Beyond Your Backyard 🐾 "Myths Versus Realities on the Apex Predator of the Prairies - the Mountain Lion."

By Kimberly J. Epp

Whether you believe it or not, Mountain Lions, aka cougars, aka pumas have been hunting in the valley for longer than Moose Jaw has been a city...and hopefully they are here to stay.

Cougars are top of the line (apex) predators that prey upon deer and beaver, etc. - and have no predators above them, except for humans. They are the most elusive wild cats of the America's. Mountain lions are North American predators, and they occupy habitat from the southern tip of South America to the tip of British Columbia.

Mountain Lion at the Saskatoon Zoo with my German exchange student, Talita Schmitz. One looks curious, while the other shows a mild amount of trepidation (photo by Kimberly Epp).

The job of the Mountain Lion/cougar is to keep a healthy amount of prey animals in the habitat, aka the valley, while preying on the sick, old, weak and young. Every predator and prey animal has a balance - a balance humans seem to always interfere with. Every time we interfere with this balance, we only make things worse.

A pug mark in the snow or a heavily clawed tree trunk are good reminders that a cougar is in the area. This elusive cat is a master of shadows, but apparently cannot master the doorbell cameras of the 2020's. Believe me, they have been prowling the area long before these cameras have been installed

If you spend enough time out in the valley, in the wilderness, you may one day see a streak or a flash of brown on your peripheral vision. Then you can call yourself extremely lucky, as these large cats really want nothing to do with you. Even if you startle one, the likelihood is that it will be gone long before you can count how many extra pairs of reserve underpants you may have in your backpack.

The Mountain Lion, puma and even panther are other names for the cougar. In the Ojibwa language, the cougar is called "micipici". In Cree, it's name is "misipisew". The cougar is the largest wild cat found in Saskatchewan. It has a small head, large eyes, and small , rounded ears. Its rope-like tail can be as long as 92 centimetres.

Cougars are usually quiet, elusive and solitary. They are rarely seen, as they avoid humans. As they are at the top of the food chain, the health of a cougar population can be an indication of an ecosystem's health. They require an adequate prey population to sustain them. Although historically the cougar has a wider distribution, today it is generally regarded as a rare native inhabitant of Saskatchewan.

Healthy cougar - photo by Sarah Shinners.

But we are lucky to have them around.

Take the Eastern Cougar down south. Once a thriving Apex predator in its own, it was declared officially extinct within recent years. Why? Trophy hunting. They were widespread in every state east of the Mississippi River, but are now no more. Our cougars deserve a better fate.

With more people staying home or wandering outside due to having more time on their hands - or simply because we have cameras everywhere - we are (and will) have more sightings. Sightings of actual cougars, not simply orange housecats named "Bobcat", do not mean their populations have increased.

Mountain Lion female with twin cubs - photo by Jeff Parker.

Cougars have been observing you far longer than you have even thought of them...however the last thing they want to do is come into contact with you. In over 100 years, there have been only 25 attacks, generally because a young cougar was starving, because someone came across its path, or because a female with cubs was threatened.

Take precautions...never go out for a walk by the river alone at dusk or at night alone. Always go with someone else, or stay at home. If you must go alone, carry a bottle of bear spray. Don't get upset if a cougar is sighted. This is their home, too. They do not want anything to do with you, just as you don't want anything to do with them. Just be safe, and let's please prevent the shooting of another young cougar only trying to find its territory.

Here are a couple of true stories from other members of the community. I am not releasing any names. But these are already year's old stories.

"Eight to nine years ago, I worked outside by the valley. I walked outside to have a smoke break...I noticed something walking across in the field. At first, I thought it was a deer - which we often see. Then I kept looking, and thought hnmm, what a funny walk for a deer. Then I noticed the tail, realized it was a cougar. I was in a bit of a panic, of course. I slowly walked to one of the doors to get inside. The cougar didn't even care I was outside. It just kept walking on its way slowly. Two weeks later while having a smoke on one of the patios, I saw the cougar again in the grass resting. I called my co-workers. We all saw it. Again, it didn't care we were there. Out there, it had a lot of wild prey to feed on. Deer, fox, gophers, etc. Another co-worker walking through the valley came face to face with one. He stood tall and didn't move. They looked at each other for a short while. Then the cougar turned around and walked the other direction."

The claw from a Mountain Lion from the former Wild Animal Park (Source and photo - Gary Horsnall).

And...

"I used to work at MJUH, and was the morning cook. I parked in the back parking lot one morning around 6 am and went inside. Within 5 minutes, people were asking if I had seen the cougar sleeping beside the tracks, right near where I had just parked. I'm also a long distance runner, and often run alone in the valley. I still enjoy hiking the trails around the valley, especially the farther ones. When people ask me, aren't you scared of having a run-in with a cougar, I just say I will keep my camera handy and for sure I won't see one!"

So, my friends. Stay vigilant, but at the same time do not be the reason another young cougar must meets its untimely death. We have enough to deal with as it is. Let the wild be wild, and just look after your loved ones. In such turbulent times as this, please do not let the cougar become a scapegoat.

___________________________________________

Kimberly Epp is the Past President of the Moose Jaw Nature Society - and is an Environmental Educator and Writer. She is also a former Alberta Park Ranger.