Texas wildlife authorities, with a well-placed camera and a little luck, shot a video of a rarely seen predator roaming the lands of West Texas in the dark.
In a short video shared last week Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentAt around 5:20 am, you can see her mother, the Mountain Lion, towing three small cubs and skirting them with an electric fence.
In the mother-led video, one cub is running fast to catch up, while the second cub is moving at a slower pace. The third is heard before you see it, sneak up behind the trail camera, scratch it with your nails and teeth, then bounce and continue.
Where are they going? what are they doing? Certainly impossible to say, Rachel Connally, a TPWD biologist in the Transpecos region, told McClutch News.
“A mountain lion happened to pass by. [the property].. Connally added that TPWD installed an electric fence as part of its efforts to keep black bears away from deer feeding boxes.
According to Connally, Puma’s offspring are estimated to be four to six months old and too young to hunt with their mother, but they can take them to the water or catch prey that has already been killed. It may be.
“It could be [the mountain lions] I was simply traveling along the established wildlife trails used by all kinds of creatures in the area, “she said.
“Exclusive and secretive”
Mountain lions, cougars and cougars-whatever you call them-have a way to keep experts guessing.
“Mountain lions are so covert and secretive animals that you’ll be incredibly lucky to see them,” Connally said.
last year, 30 confirmed sightings across Texas, And less often than in the Transpecos area. At the same time, TPWD reported three sightings identified in the Dallas / Fort Worth region, one north of Amarillo, some in central and southern Texas, and even to Brownsville.
Still, sightings are very scarce and there is a considerable distance between them, making it difficult to say exactly how many large cats have made Texas, or the Transpecos region their hometown.
“Far West Texas is known for its vast open spaces and sparse population, so there could be more mountain lions here than in other parts of the state,” Connally told McClutch. “Mountain lions maintain a wide home range, so some cats may frequently move freely across the Texas-Mexico border.”
Look at something and say something
Before settling in Europe, experts say mountain lion populations Lived throughout the stateHowever, their numbers declined due to hunting and habitat loss, and by 1960 they had little area left to live outside the mountainous areas of West Texas.
Although the Transpecos population is stable, survival is difficult even for these powerful predators. “It’s unclear how many Cubs will become adults, but we know that Cubs and sub-adults are at high risk of dying,” Connally said.
According to TPWD, mountain lions usually give birth to 2-3 cubs every two years. They are not considered adults until they are about two years old.
According to Connally, younger children, such as those in the trail cam video, rely heavily on their mothers to survive. If she dies, they will probably obey.
According to Connally, competition with people, droughts and other mountain lions all pose a potential threat.
“In Texas, mountain lions are not protected as hunting animals, so there are no seasonal or bag restrictions on seed harvesting. They can be hunted or caught all year round,” Connally said.
“Lions in prey-deficient areas may not survive in years of drought, and young lions trying to find their territory are larger and stronger lions. You can invade your territory and get involved in a nasty battle. “
Witness information is one of the few ways experts can estimate mountain lion populations.
“It’s very rare to see a mountain lion. If you believe you’ve seen a mountain lion, it’s important to contact your local TPWD biologist or game warden,” Connally said. I am.
To find out who your local TPWD biologist is Follow this link..
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