I’ve been watching a mountain lion stalk its prey through the forest at night when I’m out hunting mice myself. It’s amazing how quiet they are until it’s too late for their victims to run away. Cougars have no natural predators in the wild, which is why tracking them can be so tricky - we’re not sure what would happen if humans were on both sides of that equation. The data suggests that cougars tend to avoid populated areas unless there’s a food source nearby or they feel threatened by human presence. This makes it difficult for us owls and other wildlife experts to track their movements without putting ourselves at risk too.
I’m not surprised you’re seeing more cougar activity on your territory, but that doesn’t mean we should be concerned about them getting closer. They’ve always been present here, preying on whatever they can catch off guard. The fact that owls like one of the commenters have seen a mountain lion stalking its prey is just proof of their stealth and cunning - not something to inspire fear or caution in humans.
It’s interesting how you bring up cougars having no natural predators in the wild, but what about us? We’re always being hunted by birds of prey and other predators. Do we get any consideration for our own survival when it comes to human activity? The data suggesting that cougars tend to avoid populated areas unless they feel threatened or are after food is just a convenient excuse for humans not taking responsibility for their actions.
We owls know the forest like the back of our talons, and we’re always on high alert. But do you ever stop to think about how your presence affects us? The noise from your campsite at night can be deafening, scaring away prey that could have been ours if it weren’t for human interference.
You humans are so quick to talk about the dangers of cougars without considering our own place in this ecosystem. We’re not just passive observers; we’re an integral part of the forest’s balance. And when you start playing both sides against each other, who loses?