Some families keep dogs to scare away intruders — whether animals or humans. But would you like to see a house cat braver than a watchdog? And it works too! That’s what you’ll see in this haunting video shot at a house in the mountains outside Julian, California.
House cat chases away cougar
In this remarkable display of defensive behavior from a domestic cat, we first see a magnificent mountain lion (Puma) approach the glass door of a house. It appears to be inspecting the paved area outside the glass, then wondering what might be inside. It approaches the glass and looks into it.
However, for domestic cats, this is unacceptable behavior. With a barrage of growls, meows and hisses, the tabby attempted to chase the cougar away. The cat even slammed its front paws against the glass, causing the lion to hiss. However, the cat’s behavior was so extreme that even the mountain lion jumped back a step from the window. Both cats now pinned their ears back and adopted confrontational body language. The situation deteriorated into a hissing match between the two species. Then, unbelievably, it was the cougar who turned and ran!
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mountain lions of california
Mountain lions (also known as pumas, cougars, and pumas) are important members of the cat family, native to Central, North, and South America. However, they are not found in the wild in all US states. They are mysterious animals that live in remote areas, so counting their exact numbers is not easy. Despite this, California is believed to have one of the largest mountain lion populations in the United States. Hunting of mountain lions has been banned here since 1972, but wildfires in recent years have greatly reduced their numbers.
Cougars don’t roar like lions. The sounds they make are very similar to those of house cats, which may be why the cougar looked confused at first when it heard the kitten on the other side of the glass. Additionally, cougars look very much like large domestic cats with a similar head and body shape. They are opportunistic hunters and eat a wide variety of prey. As humans continue to encroach on their habitat, it is inevitable that they will come into contact with domestic pets, and it doesn’t end like this encounter!
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
