Why do cougars scream?
Why do cougars scream? It sounds like the vocal equivalent of fingernails running down a chalkboard. Or perhaps it’s closer to the sound of screeching brakes when a car slams to a halt. Then again, if you listen to the momentary wail of a house cat after its tail has been stepped on, you may hit the auditory nail on the head. Pinpointing the precise tonal quality of a cougar’s scream is a faulty science since wildlife researchers and laymen alike rarely hear the piercing call. We do know, however, that it sounds exactly like the shriek of a mountain lion, puma and panther. Why do these cats exhibit similar cries? They all share the same species, Felis concolor, but different
