat than the bobcat.
Three species of Family Felidae represent wildlife in the Northwest:
Puma concolor - the Mountain Lion
Lynx canadensis - the Lynx
Lynx rufus - the Bobcat
No other species of wildlife in the world is more magnificently representative of the term "exotic animal" than the big cats. Even in the secure setting of a zoological park the serene majesty of these great animals barely disguises their superb killing power. Ask any zookeeper how many times a visitor has asked, "What would happen if you went in there?" while pointing to the tiger or lion cage. (Actually, I can tell you what happens when you go in there, but that's another story.)
The exotic beauty of the big cat's pelage is mesmerizing. I was once holding a leopard by a leash while assisting a well known circus family train the animal for an act. Instead of taking advantage of a free lesson from one of the foremost cat trainers in the world, I could not stop staring at the incredible gloss of leopard fur so close to my hand.
Although we all know what a cat is, and especially what a big cat is, there is actually such wide variety in this group of animal that experts disagree on how to classify many of them. Outside of the domestic cat there at least 6 genera and 36 species of felidae populate the world in every country except Antarctica, Australia, and Madagascar. At 700 pounds the great Siberian Tiger is the largest. The smallest is our domestic cat, descended from a wild cat perhaps as long as 2400 BC.
The king cat and wildlife symbol of the Northwest is the Mountain Lion. Called the "Ghost of North America" by naturalist Bruce White these cats are also known as cougar, puma, panther, Florida panther and a host of other names depending on where in the country you may be standing. Wildlife management discussions concerning the Mountain Lion are probably even more obstreperous than those of the wolf. After all, this is a big, dangerous cat, and it still ranges from Canada to Mexico. Recent attacks on jogger and bicyclist attest to its nearness to man.
For the most part, however, Puma concolor is a solitary secretive cat that the vast majority of us will never see let alone encounter in the wild. They prefer remote areas away from man, but several have been legally shot on Fort Lewis, WA recently.
Approaching 200 pounds this is easily our biggest cat. Mountain lions feed on all of our large deer, to include the moose, and they'll even tackle a porcupine if necessary. Litters of 2-3 are the norm and the cubs generally stay with their mother for up to two years.
Silver gray, large paws, and distinctive ear tufts are the trademarks of the Canada Lynx. A remarkably beautiful animal, the 40 pound lynx is common in the northern states of the US (the only wild cat in Alaska) and most of Canada. It's preference for remote areas, however, make this animal a challenge to observe. It prefers the northern coniferous forests where it can readily find its favorite prey, the Snowshoe hare. Although the lynx will take other prey it has a marked preference for Snowshoe hares.
Our most widespread wild cat of the Northwest, and the rest of the country for that matter, is the Bobcat. Feisty, tough, and adaptable the Bobcat is distinguished from the lynx by its brownish fur and lack of ear tufts. The winter coat may vary from brown to gray, however. With a maximum weight of about thirty pounds it is our smallest wild cat and is named for its "bobbed" tail.
Bobcats are legendary for their wails, screeches, and imaginative variety of feline vocals. The word caterwauling seems to have been invented just for these cats. Males are particularly expressive during the mating season in February to March. More variable in diet and habitat than the lynx, bobcats are also more tolerant of humans. Characteristics that make the possibility of a bobcat sighting far more likely than the lynx or the Mountain lion.
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