The Cougar Also known as a
Puma,
Panther,
Mountain Lion, and
Catamount- this big cat of many names is found in a
variety of habitats, for example, the Canadian
forests or Florida
swamps. Cougars once covered nearly the whole of the United States, however, due to human impacts such as hunting (generally and as a sport), farming, etc. these big cats have now declined greatly - and now only roam around specific parts of the US, such as the Canadian provinces. In relation to the decline of the mountain lion range, white-tailed deer have now rebounded in the areas that lack these predators.
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Puma
Species: P. concolor
Binomial name
Puma concolor
Range
BehaviorSecretive and largely
solitary by nature, the cougar is properly considered both
nocturnal and
crepuscular, although daytime sightings do occur. The cougar is an
ambush predator and pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources are ungulates, particularly deer, but also livestock. It also hunts species as small as insects and rodents. This cat prefers habitats with
dense underbrush and
rocky areas for stalking, but can also live in open areas. The cougar is
territorial and survives at low population densities. Individual territory sizes depend on terrain, vegetation, and abundance of prey. While large, it is not always the apex predator in its range, yielding to the jaguar, gray wolf, American black bear, and grizzly bear. It is
reclusive and mostly avoids people.
Physical characteristicsCougars are
slender and agile members of the cat family. Adults stand about 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35 in) tall at the shoulders. Adult males are around 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long nose to tail and females average 2.05 m (6.7 ft), with overall ranges between 1.5 to 2.75 m (4.9 to 9.0 ft) nose to tail suggested for the species in general. Males typically weigh 53 to 100 kilograms (115 to 220 pounds), averaging 62 kg (137 lb). Females typically weigh between 29 and 64 kg (64 and 141 lb), averaging 42 kg (93 lb). Cougar size is smallest close to the equator, and larger towards the Poles. The cat's
head is round and
the ears erect. Its
powerful forequarters,
neck, and
jaw serve to
grasp and hold large prey. Cougars have
large paws and proportionally the
largest hind legs in Felidae. This physique allows it
great leaping and short-spring ability. The cougar's top running speed ranges between 64 and 80 km/h (40 and 50 mph), but is best adapted for short, powerful sprints rather than long chases. It is
adept at climbing, which allows it to evade canine competitors. Although it is not strongly associated with water, it can swim.
Cougar coloring is plain but can vary greatly between individuals and even between siblings. The coat is typically
tawny, but ranges to
silvery-grey or
reddish, with
lighter patches on the under body including the jaws, chin, and throat.
Infants are
spotted, born with
blue eyes and
rings on their tails; juveniles are
pale, and
dark spots remain on their flanks. Despite anecdotes to the contrary, all-black coloring has never been documented in cougars. The term "black panther" is used colloquially to refer to melanistic individuals of other species, particularly jaguars and leopards.
Hunting and dietCougars are
generalist predators and
obligate carnivores. They like to prey on
large ungulates, particularly
deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines, and raccoons. They usually hunt at night or during the gloaming hours of dawn and dusk. These cats employ a blend of
stealth and power, stalking their prey until an opportunity arrives to pounce, then going for the back of the neck with a fatal bite. They will hide large carcasses and feed on them for several days.
Social structure and home rangeLike almost all cats, the cougar is a
solitary animal. Only mothers and kittens live in groups, with adults meeting rarely. While generally loners, cougars will reciprocally
share kills with one another and seem to organize themselves into
small communities defined by the territories of dominant males. Cats within these areas socialize more frequently with each other than with outsiders.
Male ranges may include or overlap with those of females but not with those of other males, which serves to
reduce conflict between cougars. Ranges of females may overlap slightly with each other. Scrape marks, urine, and feces are used to mark territory and attract mates. Males may scrape together a small pile of leaves and grasses and then urinate on it as a way of marking territory.
Because
males disperse farther than females and
compete more directly for mates and territory, they are most likely to be involved in
conflict. Where a subadult fails to leave his maternal range, for example, he may be killed by his father. When males encounter each other, they
hiss,
spit, and may
engage in violent conflict if neither backs down.
Reproduction and life cycleCougars are solitary except during breeding. Males do not help raise cubs. Female cougars are
fiercely protective of their cubs, and have been seen to successfully fight off animals as large as grizzly bears in their defense. Litter size is between
one and six cubs; typically two. Caves and other alcoves that offer protection are used as litter dens. The cubs remain with their mother for up to 16 months at which they disperse to establish their own territories.
Life expectancy in the wild is reported at
8 to 13 years.
Distribution and habitatThe cougar has the largest range of any wild land animal in the Americas. Its range spans 110 degrees of latitude, from northern Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes. Its wide distribution stems from its adaptability to virtually every habitat type: it is found in
all forest types, as well as in
lowland and
mountainous deserts. The cougar prefers regions with
dense underbrush, but can live with
little vegetation in open areas. Its preferred habitats include
precipitous canyons,
escarpments,
rim rocks, and
dense brush.
Wolf vs CougarWolves are social predators operating in packs, and cougars are solitary ambush predators. They inhabit very different ecological niches and are able to spatially and temporally coexist, but the two species find themselves in occasional conflict. Wolves often
chase and kill cougars and will raid their caches and usurp their kills and tend to
dominate most conflicts, especially when the wolves are together as a group. Cougars avoid other animals if they can and typically yield to other predators in most conflicts. They will
fight when cornered to defend themselves but otherwise try to
avoid fighting. They will often
escape up a tree,
a cliff or
into a cave where wolves are not likely to follow.
There have been cases where cougars were known to kill wolves, typically by ambushing a single wolf, but it's not common.
Originally from STP