Puma concolor in the UK by J A J Richardson
A few notes on Puma / Cougar / Mountain Lions ... Photo : Glatzer 2006 FIRST SIGHTING : One late evening three friends and myself were travelling back from Tilton on the Hill towards Oadby, in Leicestershire. Upon approaching a main road junction we spotted a very large animal in a field beside the lane. As the car stopped in a gateway, I was able to shine a torch directly onto the fawn/grey coat of the creature revealing its outline - which crouched down lower and remained completely motionless. After instructing the Driver to quickly drive the car round the corner to the next open gateway, we watched in amazement as the Cougar jumped up and bounded off into the darkness of the field. Having since owned a 46kg Bullmastiff , I would estimate this Mountain Lion, holding similar proportions, although being longer, taller and more agile, must have weighed in the region of 60kg. In the weeks following I was able to track the prints of a Puma from Houghton on the Hill to Bushby during t