The Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife contacted us about some orphaned cougar cubs. Scarlet is one of a litter of three who were reported as orphaned. There was also a third single kitten about three months older than the group of three. They had put a camera on the litter and after five days, their mother had not returned. The WSDFW had to assume that she would not be returning. They are unable to rehabilitate cougars, and so they called us to see if we would be able to take them. We drove to Washington to bring the litter of three and the other cub home.

As a baby, Scarlet was much darker than her two siblings. She has always been an instigator; she loves to sneak up on one of the others and entice them to chase her. When they catch her, she lays on her back as if to say, “it wasn’t me!”

Scarlet, her siblings, Outlaw and Sage, and the fourth cougar cub, Malice, continue to be very close. They can often all be found in one big “cuddle puddle” on one of their high platforms. They live in one of our newest enclosures which has a very large playground and tons of high ramps and platforms for them to run around on.

Scarlet is not a huge fan of human company, but she has her favorites and opens up once she learns to trust you. She is, like her siblings, very much food motivated. This allows us to complete small veterinary procedures without using anesthesia.

She has the cutest mole on the right side of her chin but don’t get too close! We are blessed to be able to care for her and her siblings.

scar

Species: Cougar (Puma concolor)

Sex: Female
Born: August 2, 2016
Rescued: September 2, 2016

scarlett yawning