In this captivating video compilation, observe this male cougar as he moves through his territory, scent marking and engaging in a behaviour known as "scraping" — an important method of communication in the wild.
As you watch, you'll see him skillfully create “scrapes” along well-worn trails, junctions, canyons, and ridgelines. With his powerful hind feet, he pushes up mounds of leaves, needles, dirt, and debris, then leaves his scent using either urine or scat. This serves as a strong way for male cougars to assert their territory and signal their presence, while also attracting potential mates.
Cougars are generally solitary creatures, preferring to roam alone, with the exception of mating pairs, females with kittens, and subadult siblings dispersing together. Along the coast of BC, an average male's home range covers about 300 km², while females have home ranges that are about half that size. Interestingly, the territory of one male rarely overlaps with another male's, but it may overlap with several females.These videos were taken as part of a research project to better understand the behaviour and ecology of large carnivores in a tributary of the Fraser River. This research is conducted in the territory of and in collaboration with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nation.
