General Description:This cat is the largest native cat in the eastern United States. They may exceed 8ft (2.4m) total length including the long tail. This cat is unspotted with a small, rounded head, and long tail. Color varies from deep gray or reddish brown to pale buff. The belly, lower cheeks, chin, lips, and inner ear are dull white. The base of the whiskers, back of the ears, and tip of the tail are black. Until about six months old, cubs are yellowish-brown in color with irregular dark spots. The Florida cougar is smaller and more brightly colored with smaller feet than the Eastern cougar. Male length is 67-107in (170-270cm) with weight 148-227 lbs (65-115kg). The female is 59-91in (150-230cm) with weight of 79-132 lbs (36-60kg). The cougar is an extremely shy animal, and little is known of its habits in the Southeast. It is a nocturnal mammal, leaving its secluded hiding place at dusk in search of prey which includes deer, wild pigs, rabbits, and occasionally domestic stock. The cougar ranges 20-30mi (32-48km) in a single night and is a territorial animal that uses scent markers to identify the extent of its range. It has a startling cry; a long drawn out shrill, which begins low on the scale, rising and increasing in volume and dropping sharply at the end. It also makes a quiet whistling sound.

General Habitat:The cougar is a wilderness cat preferring vast tracts of undisturbed land. Some inhabit swamplands. It has recently been reported from north Georgia and North Carolina with sightings on the increase where a small population may exist. The increase may be due to an increase in deer populations and to more field observers with the initiative to report.