About three weeks back, I was traveling down a remote logging road that is cut into a steep heavily timbered mountain slope. As I came to a 90 degree turn in the road, I saw a spotted cougar cub run from the road up a well worn game trail. My son and I have been back to this spot many times since.
Almost every time we return to this spot, we can hear at least two cougar cubs just up hill from us. The road is littered with grouse feathers, and the trail uphill also has feathers all over it. One evening the fresh, still warm remains of a snowshoe hare were in the road. (partial skull, intestines and fur) We have seen the large female's tracks in the road many times. It appers to me that she is bringing small game that is still alive back to her cubs. Sometimes she carries the game up to her cubs, and other times she calls the cubs down to the road.
We hear the cubs nearly everytime we go there. When we go there now, I shut off the 4-wheeler and let it get quiet. Then I lipsqueak. The cubs immediately become vocal.
I have the young cougar whistle calls on my WT caller, and there is no doubt that the sound we are hearing are the young cubs.
These cubs are larger than the ones recorded on our caller. The voices are coarser and a little deeper. Yesterday evening, we walked up the game trail a short distance to try to see the den. I do not want to get too close because I am afraid the female will move the cubs. I would love to get these cubs on video.
Do any of you biologists know how long a cougar uses one den? These cubs are larger than a feral cat. I am wondering when the cubs loose their spots as it is illegal to kill a female with spotted cubs?
This has been an exciting experience. If anyone has info about cougar young and cougar dens, I would love to hear it.
Thanks, BobR
Almost every time we return to this spot, we can hear at least two cougar cubs just up hill from us. The road is littered with grouse feathers, and the trail uphill also has feathers all over it. One evening the fresh, still warm remains of a snowshoe hare were in the road. (partial skull, intestines and fur) We have seen the large female's tracks in the road many times. It appers to me that she is bringing small game that is still alive back to her cubs. Sometimes she carries the game up to her cubs, and other times she calls the cubs down to the road.
We hear the cubs nearly everytime we go there. When we go there now, I shut off the 4-wheeler and let it get quiet. Then I lipsqueak. The cubs immediately become vocal.
I have the young cougar whistle calls on my WT caller, and there is no doubt that the sound we are hearing are the young cubs.
These cubs are larger than the ones recorded on our caller. The voices are coarser and a little deeper. Yesterday evening, we walked up the game trail a short distance to try to see the den. I do not want to get too close because I am afraid the female will move the cubs. I would love to get these cubs on video.
Do any of you biologists know how long a cougar uses one den? These cubs are larger than a feral cat. I am wondering when the cubs loose their spots as it is illegal to kill a female with spotted cubs?
This has been an exciting experience. If anyone has info about cougar young and cougar dens, I would love to hear it.
Thanks, BobR