Cougar Predation

[Dark Jaguar]

From: MANUAL OF IDENTIFICATION, PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF PREDATION BY CARNIVORES

''As the bite force of the Puma is not as strong as that of the jaguar, the domestic animals preyed upon by this species are usually smaller. Pumas tend to kill their prey with a bite to the dorsal area of the neck or by suffocation through a bite to the throat. The carcasses usually show large hemorrhages in the neck and nape area as well as claw marks on the shoulders and back of the prey. Feeding usually starts just after the ribs, even including rib breakage. The stomach and intestines are skillfully removed, rarely eaten (Figure 10), thus allowing the liver, lungs and heart to be reached. ''


Figure 10: Calf attacked by a puma: feeding started after the ribs with intestines and stomachs removed but not consumed.

photo: CENAP'S Archive

*This image is copyright of its original author

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''The next area to be consumed is the muscles of the hind legs, almost always from the ventral portion. Another diagnostic characteristic is that the carcasses of their prey when large enough to provide more than one feeding are hidden and covered, usually with dry leaves for protection against other predators (Figure 11). Generally, carcasses of calves less than two months old are consumed entirely at the first feeding.''


Figure 11 - Calf preyed by a puma: after feeding, pumas usually cover the carcasses with leaves for subsequent feeding.

photo: CENAP'S Archive

*This image is copyright of its original author

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