Quck answer
Cougars scream to communicate with other cougars, attract mates, establish territory, and warn potential threats. The sound they produce is a loud, high-pitched scream that can be heard from far away. Cougars are solitary animals, but they do vocalize to maintain their social hierarchy and avoid conflicts. Females use screams to call their cubs, while males use them to attract females during mating season. In some cases, cougars may scream when they feel threatened or cornered, as a warning to their attacker. Overall, screaming is an important part of cougars’ communication and behavior.
Wild Animals
Understanding the Sounds of Cougars
When a female mountain lion screams, it indicates nearby males that it’s time to mate and reproduce.
Kevin Schafer/Getty Images
Cougars are the largest cats native to North America. Unlike lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards, which are found in zoos, you won’t come across any of these big cat species roaming in the wild. Interestingly, cougars are actually small cats and members of the same group as domestic cats. They are similar in size to leopards, with adult males weighing around 140 pounds (63.5 kilograms) and measuring 8 feet (2.4 meters) from tail to nose [source: Federal Wildlife Service].
Although these dimensions may seem too large to be classified as small cats like your pet kitty, biologists did not make an error in classifying cougars. Cougars received this classification due to their internal anatomy rather than external. Underneath a small cat’s tongue is a bone called the solid hyoid. The solid hyoid is attached to the windpipe and larynx, and helps produce the animal’s vocalizations. Unlike small cats, large cats have flexible cartilage in that oral space, which can vibrate, allowing lions and other big cats to roar [source: Busch]. Small cats can meow, hiss and growl all day, but the solid hyoid prevents them from roaring like the MGM lion.
As small cats with solid hyoids, cougars cannot produce a deep roar, but females can out-scream a 2-year-old child who just discovered a heart-pounding fear of clowns at the circus. The cougar scream is a rare, high-pitched noise that rips through the wilderness air and causes hikers to freeze in place. Are those screams warning signs for us to get out of their territory? Like the wolf’s howl, these cougar noises serve as forms of long-distance communication. Only females are known to make the screeching call, coinciding with their bodies’ preparation for mating [source: Spalding] In human jargon, we’d call that scream a booty call.
For all those ladies out there who hate waiting by the phone for their hunk to call, look to the female cougars for inspiration. The dynamics of cougar mating are more progressive than you might expect from a deer-devouring feline. Female cougars reach sexual maturity at around 2 or 3 years old, giving birth to a litter every other year or so. Since male cougars roam their territories alone, females scream when they are in heat to let the males know where they are and that it’s time to make some cougar babies.
Although female cougars may have to compete for a mate if their individual territories intersect, they still hold the power for when copulation occurs [source: Busch]. Until she’s ready, the males must wait. But once the deed is done, the male cougars return to their solitary habits. The female will establish a den and stay with her offspring for around 15 months before the cubs set off on their own [source: Dewey and Shivaraju].
If you happen to hear the chilling scream of a cougar in the distance, just consider it mountain lion mood music — and head in the opposite direction to avoid being attacked by a randy panther.
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Additional Links
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- AnimalPlanet.com
- San Diego Zoo – Mountain Lion
- National Wildlife Foundation – Cougar
- National Parks Service – Mountain Lion
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Sources
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- The Cougar Almanac by Robert H. Busch. Globe Pequot, 2004. Accessed August 19, 2008. http://books.google.com/books?id=zvaBUahN4RQC
- “California Cougars.” Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. Updated April 26, 2007. Accessed August 19, 2008. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wildlife/cougar.html
- Puma concolor. Tanya Dewey and Anupama Shivaraju. Animal Diversity Web, 2003. Accessed August 19, 2008. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Puma_concolor.html
- “Eastern Cougar.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, October 2005. Accessed August 19, 2008. http://www.fws.gov/Northeast/pdf/ecougar.pdf
- Cougar Attack! by Terry Glavin. Canadian Geographic, May/June 2004.
- Cougars on the Move by Steve Kemper. Smithsonian Magazine, September 2006. Accessed August 19, 2008. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cougars.html
- Mountain Lion (Puma, Cougar). San Diego Zoo. Accessed August 19, 2008. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-puma.html
- Cougar in British Columbia by D.J. Spalding. British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch, Information and Education Section. Accessed August 19, 2008. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/cougar.htm
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FAQ
1. What are cougars?
Cougars, also known as mountain lions, are large wild cats that can be found in North and South America.
2. Do all cougars scream?
No, not all cougars scream. However, screaming is a common vocalization that is used by cougars for a variety of reasons.
3. Why do cougars scream?
Cougars scream for several reasons, including to communicate with other cougars, to establish territory, and to attract a mate.
4. What does a cougar scream sound like?
A cougar scream can be described as a loud, high-pitched noise that sounds like a woman screaming.
5. Are cougar screams dangerous?
No, cougar screams are not dangerous. However, they can be alarming to humans who are not familiar with the sound.
6. How far can a cougar scream be heard?
A cougar scream can be heard up to 5 miles away, depending on the terrain and weather conditions.
7. When do cougars typically scream?
Cougars can scream at any time, but they are most likely to do so during mating season, which typically occurs between December and March.
8. Do male and female cougars scream differently?
Male and female cougars have different vocalizations, but both sexes can scream. Female cougars tend to have a higher-pitched scream than males.
9. Can cougars scream while hunting?
Cougars are generally silent while hunting, but they may scream after making a kill to establish dominance over the prey and warn off other predators.
10. Are cougars endangered?
Yes, cougars are considered a threatened species in some areas due to habitat loss and hunting.
11. What should you do if you hear a cougar scream?
If you hear a cougar scream, it is best to stay calm and avoid approaching the area. Cougars are generally shy and will avoid contact with humans, but it is important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions if you are in cougar territory.
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