SIZE 80 to 200 pounds; 7 to 9 feet from nose to tip of tail

APPEARANCE Usually tan or brown with a very long tail

OTHER NAMES Mountain lion, puma, panther, catamount

BEHAVIOR Cougars are usually solitary, except for mothers with young.

TERRITORY Individual cougars may occupy a territory as large as 10 by 20 miles. Females usually settle near their mothers.

ROAMING Young males may travel over 200 miles in search of their own territories.

FOOD White-tailed deer are the chief prey of cougars in Michigan, but the cat will feed on beaver, rabbits, birds, porcupines, coyotes, bobcats, and other smaller animals, and occasionally even fish and frogs.