I WROTE A PIECE ON COUGARS BUT IT DID NOT POST SO HERE GOES AGAIN. I WAS
RAISED JUST WEST OF TOMBALL IN A SETTLEMEN CALLED ROSEHILL. A FEW OF US
CLASSMATES USE TO CAMPOUT ON SPRING CREEK. WE WOULD HAVE A CAMP FIRE
AND ROST WEINES AND TELL STORIES. ABOUT MID NIGHT WERE TRYING TO SLEEP
WHEN THIS SCREAM-GROUL WAS HEARD. WE ALL SAT STRIAGT UP AND SAID WHAT
THE HECK WAS THAT. BILL STEPHENSON WHO LIVED ABOUT 3/4 A MILE FROM WHERE
WE WERE CAMPED SAID ITS A PANTHER AND IT STAYS ALONG THE CREEK AND IS SEEN
SOMETIMES.
MY SON AND I USED TO HUNT ON 8000 AC. IN SOUTH TX BETWEEN GRO WEST AND
FREER. WE SAW COUGARS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. A COUSIN SAID THEY RANGE FOR
40 MILES IN THAT AREA. ONE OF THE HUNTERS SAID HE SAW A MAMA COOG WITH
THREE LITTLE ONES ONE DAY.
WE NOW LIVE IN ALTO N.M. JUST NORTH OF RUIDOSO. WE LIVE IN A SUBDIVISION
CALLED ALTO COUNTRY CLUB. LOTS OF MOUNTAINS AROUND. ON A REGULAR
TIMES WE SEE SIGNS POSTED SAYING COUGAR IN THE AREA. I HAVE NEVER SEEN
ONE BUT HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE. ONE LADY HAD ONE UNDER HER RAISED DECK.
THE FIRST COUGAR I EVER SAW WAS SASTA IN HER CAGE IN 1954 WHEN I WAS ON
A RECRUITING TRIP. THEY ARE A BEAUTIFUL CAT BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THEIR
SPACE IS DRYING UP. HOPE NOT. GO COOGS
When I lived in Rancho Bernardo, CA, I saw one behind my house on Black Mountain and another on my next door neighbor’s roof. Beautiful, but a little too close for comfort.
Sat face to face with a larger one about thirty or so yards away with me in a car thankfully going home late one night off of Airtex and Richey Rd when they were building the Hardy Toll Road in the 80s. Very impressive creature . Just stood there in the middle of the road looking at the car and after some time just walked back into the woods.
Was hiking down the Window Trail in Big Bend one morning and looked up to see one sitting on a high ridge looking down at me. Before I could panic, the animal turned and walked out of sight. Big sigh, though cougar looked well fed. Lots of mule deer in the area for edibles much more appealing than me.
Cougars exist in the mountains around Tucson and routinely appear in someone’s back yard or patio.
Fish and Game guys shoot them with tranquilizers and remove them to the mountains.
They do not attack humans but little doggies and kitties sometimes go missing.
The first live cougar is saw, was Shasta, at the UH-Michigan State Game in East Lansing, in 1967. When you are walking the sideline, and suddenly there is a growl, that you were not expecting, it gets your heart racing.
My brother and dad and I who all post here are from Tomball, specifically Rosehill.
I saw two cougars at bayou city wings once.
Gene,
My cousin is a serious dear hunter and owns a place near Jasper Texas. He heard that famous Cougar scream on several occasions. He happened to see the local Game Warden at a coffee shop . The Warden(aggie) was adamant that there was no Cougars in East Texas . Later,my cuz was on his 4wheeler checking on his deer feeders and crossed a small creek . Upon his return he across the creek again and was shocked to see on the muddy bank a set of well defined Cougar tracks. The big cat had jumped down from the tree my Cuz had driven under . Wow close call! I guess the aggie was wrong! After that episode Cuz always carries the old S&W 357 magnum when he goes out. You can never be too careful with those aggie non-cougars ! LOL !
And you are surprised about that?
Cougars are getting more prevalent now, especially in the hill country and rural areas where they have such ample food supplies in the form of wild pigs and hogs. Also on Deer leases where deer feeders deliver food to them.
I was the electrical lead on a project at work and a UH EE friend of mine was brought on in my crew. I was introducing him around and I introduced him to the Civil Engineering lead and said, “This is Carol, the Civil lead, she’s a Cougar.” Everyone around me gasped, then I said, “She went to UH.” Then everyone laughed. You really have to watch it these days.
About 10 years ago a cougar crossed the road in front of me just before dawn near Alpine. I have heard reports of jaguar sightings in New Mexico but I don’t think any have been confirmed. I know there have been confirmed jaguar sightings in Sonora and maybe Chihuahua, Mexico.
There are more mountain lions than people realize. I know of ranchers that lose a lot of livestock in the Comestock area around Del Rio to lions.
Both my parents were Coogs back in the 40s after the war, so I learned what a cougar was at an early age.
I am now retired to the hill country on an exotic game ranch and have seen them and evidence of their skill in taking down large animals. Cats always cover their kills if not disturbed. Now, if we could only get our linebackers to do the same. 
A friend of mine learned why pets aren’t allowed off leash on the Lost Mine Trail at Big Bend. He was hiking with his dog one foggy day, the dog wandering loose and checking things out. All of a sudden my friend heard something running, and his dog sprinted right past him…with a mountain lion hot on the dog’s tail! The mountain lion passed within a few feet of my friend, and realizing what it had just passed, quickly turned, hissed at my friend and took off into the fog!
I think it’s a hilarious story but my friend is never laughing when we make him tell it…
Pets aren’t allowed off the leash anywhere in the Big Bend for just that reason. Like I said, mule deer are the preferred meal, but I’m sure a dog would taste as good. Lost Mine Trail is another popular hike. I’ve done them both, in fact pretty much been all over the park. I love the place and any Texan who hasn’t been needs to go there.
My wife and I were hiking at Big Bend (I think the Window Trail) and came upon a cougar crouched down in the middle of the trail, waiting to pounce on its lunch. It stayed crouched while people on both sides of the trail snapped pictures, then suddenly launched itself into the brush in pursuit of some unfortunate prey. Quite beautiful, and what a sight!
My kids and I were watching Shasta at the Houston Zoo a few years ago. He was pacing back and forth near the fence and then suddenly sprang into the air about 10-12 feet and snatched a flying bird right out of the air. He got a big cheer from the small group observing him. Thanks to the alum associations that helped set up that habitat.
The trick to seeing the big cats really active at the zoo is to go on a cool morning and bee-line it to those exhibits as soon as the gates open. Everything near the front gates will still be active on your way out, that’s why they’re there. 
Go Coogs
As to Jaguars there are 2 in Southern Arizona. Fish and Game guys have trail cameras in the mountains and have pictures of them. They roam a large area here and in Mexico
That would be quite a sight to see. Most of the time when I am at the zoo, the big cats are just lazily sleeping in a corner.
I recall reading that Cougars live in every county in Texas.
I know in Southern Brazoria County we have had recent sightings on the San Bernard Wildlife Refuge and the Brazoria Wildlife Refuges.
Well, looks like I’m FOS on that one. I have a pornographic memory that rarely fails me.
Checking around maybe there are seen in all states on the mainland but would have to check why I was thinking every county in TX.
My mistake folks. From what I see they are very rare east of I35… which in 1836 also delineated Mexico/Spain/Anglo Texas from Apache and Comanche country.
If I’m wrong on that, I’m going to take a nap.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/nuisance/mountain_lion/
…of course this is all TXPWD and they aren’t perfect