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RE: [RC] Cougars--answer to Maryben - Dawn SimasHi Maryben,
Here is my take on your situation. I suspect that you have some grown offspring in your territory. Cougars are solitary, but live in a family group with their mother/siblings until they are 18-24 months old and share her territory as they spend that time learning to hunt and become self sufficient. They are alot like human children and will happily freeload into adulthood and sometimes need a push from mother saying they must go out on their own now. This can cause squabbling as she infuses this "tough love". Also, the screaming vocalization can be mating sounds (similar to the bloodcurdling domestic cat sounds when mating). Which is the *reason* the mother wants her adult cubs to leave, it's spring here and she wants to start a new family. They could also be fighting with the resident male that wants to mate with their mother.
This also explains the livestock losses. Typically, if there is abundant natural prey (deer), the reason for losses like 4 sheep is, as I said previously, young cats practicing. They have to support themselves now/soon and are not efficient killers, and deer are challenging. It is not typically true that once they take easy prey, they won't go to deer. It has been proven in a study that they do indeed go to naturaly prey as soon as they are able.
My advice: Protect your animals and these youngsters will either 1) move to a new territory because the mother and her mate will push them away or 2) they have already taken up residence in your area and will mature and won't be as much of a threat to domestic animals soon. Either way, the advice is always *protect your animals in cougar country*.
Cougars are crepuscular, active at sunrise and sunset. And they are ambush hunters and opportunists. Keep dense brush cleared in areas where pets/livestock are held during that time of day. Open fields don't have a striking range for a cat to hide. If that isn't practical, keep them locked in a predator proof area during dawn/dusk. Dog kennels should have roofs, as should the sheep where they are brought in at night. Your horses are a larger target, but it still couldn't hurt to maybe lock them in a barn at night with a motion detecting light. As others have said, guardian animals are also good if livestock must be left out.
You can go to Mountain Lion Foundation's website (www.mountainlion.org) for info I believe, such as predator proof pens and door hangers with info for your neighborhood...
Dawn
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