Columbia's
mascot is the Cougar, also known as the Catamount, Mountain
Lion, or Puma. Cougars range from British Columbia to South
America. They prefer forested areas and can adapt to various
climates. Deer are their primary source of food. A male's
two-hundred pound powerful body may grow to be six feet
long with a two to three foot tail. The coat is a tawny
color with a black strip from the mouth to the eyes. Cougars
usually hunt at dusk. They climb well, run fast, and are
excellent jumpers. Often they will drop from tree limbs
on their prey. Litters, which are born usually two years
apart, contain from one to five kits. The kits have spots
on their coat until they reach about six months old. They
can live to be about twelve years old in the wild, nineteen
years in captivity.
See
a list of all the wonderful characteristics
of Columbia's Cougars. The list represents what every decent
citizen should strive to reach.