262 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 



[No. 55 



naturalists since the days of Lewis and Clark, David Douglas, J. K. 

 Townsend, Cooper, Suckley, and Gibbs. In 1884 Cope reported them 

 abundant throughout the Cascade Range and said fresh tracks were 

 seen daily. In 1896 Merriam, Preble, and the writer found tracks 

 common along the Cascades. In 1910 reports from the Forest Serv- 

 ice gave them as common on most of the national forests in western 

 Oregon, and the supervisor estimated 250 cougars in the Crater Lake 

 National Forest. In 1908 the Forest Service reported 14 killed on 

 the Fremont National Forest. In recent years better statistics have 

 shown more nearly the actual abundance of these animals. Records 

 show that for the period from October 1, 1913, to December^ 31, 

 1914, bounties were paid on 269 mountain lions in Oregon, the high- 

 est number from one county being 85 from Douglas County. Of the 



remainder on which 

 bounty was paid. 60 were 

 killed in Curry County, 

 28 in Jackson County, 24 

 in Lane County, 18 in 

 Coos County, 11 in Jose- 

 phine County, 10 in Linn 

 County, and 1 to 5 in 14 

 other counties. The total 

 amount of bounty paid on 

 these animals for that 

 period was $4,035. (Oreg. 

 Sportsman, 3: 40, 1915.) 

 In the fiscal year 1930 

 Jewett reported 17 cpu- 



ars killed by Biological 

 urvey hunters in Ore- 

 gon, where they had been 

 reported killing stock or game. While the number is insignificant, it 

 shows a marked decrease in these big cats during recent years and 

 that their destruction of livestock and game is being well curbed. 



General habits. Few animals are more stealthy and secretive than 

 mountain lions as they hunt through the shady forests and dense 

 undergrowth or lie in wait near the deer trails for their prey. Soft- 

 footed and silent they sneak away at the approach of hunters and 

 are rarely seen even by those much in the woods and accustomed to 

 catching every motion and sound of the forest. While largely noc- 

 turnal in their hunting they also under stress of hunger or necessity 

 hunt in broad daylight and apparently can see equally well in day- 

 light or the darkest night. They are great wanderers and except in 

 the breeding season while the young are small rarely remain for 

 long in one locality. For this reason they are not easily trapped, 

 especially where their game is abundant and easily captured. They 

 are generally hunted most successfully with dogs. Their lack of 

 fighting courage is strikingly shown by the ability of any little cur 

 to drive one up a tree. In rare cases a lion will refuse to tree for 

 a considerable time and will fight off even a pack of hounds and keep 

 running from place to place as it is overtaken. The animals are 

 swift but not long-winded runners and rarely pursue their game if 

 it cannot be captured with a few quick bounds. Though usually 



FIGURE 59. Ran 

 in Oregon : 1, 

 Jiippolestes. 



; of two forms of mountain lions 

 zlis concolor oregonensis; 2, F. c. 



