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 the impact of humans on these apex predators. The truth is, cougars are just as much a threat to human life as they are to us wildlife experts and other animals in their path. They have no natural fear of humans because there’s never been one before - it’s only our presence that has disrupted their delicate ecosystem.
We’re not sure what would happen if we were on both sides of the equation, but I think it’s safe to say that neither species is better off with the other present. The data suggests they tend to avoid populated areas when there are no food sources nearby or a perceived threat from humans - which just goes to show how easily intimidated these big cats can be.
But let’s not pretend like we’re doing them any favors by trying to track their movements and study their behavior without putting ourselves at risk. We’re the ones who should be concerned about our own safety, not theirs.