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cougar with dogs this is by no means always necessary。 Thus Col。 Cecil
Clay； of Washington； killed a cougar in West Virginia； on foot with
only three or four hounds。 The dogs took the cold trail； and he had to
run many miles over the rough； forest…clad mountains after them。
Finally they drove the cougar up a tree； where he found it； standing
among the branches； in a half…erect position； its hind…feet on one
limb and its fore…feet on another； while it glared down at the dogs；
and switched its tail from side to side。 He shot it through both
shoulders； and down it came in a heap； whereupon the dogs jumped in
and worried it； for its fore…legs were useless； though it managed to
catch one dog in its jaws and bite him severely。
A wholly exceptional instance of the kind was related to me by my old
hunting friend Willis。 In his youth； in southwest Missouri； he knew a
half…witted 〃poor white〃 who was very fond of hunting coons。 He hunted
at night； armed with an axe； and accompanied by his dog Penny； a
large； savage； half…starved cur。 One dark night the dog treed an
animal which he could not see； so he cut down the tree； and
immediately Penny jumped in and grabbed the beast。 The man sung out
〃Hold on； Penny；〃 seeing that the dog had seized some large； wild
animal； the next moment the brute knocked the dog endways； and at the
same instant the man split open its head with the axe。 Great was his
astonishment； and greater still the astonishment of the neighbors next
day when it was found that he had actually killed a cougar。 These
great cats often take to trees in a perfectly foolish manner。 My
friend； the hunter Woody； in all his thirty years' experience in the
wilds never killed but one cougar。 He was lying out in camp with two
dogs at the time； it was about midnight； the fire was out； and the
night was pitch…black。 He was roused by the furious barking of his two
dogs； who had charged into the gloom； and were apparently baying at
something in a tree close by。 He kindled the fire； and to his
astonishment found the thing in the tree to be a cougar。 Coming close
underneath he shot it with his revolver； thereupon it leaped down； ran
some forty yards； and climbed up another tree； where it died among the
branches。
If cowboys come across a cougar in open ground they invariably chase
and try to rope itas indeed they do with any wild animal。 I have
known several instances of cougars being roped in this way； in one the
animal was brought into camp alive by two strapping cowpunchers。
The cougar sometimes stalks its prey； and sometimes lies in wait for
it beside a game…trail or drinking poolvery rarely indeed does it
crouch on the limb of a tree。 When excited by the presence of game it
is sometimes very bold。 Willis once fired at some bighorn sheep； on a
steep mountain…side； he missed； and immediately after his shot； a
cougar made a dash into the midst of the flying band； in hopes to
secure a victim。 The cougar roams over long distances； and often
changes its hunting ground； perhaps remaining in one place two or
three months； until the game is exhausted； and then shifting to
another。 When it does not lie in wait it usually spends most of the
night； winter and summer； in prowling restlessly around the places
where it thinks it may come across prey； and it will patiently follow
an animal's trail。 There is no kind of game； save the full…grown
grisly and buffalo； which it does not at times assail and master。 It
readily snaps up grisly cubs or buffalo calves； and in at least one
instance； I have know of it springing on； slaying； and eating a full…
grown wolf。 I presume the latter was taken by surprise。 On the other
hand； the cougar itself has to fear the big timber wolves when
maddened by the winter hunger and gathered in small parties； while a
large grisly would of course be an overmatch for it twice over； though
its superior agility puts it beyond the grisly's power to harm it；
unless by some unlucky chance taken in a cave。 Nor could a cougar
overcome a bull moose； or a bull elk either； if the latter's horns
were grown； save by taking it unawares。 By choice； with such big game；
its victims are the cows and young。 The prong…horn rarely comes within
reach of its spring； but it is the dreaded enemy of bighorn； white
goat； and every kind of deer； while it also preys on all the smaller
beasts； such as foxes； coons； rabbits； beavers； and even gophers；
rats； and mice。 It sometimes makes a thorny meal of the porcupine； and
if sufficiently hungry attacks and eats its smaller cousin the lynx。
It is not a brave animal； nor does it run its prey down in open chase。
It always makes its attacks by stealth； and if possible from behind；
and relies on two or three tremendous springs to bring it on the
doomed creature's back。 It uses its claws as well as its teeth in
holding and killing the prey。 If possible it always seizes a large
animal by the throat； whereas the wolf's point of attack is more often
the haunch or flank。 Small deer or sheep it will often knock over and
kill； merely using its big paws； sometimes it breaks their necks。 It
has a small head compared to the jaguar； and its bite is much less
dangerous。 Hence； as compared to its larger and bolder relative； it
places more trust in its claws and less in its teeth。
Though the cougar prefers woodland； it is not necessarily a beast of
the dense forests only； for it is found in all the plains country；
living in the scanty timber belts which fringe the streams； or among
the patches of brush in the Bad Lands。 The persecution of hunters
however always tends to drive it into the most thickly wooded and
broken fastnesses of the mountains。 The she has from one to three
kittens； brought forth in a cave or a secluded lair； under a dead log
or in very thick brush。 It is said that the old he's kill the small
male kittens when they get a chance。 They certainly at times during
the breeding season fight desperately among themselves。 Cougars are
very solitary beasts； it is rare to see more than one at a time； and
then only a mother and young； or a mated male and female。 While she
has kittens； the mother is doubly destructive to game。 The young begin
to kill for themselves very early。 The first fall； after they are
born； they attack large game； and from ignorance are bolder in making
their attacks than their parents； but they are clumsy and often let
the prey escape。 Like all cats； cougars are comparatively easy to
trap； much more so than beasts of the dog kind； such as the fox and
wolf。
They are silent animals； but old hunters say that at mating time the
males call loudly； while the females have a very distinct answer。 They
are also sometimes noisy at other seasons。 I am not sure that I have
ever heard one； but one night； while camped in a heavily timbered
coulie near Kildeer Mountains； where； as their footprints showed； the
beasts were plentiful； I twice heard a loud； wailing scream ringing
through the impenetrable gloom which shrouded the hills around us。 My
companion； an old plainsman； said that this was the cry of the cougar
prowling for its prey。 Certainly no man could well listen to a stranger
and wilder sound。