Scrapes
Leopards and pumas make scrapes on the ground using their scent glands in their hind feet to leave their scent. They are primarily markers for other big cats. The scrapes below, which I found and photographed, were in areas where I have seen pumas and filmed and photographed them.
Puma scrape in a South Devon wood where I have seen a puma and photographed a male puma and a female and her cub. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2021.
Puma scrape on the side of a road near to where I filmed a puma in a Devon wood. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024
Puma scrape on the side of a road near to where I filmed and photographed a puma in a Devon wood. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024
Puma scrapes on the side of a road near to where I filmed and photographed a puma in a Devon wood and glimpsed it in broad daylight. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024.
Scrape found in December 2024 where I saw a puma in 2020. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024
Second scrape found in December 2024 where I saw a puma in 2020. Photo copyright Alex Bowler 2024
Scrapes Found in Dorset by Jonathan McGowan
These photos were taken by my good friend naturalist and big cat expert, Jonathan McGowan,in Dorset. (Used with kind permission).
"They are all scent scrapes made by leopards within my study areas, all showing differing substrates that they scrape upon. Cats usually only use their hind feet to dig a trench relaying scent from feet glands that embeds within the soil, snow, pine needles, grass etc. Usually between 20 and 50cm in length, puma scrapes are often shorter but the width is still apparent." Jonathan McGowan
"They are all scent scrapes made by leopards within my study areas, all showing differing substrates that they scrape upon. Cats usually only use their hind feet to dig a trench relaying scent from feet glands that embeds within the soil, snow, pine needles, grass etc. Usually between 20 and 50cm in length, puma scrapes are often shorter but the width is still apparent." Jonathan McGowan
Leopard Scrape In Dorset - Photo Copyright Jonathan McGowan
Leopard Scrape In Dorset - Photo Copyright Jonathan McGowan
Leopard Scrape In Dorset - Photo Copyright Jonathan McGowan
A Scrape Found on the Edge of a Cornish Wood
This interesting scrape, made on grass, was found and photographed by a Cornishman called Stuart, who also found leopard (or puma) scat nearby and a likely leopard footprint. These big cat discoveries were his first and I doubt they will be his last! ( Photo used with kind permission).
Leopard or puma scrape, found on the edge of a Cornish wood in September 2024. Photo copyright Stuart Gill 2024.
Puma Scraping In A Devon Wood
This film, recorded on the 1st of September 2020 at 9:25pm, is possibly the only one in existence showing a male puma scraping in a British wood. I filmed the puma whilst sitting in my car with a hand-held infrared night vision viewer/recorder after spotting it on raised ground. It is handy that farmers, the Forestry Commission and the National Trust etc. have gates and fences on the sides of roads and lanes overlooking fields or woods, making a break in the hedges that block the views!
The cat has exactly the right posture for a scraping puma and it is scraping with its back feet on the ground. The scrape is both a visual marker and a scent marker and the puma is using the scent glands in its back feet to leave its scent in the scrape. Pumas also use their front paws to leave their scent on trees.
The cat has exactly the right posture for a scraping puma and it is scraping with its back feet on the ground. The scrape is both a visual marker and a scent marker and the puma is using the scent glands in its back feet to leave its scent in the scrape. Pumas also use their front paws to leave their scent on trees.
