Wyoming’s mountain lions aren’t lions in the true scientific sense. African lions are classified among “roaring cats,” while mountain lions fall in the less glamorous-sounding “purring cat” category.

And, yes, they do actually purr.

Ken Logan is one of the country’s premier specialists on mountain lions, or as he prefers to call them, pumas.

He told Cowboy State Daily that during his 40 years of studying the elusive cats, he’s heard them purr a time or two.

“It’s just a lot bigger, louder noise” that what comes from a purring housecat, said Logan, a former research biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

Brazilian Roots

Though “mountain lion” is the most common name for the big cats in Wyoming, they’re also called pumas, panthers, cougars and numerous other names, depending

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