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Elbroch, L.M.; Quigley, H.
Observations of wild cougar (_Puma concolor_) kittens with live prey: implications for learning and survival
2012 The Canadian Field-Naturalist (126): 333-335
The Cougar (_Puma concolor_) is a cryptic species in which social learning or opportunity learning has yet to be documented in the wild. "Opportunity teaching" is teaching in which an animal creates opportunities for conspecifics to observe or participate in operant learning. We present video data on an observation of Cougar kittens exhibiting social learning and inefficiency and inexperience in attempting to kill a live Mule Deer (_Odocoileus hemionus_) fawn. Our observations provide evidence for the importance of maternal care and they help explain why Cougar kittens less than a year of age have low survival rates.
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