catamount

The mountain lion is known by more than 40 different common names, including puma, cougar, panther, red tiger, catamount and screamer, according to the state agency.

Throughout the story, beetles tunnel through the woodwork; blight fells the trees; a catamount, referenced in rumor or song, stalks the patch.

“They used to. They called them catamounts. Cat-o-the-Mountain. Like Catamount Street in town.”

The lab report came back that it was indeed the scat of Felis concolor, the eastern mountain lion, also variously and respectfully known as the panther, cougar, puma, and, especially in New England, catamount.

The mountain lion - also known as the cougar, panther, puma and catamount - has been studied closely since 1964.