This powerful predator roams the Americas, where it is also known as a panther, puma, mountain lion, and catamount. This big cat of many names is also found in many habitats, from Florida swamps to Canadian forests.

Cougars like to prey on deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. They usually hunt at night or during the gloaming hours of dawn and dusk. These cats employ a blend of stealth and power, stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to pounce, then going for the back of the neck with a fatal bite. They will hide large carcasses and feed on them for several days.

Cougars once roamed nearly all of the United States. They were prized by hunters and despised by farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock losses at their hands. Subsequently, by the dawn of the 20th century, cougars were eliminated from nearly all of their range in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.—though the endangered Florida panther survives.

Today, whitetail deer populations have rebounded over much of the cougar's former range and a few animals have appeared in more eastern states such as Missouri and Arkansas. Some biologists believe that these big cats could eventually recolonize much of their Midwest and Eastern range—if humans allow them to do so. In most western U.S. states and Canadian provinces, populations are considered sustainable enough to allow managed sport hunting.

Cougars require a lot of room—only a few cats can survive in a 30-square-mile range. They are solitary and shy animals, seldom seen by humans. While they do occasionally attack people—usually children or solitary adults—statistics show that, on average, there are only four attacks and one human fatality each year in all of the U.S. and Canada

Mule deer are very common throughout the western United States. They are named for their oversized ears that resemble a mule's ears. Compared to its cousin, the white-tailed deer, mule deer are larger in size, and have a black-tipped white tail and white patch on the rump. They can be three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh anywhere between 100 and 300 pounds. They have excellent hearing and eyesight that warns them of approaching dangers.

The white-tailed deer is tan or brown in the summer and grayish-brown in winter. It has white on its throat, around its eyes and nose, on its stomach, and on the underside of its tail. The male has antlers. Males weigh between 150 and 300 pounds and females weigh between 90 and 200 pounds.

Males, called bucks, have forked antlers. They shed antlers in mid-February and their next set begins to grow immediately after. Antlers are covered with velvety skin until fully formed when the buck scrapes this layer off. Females are called does and do not have antlers.

The white-tailed deer lives in wooded areas. In some areas, deer overpopulation is a problem. Gray wolves and mountain lions used to be predators of the white-tailed deer and helped keep their population under control, but because of hunting and human development there are not very many wolves and mountain lions left in most regions of North America

Moose are the largest of all the deer species. Males are immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can spread 6 feet from end to end. Moose have long faces and muzzles that dangle over their chins. A flap of skin known as a bell sways beneath each moose's throat.

Moose are so tall that they prefer to browse higher grasses and shrubs because lowering their heads to ground level can be difficult. In winter they eat shrubs and pinecones, but they also scrape snow with their large hooves to clear areas for browsing on mosses and lichens. These hooves also act as snowshoes to support the heavy animals in soft snow and in muddy or marshy ground.

In summer, food is far more plentiful in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. When the ice melts, moose are often seen in lakes, rivers, or wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants both at and below the surface. Moose are at home in the water and, despite their staggering bulk, are good swimmers. They have been seen paddling several miles at a time, and will even submerge completely, staying under for 30 seconds or more.

Moose are similarly nimble on land. They can run up to 35 miles an hour over short distances, and trot steadily at 20 miles an hour

The venomous snakes in Utah have broad, triangular-shaped heads, and vertical eye pupils. There are heat sensory ‘pits’ on each side of the snake’s head between the nostrils and eyes. Most venomous snakes in Utah have rattles on their tails.

ever try to poke, handle, corner or harass a snake.

• Most snake bites occur when people are trying to handle or kill the snake. Teach children to respect wildlife and to look, but not touch.

• Snakes hide well on open trails and in dense grasses. Be aware of your surroundings. Look carefully where you place your feet, and before you sit down on the ground, on rocks, or on logs.

• Wear closed-toed shoes while hiking.

• If you hear a rattle, don’t jump or panic. Try to locate where the sound is coming from before trying to move. Warn others if they are around.

• If bitten, treat it as if it were a venomous snakebite. Do not use a tourniquet or cold compress. Do not suck out the venom. Keep the victim calm, remove restrictive clothing and jewelry near the bite, and keep the affected area below the level of the heart. Treat for shock, if necessary, and get medical attention immediately.

  If a snake must be moved out of an area, you may be able to encourage it to leave by aiming a garden hose spray at the snake. For venomous snakes, keep at a safe distance of at least 15 feet away while hosing the snake. Continue to hose until the snake has moved off your property. If the snake will not retreat, stop and call a professional to remove the snake.

  If you do not know if the snake is venomous, act as if it were and do not attempt to trap and move the snake yourself. In the case of venomous snakes, this should be done only by trained personnel from reputable wildlife removal companies or personnel from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or USDA Wildlife Services.

  Northern Region
  515 E 5300 S, Ogden, UT 84405
  Phone: 801-476-2740

Non-venomous snakes have longer snouts and round pupils.

Snakes hibernate during the winter under rocks and in burrows. In the summer, they are most active at dawn and dusk. Snakes mainly eat rodents, birds and other reptiles.

Although most encounters with snakes in Utah are not dangerous, it is important to learn how to keep yourself, your family and pets safe. Here are some tips to avoid conflicts.

If you encounter a snake outside of human development, leave it alone — it’s in its natural habitat

Turkeys are large birds and have a close relative, the grouse. Indigenous people domesticated turkeys 2,000 years ago. Wild turkeys are ancestors of domestic turkeys.

Driving through town you’ll see them in a group in people’s yards.

In 1857 serving turkey for Thanksgiving dinner became a tradition in New England. They are big enough for a family and are popular to serve at a large gathering.

Acting foolish may encourage someone to say “Don’t be a turkey.”