Cougar (Puma) Facts, Habitat, Behavior & Conservation
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Cougar (Puma) — Facts, Habitat and Conservation
El Puma
The cougar is a carnivore that is distributed throughout the Americas, especially in mountainous and forested regions.
It belongs to the Felidae family and can reach six feet in body length (excluding the tail) and about 65 inches at the shoulder.
It can jump thirty feet on level ground and up to 12 feet from the branch of a tree.
It has a flexible body that lengthens its stride; its muscles contract and stretch under the skin.
This is a quiet cat, moving stealthily and is the terror of animals such as goats, deer and elk; it also preys on mice, fish and birds. From the top of a tree it stalks its victims and jumps onto their backs, breaking their spines.
Mountain lions are born after a gestation period of about three months, at any time of year, and it is common for young to stay with their mother for up to two years.
Because of damage to cattle, they are persecuted by farmers and have become a threatened species, now often confined to arid areas.
EL PUMA
EL PUMA
The cougar is a carnivore that is distributed throughout the Americas, especially in mountainous and forested regions.
This cat is the largest of the small- to medium-sized cats. Males, which are larger, measure from one to two meters long plus the tail, which is from 66 to 78 cm. The shoulder height is 60 to 70 cm. It can weigh between 40 and 100 kg. It can jump thirty feet on level ground and up to 12 feet from the branch of a tree. It has a flexible body that seems to lengthen the run; its muscles contract and stretch under the skin. This is a quiet cat, moving stealthily and is the terror of animals such as goats, deer and elk; it also preys on mice, fish and birds. From the top of a tree it stalks its victims and jumps from above onto their backs, breaking their spines. It is active 24 hours a day, but shows a preference for dawn and dusk. It can climb, jump and swim with great agility, although it is not often seen in water. Mountain lions are born after a gestation period of three months, at any time of year, and it is common for young to stay with their mother for two years. |
Because of the damage caused to cattle, they are persecuted by farmers and have become a persecuted species currently inhabiting arid zones.
The puma is also known as the mountain lion and savanna lion.
Quick Facts and Highlights
- Family: Felidae
- Range: Throughout the Americas, in mountains and forests
- Size: 1–2 m body length; tail 66–78 cm; shoulder height 60–70 cm
- Weight: 40–100 kg
- Abilities: Can jump ~30 ft on flat ground; up to 12 ft from a tree branch; climbs and swims
- Reproduction: Gestation ~3 months; juveniles stay with mother ~2 years
- Conservation: Persecuted by farmers due to livestock losses; populations reduced in many areas
Conservation Notes
Human-wildlife conflict, especially predation on cattle, has led to persecution of cougars. Conservation efforts and coexistence strategies are important to reduce losses and protect remaining populations across their range.