Puma concolor
Western mountains and deserts, plus the Florida panther. Confirmed wanderers show up farther east, but a clawless cat track in the East is usually a bobcat. Round track 3 to 4.5 inches, four toes, no claw marks.
What does a cougar look like?
Large plain tan cat, long tail, rounded ears. No spots on adults.
What do cougar tracks look like?
A big round cat print. No claws. Wider than a wolf track of similar length, and the heel pad is huge compared with the toes.
- Round track 3 to 4.5 inches, four toes, no claw marks
- Wide heel pad, two lobes in front
- Much larger than bobcat
- Tail, if seen, is long and dark-tipped
- Scat is segmented and often left uncovered on a trail
What does cougar poop look like?
Blunt segments with hair, sometimes left in the middle of a trail as a marker. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Western mountains and deserts, plus the Florida panther. Confirmed wanderers show up farther east, but a clawless cat track in the East is usually a bobcat. Typical places: woods, desert, field. Year-round.
What to do next
- Do not run
- Face the animal, look large, back away
- Pick up children
- Report a cougar near a town
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Bobcat identification
- Canada lynx identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
A round four-toed print, 3 to 4.5 inches, no claw marks, with a very wide heel pad.
How do you tell a cougar track from a dog?
Cougar tracks do not show claws. The print is round, not oval, and the heel pad is much larger than a dog’s.
How to tell a cougar from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Bobcat. Round, clawless, slightly wider than long. Tawny spotted cat, short bobbed tail with black bars, ear tufts small.
- Canada lynx. A big, round, snowshoe print. Gray cat, long ear tufts, huge feet, black tip on a very short tail.
Cougar field marks
- Round track 3 to 4.5 inches, four toes, no claw marks
- Wide heel pad, two lobes in front
- Much larger than bobcat
- Tail, if seen, is long and dark-tipped
Where the sign shows up
Western mountains and deserts, plus the Florida panther. Confirmed wanderers show up farther east, but a clawless cat track in the East is usually a bobcat. Typical places: woods, desert, field. Year-round.
A big round cat print. No claws. Wider than a wolf track of similar length, and the heel pad is huge compared with the toes. Blunt segments with hair, sometimes left in the middle of a trail as a marker.
Common questions
What do cougar tracks look like?
A round four-toed print, 3 to 4.5 inches, no claw marks, with a very wide heel pad.
How do you tell a cougar track from a dog?
Cougar tracks do not show claws. The print is round, not oval, and the heel pad is much larger than a dog’s.