He can reach a length of more than 5 feet, tips the scales up to 135 pounds,
sports a tail of 2-3 feet, hunts primarily at night, blends a lethal combination
of stealth and power, pounces on prey three times its size with a fatal bite to
the back of the neck, and, although seldom seen, roams freely among us in
our Mountain forests.

The cougar – also known as mountain lion or puma – is an Oregon success
story. Thanks in large part to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s
management plan, it is estimated there are 5,700 of these predators thriving
in the state, according to ODFW biologist Susan Barnes.

“They hang out in the forest, avoiding open spaces, and are solitary hunters,”
Barnes said. “They prey on small to mid-sized mammals, including deer, elk,
rabbits, raccoons, squirrels. They also are able to eat porcupines, having the
ability to flip them over to avoid the quills.”

Though encounters with humans are rare – there are no documented killings
of humans in Oregon – Barnes warns that we should be aware of these big
cats when roaming in their hunting grounds.

“If you encounter a cougar make yourself look big, spread your arms, yell,
stand your ground,” she said. “And above all, don’t run. That triggers their
chase instinct. And if you’re attacked, fight back, and protect the back of your
head and neck, because they’ll scalp you.”

Barnes added that any encounters or sightings of cougars should be reported
to ODFW. Their tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks in that they do
not generally include claw marks – their claws are retractable – and the heel
pad has three distinct lobes at the base of the heel pad.

There are simple precautions to take in our Mountain community:
– Learn your neighborhood. Be aware of wildlife corridors where deer or elk
concentrate.
– Walk pets during the day and keep them on a leash.
– Feed pets indoors
– Don’t leave food and garbage outside.
– Remove heavy brush from the house and play areas.
– Install motion-activated lights outdoors along walkways and driveways.
– Keep areas around bird feeders clean.
– Fence and shelter livestock; move them to sheds or barns at night.
– Hike in groups; make noise to announce your presence.
– Never feed wildlife; you may attract a cougar.
– Be especially alert at dawn and dusk.
– Be aware that animal calls can attract a cougar.

As cougar and human populations have grown, so have the number of
conflicts and damage complaints. Oregonians have twice said through
initiative petition that hounds may not be used to hunt cougars, and the

ODFW management plan abides by that determination. However, existing law
does allow federal and state employees to use the full range of management
tools, including hounds and snares, but not including poison, to deal with
cougars that create conflicts between humans, pets or livestock.

Problem cougars that pose this risk are humanely euthanized.
As is the case with all similar management plans, the costs of cougar
management are funded by sales of hunting licenses and tags.

Bobcats
The Bobcat is the smallest wild feline in Oregon. It is about twice the size of a
housecat, but its legs are longer, its tail shorter, and its body is more
muscular and compact. The feet are relatively small and the Bobcat is not well
adapted to negotiate deep snow.

“There’s a lot of good habitat for Bobcats (in the Mountain community),”
Barnes said. “They are everywhere: forests, along rivers, hedgerows, pasture
land. They are very elusive and opportunistic hunters, mostly feeding on
shrews, mice and rabbits.”

Bobcats are active for periods of four to eight hours and their activity is more
related to temperatures than intervals of daylight and darkness.

During their inactive periods, they hang out at den sites consisting of natural
cavities, hollow logs, or protected areas under logs.

Domestic Cats
Dumped domestic cats and feral cats are a conservation concern.
“They are an introduced predator in the environment,” Barnes said. “And they
upset the environment. They are hunters by nature and kill birds, rodents,
snakes, even minks.”

It is important to keep our domestic cats indoors. Dumping cats is not only
inhumane but are threats to the natural balance of things.

Feral cat populations should be reported to the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
at info@feralcats.com or call 503-797-2606. This group has helped 65,483
cats, including 7,002 just last year.