The female cougar/puma/mountain lion will scream to let males know she is in heat. Check out the second video on this sight.
http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/Mountain-Lion-Sounds.html
I know that they can and will come into populated areas as a few years ago one came right into the middle of town in St. Paul Ne. It was stalking the kids at the school and the police had to shoot it.
http://theindependent.com/articles/2001/12/15/news/20011215-archive3.txt
http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/Mountain-Lion-Sounds.html
I know that they can and will come into populated areas as a few years ago one came right into the middle of town in St. Paul Ne. It was stalking the kids at the school and the police had to shoot it.
http://theindependent.com/articles/2001/12/15/news/20011215-archive3.txt