LOL, if you can take a picture of a (real) cougar...you're too close! Saw the tail of one as it leaped across the trail after a deer. We prayed it caught its intended target so we were safe. Now that the ball is in my court, I'd like to see X-country skier(s) on the trail in olde tyme wooden skis.

That's why they make telephoto lens ;=)))

Actually I saw 'real' cougar few years back near Buntzen Lake (Vancouver North Shore). It looked at me & moved to the woods. I was more than little nervous as these things are known to stalk you, but nothing happened. Whole incident was too short so I don't have photo to prove though.